To stop swimming lessons?

[ThatGutsyHedgehog]

My DS is 9 months old and I have took him to regular swimming lessons for the last few months- mainly because he absolutely loves being in the water and I’m not a very confident swimmer so want him to be/ safety aspect as we live near the sea
To start off with he really enjoyed it but now he just wriggles all around and wants to do his own thing (he’s a very active boy) and it’s exhausting trying to keep him safe in the water and he doesn’t want to join in with the different activities would rather do his own thing!
although he has definitely picked up skills doing it such as holding onto the bar etc

Im wondering about dropping lessons till he’s a bit older but don’t know if I should preserve

If I drop them what age do people recommend doing it again?

AIBU- carry on with the lessons, he does love being in the water and he’s still learning
AINBU- Just drop the lessons till he’s older

Just take him to regularly splash and play in a pool whenever it is convient for him. Get some swimming lessons for yourself. When his is 4 or 5 yrs old start him in proper lessons.

Drop them if you don't think he's gaining anything from it, but carry on taking him swimming yourself regularly so he remains confident in the water.
People will probably tell you that abandoning lessons is terrible and that 4 years old is way too old to start swimming lessons- but actually as a mum of 2 older DC who are very good/confident swimmers baby swimming lessons are not essential at all and starting later is fine.

We started DS a bit younger than yours and by 1 he was swimming (badly) and able to float if he ever fell into a pool and extremely confident in the water. But that was the aim of the classes we took him to. Since then they’ve been building on his skills.

If the class isn’t to build water confidence then drop it.

These lessons gie parents a reason to be out the house and regular exposure to swimming. They don't really do anything that can't be achieved by taking them yourself regularly.

Actual swimming is school age!

My little girl started lessons at 3. It was way too early for her, she's 5 now and has only just (and I mean the past month) started to enjoy it and things clicking. I wish I'd started later and intend to with my son - he goes every couple of weeks just for a splash about but not to a proper lesson. Every kid is different but I'd say at 9m maybe just take him for a play with you?

I took my eldest to swimming lessons when I was on maternity leave but won't be taking my youngest, they're just too expensive for what you get and now I've done one lot I feel confident enough to take my youngest on my own. I'll continue taking them on my own until they're at school then I'll look into lessons, I do believe it's a necessary life skill but think it can be delayed for a bit

Thanks for all the replies
I do think he would enjoy a non structured session in the pool more and come back to formal lessons in the future
It was quite embarrassing today when the other babies were serenely floating about and he was having none of it 😂

These sessions are for you not him.

I took DD every week to play from 6weeks onwards and then put her into lessons at 7 years, she was already water confident and could doggy paddle a couple of lengths so just needed help with her technique. Then went on to competitive swim for a bit and rookies lifeguards.

Children shouldn't be anywhere near water unsupervised until 8+ and all children/people should be taught to float not to swim to survive as the sea is unforgiving no matter how big or strong a swimmer you are.

I think these swimming lessons are a massive rip off.

If I wanted to sing songs with other mums I would book into a baby music class, not choose to do it while standing waist deep in a pool.

You can get your baby water confident in the bath and then by taking him swimming by yourself, at a time that suits you and him.

My kids started swimming at 4 in the cheap council run classes and my eldest is now swimming confidently in all strokes at 6.

A 1 year old that can swim? Can he even walk?

Always on mumsnet I think I've read it all but sone crackers always come up. 🤣

To the OP I think 5 is a great age to start child learning to swim properly. If he does it right he'll be at 25m badge level within about 10 lessons. My oldest Was 4 that was a bit young. Youngest was closer to 6 started lessons in September and got the 25m badge by christmas