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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Bikini for a Swimming Lesson?

62 replies

SephrinaX · 07/08/2021 16:02

I'm due to take my 3 year old for his first swimming lessons soon and I was wondering- what do you wear to the pool? Do most mums wear one pieces? Or bikinis? Wet suits?

If I was on holiday I'd wear a bikini. Maybe I'm being odd, but I just sort of think it might be a bit weird to wear that to a kid's swimming lesson in the North of Scotland?

Grateful to hear what the rest of you do/think!

OP posts:

Watapalava · 07/08/2021 16:37

I’ve never heard of parents attending lessons with kids

Surely that’s what you’re paying staff for and if they need holding then surely the boys they’re learning you can do yourself with them?!

Watapalava · 07/08/2021 16:37

Bits not boys

Hardbackwriter · 07/08/2021 16:39

@Watapalava

I’ve never heard of parents attending lessons with kids

Surely that’s what you’re paying staff for and if they need holding then surely the boys they’re learning you can do yourself with them?!

There aren't any lessons for three year olds around me where the parent doesn't go in the water with them

gogohm · 07/08/2021 16:43

Most women wear a simple one piece to the municipal pool, the sort that doesn't ride up at the back and not too low cut. You can wear whatever you want I should add, and I've worn a bikini occasionally but it's a case of what is comfortable and enables you to bend over without worrying I would say for lessons.

TeenMinusTests · 07/08/2021 16:46

Water babies and parent and toddler need parents.
Once you start on Ducklings schemes you don't expect a parent.
Presumably the OP knows which she has signed up for?!

itsgettingwierd · 07/08/2021 16:46

@SephrinaX

I'm quite tall, so one pieces tend to be a bit of a problem. The sportier 2 piece might be the way to go...

I'm tall and I find a shorts bottom and tankini top good for a swimming pool.

GameSetMatch · 07/08/2021 16:48

I take my three year old to his swimming lesson and I wear a figleaves swimming costume, another mum wears a rash vest over her bikini (the rest are men so wear shorts) I wouldn’t wear a bikini because I have to throw him in the air etc and I wouldn’t feel as comfortable doing so in a bikini.

steppemum · 07/08/2021 16:50

@eightyfourandahalf

I personally prefer these kind of things for me

that is a really lovely costume/2 piece

BogRollBOGOF · 07/08/2021 16:53

I've worn one piece, tankini and bikinis in my time.
I love that bikini, high waist covering the worst of the wobble and enough padding to give me something up top. That baby goes nowhere

One piece or tankini were more common though.

MsHedgehog · 07/08/2021 17:39

I wear a one piece, and bought one specifically for swimming lessons with my baby. All I had beforehand were bikinis, and I’m large chested with an hour glass figure, and so didn’t want to offend or make other new mums uncomfortable about their post pregnancy figure by showing up in a beach bikini! I remember when DS was 3 weeks old and I took him to a breastfeeding session, another new and much younger mum came with a baby the same age and not an inch of fat or bump on her and it completely knocked my confidence.

I know we shouldn’t worry about these things but many women naturally do.

MsHedgehog · 07/08/2021 17:40

My point was if you’re paranoid about how you come across, a one piece or tankini is probably better because most women will be in those too!

Cherryana · 07/08/2021 17:43

Context is everything.

Lounging round outdoor pool on a sunny day - bikini.
Child’s swimming lesson - swimming costume.

Although there are always people who will just do what they like but I would think more covered up in this context is better.

CommanderBurnham · 07/08/2021 17:46

Consider a hooded surfing type towel for yourself too. Sling it over yourself and then sort DC out.

eightyfourandahalf · 07/08/2021 17:48

Although there are always people who will just do what they like

You'd hope that in a Western swimming pool, EVERYONE should wear what they bloody like - as long as they respect a minimum of hygiene and legal decency.

scotvic · 07/08/2021 17:48

Wear a sturdy one piece swimming costume, it’s just common sense, especially for Scotland. Doesn’t need to be expensive - Asda is a good place for cheap costumes, and quite nice. You’ll find that (nearly) all the women at the pool wear these. Bikinis are not the thing for swimming in a public pool for fitness, or for lessons or playing around with kids. Bikinis are for hot sunny places where you want to catch a tan, or specifically want to show off your body. Don’t get a costume with fiddly straps etc. as getting changed in a small cubicle with a wet wriggly child can be difficult enough!

StrawBeretMoose · 07/08/2021 17:51

I always wear a bikini, I much prefer the support of a separare top for my large boobs. I buy bra size tops.
If I wear a one piece my boobs just get really uncomfortably squished.

I know you can buy ones with support but they're not as good as a properly fitting bikini top.
I would have thought as long as the actual private areas are covered it wouldn't matter.

Camomila · 07/08/2021 17:56

Back when DS1 did baby swimming lessons most mums wore bikinis/tankinis for ease of breastfeeding after.

I don't think it really matters as long as you feel comfortable. I used to wear a practical looking tankini.

mafted · 07/08/2021 17:57

Speaking from bitter experience nothing with a zip

Blippibloppi · 07/08/2021 17:57

All the mums and nans wear swimming costumes to the swimming lessons we go to. We do a lot of moving around so you need something that stays in the right place.

Aprilx · 07/08/2021 18:03

I don’t go to child swimming lessons but I go swimming a few times a week and women are almost exclusively in one piece costumes.

Branleuse · 07/08/2021 18:10

id wear a one piece costume or a tankini for a kids swimming lesson, but If I only had a bikini, then id wear that, as its no big deal

Rtmhwales · 07/08/2021 18:13

I used to wear a two piece with DS to swimming lessons as that was what I had and I'm frugal and didn't want to buy a one piece solely to be modest in front of the other swim parents.

That is, until DS didn't like a lesson and climbed up the front of me, yanking down the top to expose my nipples to all and sundry, whilst simultaneously stepping on the bottoms climbing up me, pushing them halfway down my thighs.

Great times. Remember them fondly. I've never shelled out money for an unnecessary item faster. Hello one piece.

Preech · 07/08/2021 18:20

The mum who wore a bikini to baby/toddler swim lessons back when DD1 was taking them was in amazing shape. If I'd been in equally amazing shape, I would also have worn one.

Sadly, I'm about 15kg overweight and will attract more negative than positive comments in a bikini these days, and I can't be bothered with handling them. I still need support though, so it's either the plunge neck underwired Bravissimo swimmers or the Next wrap style turbo-tummy-control ones for me.

I've seen some mums wear a T-shirt and swimming shorts in the pool here (northeast Scotland). I think it has more to do with personal comfort than with cold; most of the pools where I stay are really warm.

Farcry66 · 07/08/2021 18:23

Until a couple of weeks ago when the pool changed the rules and the instructors were back in the water again, there were 6 of us parents in each class in the water. 2 men, 1 wore a swim dress, one mum wore a costume with a t-shirt on top, one word a bikini and one wore a costume. But mainly, nobody really cares. As long as you're comfortable, wear what you want.

Hankunamatata · 07/08/2021 18:24

Rash vest or sports t-shirt over bikini or swim suit. 3 year olds are grabby

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