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Original poster

I’m taking my 1yo swimming for the first time today

22 replies

TooOldToBeAGoth · 22/06/2022 07:23

Could you please give me any tips or warn me of anything that might be tricky

im already wondering how I’m going to get both of us dry and changed after….

what other little difficulties have I not even thought of?

thank you

OP posts:
JuneOsborne · 22/06/2022 07:25

There's usually a larger changing room that you can use. Ours have high chair type things in them. So you get the baby all sorted while you're wrapped in a towel. Put him all dry in the high chair. Then get yourself ready.

It'll be fun! And you may both be a but damp afterwards l, but just sort it out when you get home!

Take drinks and snacks! It's exhausting!

Oh, and don't forget a swim nappy or two!

Yodaisawally · 22/06/2022 07:25

Don't put the swim nappy on until you get there.

Get her dressed first, sit her down with a snack while you get changed.

atomcats · 22/06/2022 07:27

And a normal nappy for on the way home!!

Chickadeeandchic · 22/06/2022 07:33

Wear your costume underneath your clothes, but swim nappy on before going in for little one.

Have a towel ready for as soon as you are out of the shower after so they don't get cold (and only make it a quick shower -its hard to wash yourself and make sure a little one isn't escaping!).

I use one of the hooded towel things that zips up for DD, which is much easier.

I then let her have a snack while I get dressed, then do her. Snacks wise I usually pack something like raisons or a fruit pot as it keeps her occupied for a bit longer.

Too late for today but I highly recommend a puddle jumper instead of arm bands etc

Don't worry if you are only in the pool 20mins for the first time, it'll feel like a faff because you've spent so long getting ready etc, but it will be worth it!

I took my DD at the same age for the 1st time and she was disappointed at the lack of bubbles in the biggggg bath 😂

nannynick · 22/06/2022 07:36

Take a bottle of milk / water, a snack, whatever is appropriate for them.

Family changing rooms can have seats in for babies, changing mat area. Use what is available to help keep them in a safe place for when you get changed.
Get undressed first yourself, then them. When getting out, they get dressed first. Have really easy clothing, an all in one sleep suit for getting changed into, as they are likely to sleep on way back. If very hot, then a long sleeve vest.

Enjoy, go with the flow, it's new to them so don't expect to stay long but you never know they may love it.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 22/06/2022 07:48

Accept that you will be cold and dripping until your Lo is dry and dressed

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 22/06/2022 07:49

Oh and have your swimsuit on under your clothes when you arrive

RockAndRollerskate · 22/06/2022 07:50

Take a snack, strip them off and sit them in a towel. You have however long it takes them to eat a banana/flapjack to get dressed then sort them out.

Enjoy! I love taking my babies swimming

WhatALoadOfWankiness · 22/06/2022 07:57

I put a hot bean bag wrapped up in the towel so it's nice and warm for them when we get out
They are always freezing

Original poster
TooOldToBeAGoth · 22/06/2022 08:05

Thank you all!
I know it’s stupid but I barely slept last night thinking about how this was going to go!
we are booked for 10am. Had better get a few coffees down myself before then!

OP posts:
EweCee · 22/06/2022 08:05

Ah, so special, taking them swimming n those early years! Don’t try swim for too long - the excitement of just being in the water will be enough and they may get cold quickly.
Agree with others - get your LO dry and ready first, pop them in the high chair with a snack (snacks are a Must!) and then get yourself ready.
enjoy!

rainyskylight · 22/06/2022 08:07

after Swimming - I wrap DD up in towels so she’s nice warm and then get changed first myself. I found that when I got her changed first I made her clothes all wet by dressing her whilst in a wet swimming costume.
I don’t mind getting a little damp changing her once I’m in dry clothes, but I don’t want her in damp clothes.

TwoSecondsLater · 22/06/2022 08:15

Swimming costume underneath your clothes and something really easy to get dressed into. For me it was literally knickers and a dress that was tight enough against my chest I didn't even need a bra.

I used to get myself dressed first, give the one year old a snack to eat whilst they were wrapped in one of those hooded robes, then dress them.

Absolutely do not put on a swim nappy before arriving at the pool, they are designed to keep stuff in not absorb liquid.

fluffiphlox · 22/06/2022 08:17

From what I read on here years ago, pan pipes are a must.

Brainstorm22 · 22/06/2022 08:18

Take a dressing gown for you in case the changing rooms are cold.

That way at least you'll be warm while you get your baby dried, dressed and sitting with a snack.

Original poster
TooOldToBeAGoth · 22/06/2022 09:30

Ok
here we go

wish us luck!

OP posts:
Bunnycat101 · 22/06/2022 09:46

Good luck- for future swims towel ponchos (for both of you) make life much easier so you’re not faffing around wet. Learnt this during covid and all of the changing room shutting faffage.

Apollonia1 · 22/06/2022 09:51

I recently started taking my toddler twins swimming.

I have my swimsuit on under my clothes, and just wear flipflops.
We live very near the pool, so I put their disposable nappy and neoprene swim-nappy on at home, just with a t-shirt on top. (it's not recommended to do this, but since we live so near the pool, I risk it).

After swimming, when we get out of the pool, I put them in a cosy, hooded towel. I get dressed very quickly and then change them (that's the order the swim class recommended).
Then as we leave the venue, I give them a small cheese sandwich (I think they look forward to the sandwich as much as the swimming! :) ).

Thedishonthecoffeetable · 22/06/2022 09:52

Probably not for this time unless you already have one, but I used to take a toweling dressing gown for me and just whip my costume off quickly. By the time baby was dried and dressed I was dry too.

zingally · 22/06/2022 10:40

Haha! Hope it's gone well OP!

I have 5 year old twins (yes really!) and used to take them to a baby swim thing quite often when they were little! You need an adult per baby though, so you'll be fine. My auntie used to come with us!

I'd go, with my swimsuit under my clothes, and crocs on my feet so I'm not needing to mess with shoes and laces etc. Even in the depths of winter. Pre-swim I'd lay the babies down on a towel (no highchair or anything at my pool!), quickly strip my stuff off, then do them.
After swim, my auntie and I would wear a bathrobe from home, sort out a baby each, then dress ourselves. When they were little-little, we'd just leave them on the towel once dressed, but when they were rolling/crawling, we'd put them in the buggy.
It is a hassle, especially when they're done after 20-30 mins, but looking back, it's one of my fondest memories of them as babies. :)

Original poster
TooOldToBeAGoth · 22/06/2022 12:08

Well that was not worth the sleepless night, he absolutely loved it!

the family changing room had one of the chairs so he could sit and wait while I was getting us ready (which was my main concern)

thank you to everyone who suggested taking a snack - I now know that I have the time it takes to eat a banana wafer to get dressed, I will be practicing this before next week!

little one loved it once he was used to it. Was a bit wary for the first 10 mins, but after that he was splashing and laughing and chattering away. We stayed in the pool for the whole hour.

im absolutely on a high now. Was such a great fun adventure. Will def be going back next week :)

OP posts:
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 22/06/2022 13:33

Glad to hear it OP!

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