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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take baby swimming…

66 replies

Gerbera55 · 13/10/2025 08:32

when I can’t swim myself?

I know; it’s an important life skill and I really should be able to swim, but I can’t.
I want my baby to learn to swim so I was thinking of taking them to the pool. Would this be stupid seeing as I can’t swim myself? I’d be in the baby pool/shallow end and would probably use an inflatable chair for baby.

I was also looking at something like Water Babies classes but again, would the instructor expect me to be able to swim?

OP posts:
MidnightPatrol · 13/10/2025 08:34

So yes - you should get your child learning to swim, albeit I don’t think there’s much point as a baby.

You would be better off over the next ~2 years getting yourself swimming lessons.

Jellybunny56 · 13/10/2025 08:35

Spend the money on getting yourself swimming lessons instead, ASAP.

TeenToTwenties · 13/10/2025 08:36

I doubt water babies would be expecting you to be able to swim, as you should be holding your baby surely?

I would also imagine any water babies scheme would have you with feet on the floor for safety.

DappledThings · 13/10/2025 08:37

In a baby swim class you won't be in water deeper than waist height. Nobody will know you can't swim.

But you should learn separately.

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 13/10/2025 08:37

No, you do not need to be able to swim to take your baby to learn to swim. Its a great idea, go for it x

Eenameenadeeka · 13/10/2025 08:39

You won't need to be able to swim to do the baby lesson because it's a shallow pool, so you can do the baby lesson and take them off b the toddler pool. It's a good idea for you to also learn separately as well though:)

Original poster
Gerbera55 · 13/10/2025 08:39

I should have said in my OP, I plan to learn to swim while I’m on maternity leave. The pools local to me only have adult lessons during the day in the week and as I work in a school, I’ve never been able to do them so maternity leave is my chance!

OP posts:
Zoono · 13/10/2025 08:41

I think you should prioritise getting lessons for yourself first. Toddlers and younger children can be very unpredictable and can move very quickly in swimming pools, as I've scarily found out myself. Thankfully my DD didn't get hurt, as I reacted very quickly but I feel she'd be in a lot of danger in a swimming pool, if I couldn't swim myself.

Arcticsway · 13/10/2025 08:45

In the water babies classes I see every week at my pool, they stay in the shallow end. There is a lifeguard, an instructor, and you aren't out of your depth anyway so I can't see why you'd need to swim. Good idea to learn for the future though.

Crazybigtoe · 13/10/2025 08:52

Other things your can do, when not at the pool, is getting baby used to having water on their head. Take them into the shower with you, water over their face when in bath.

Lessons with a baby won't need you to swim, but up until they are 8, you will need to be in the water with them- and that's when it's more important as they will want to be out of the baby pool!

DaisyChain505 · 13/10/2025 08:56

I believe getting babies in water and comfortable and confident from a young g age is vital.

Go for it. Even if they’re not “learning to swim” at a very young age they’re building confidence and it will all pay off when they’re at an age where learning techniques starts.

InveterateWineDrinker · 13/10/2025 08:59

Gerbera55 · 13/10/2025 08:39

I should have said in my OP, I plan to learn to swim while I’m on maternity leave. The pools local to me only have adult lessons during the day in the week and as I work in a school, I’ve never been able to do them so maternity leave is my chance!

Er, who will look after the baby while you're in swimming lessons?

To answer the original question, I took DD1 to Puddleducks in the pool at a nearby hotel. We stayed in water that reached chest-height so it would have been possible to do without being able to swim, but with DD2 I took her to a different class in a gym and there was no way a non-swimmer could have managed that. Do check with the provider but specifically to the particular venue.

Bitzee · 13/10/2025 09:07

I reckon you’d be fine doing water babies as a non swimmer as it’s just standing waist deep water but it’s all a bit pointless as far as swimming goes because they aren’t capable of learning properly until age 3/4 when they have the physical capability and ability to follow instructions. And you can get them used to water in the bath and by taking them in the shower with you. It’s just something to do with your baby the same way baby sensory or rhyme time is. What you really need to do is prioritise the lessons for yourself for all the future stuff like supervising your older child in the pool on holiday.

Original poster
Gerbera55 · 13/10/2025 09:07

InveterateWineDrinker · 13/10/2025 08:59

Er, who will look after the baby while you're in swimming lessons?

To answer the original question, I took DD1 to Puddleducks in the pool at a nearby hotel. We stayed in water that reached chest-height so it would have been possible to do without being able to swim, but with DD2 I took her to a different class in a gym and there was no way a non-swimmer could have managed that. Do check with the provider but specifically to the particular venue.

Show quote history

Their dad/grandma/aunty ☺️

OP posts:
Original poster
Gerbera55 · 13/10/2025 09:12

Thanks for the advice everyone!

OP posts:
rwalker · 13/10/2025 09:15

you can definitely teach your child to be water confident
then crack on with your lessons

DatingSwan · 13/10/2025 09:15

I took my kids to private swimming lessons & saw a mother & baby learning to swim, I thought it was brilliant!

So it was the grandmother, mother & baby. Grandmother held baby & played with them in the water whilst the mother had some time with the instructor. Then the mother had some time with the baby whilst they were doing things like water over the head etc, & grandmother went off for a swim. They were the only ones in the pool.

I know that you say you are going to get lesson by yourself, Gerbera55, I just thought I'd mention this as a possible option too.

DappledThings · 13/10/2025 09:19

Lessons with a baby won't need you to swim, but up until they are 8, you will need to be in the water with them
Just checking you are conflating lessons and general swimming here because I've not been in the pool in my children's lessons since they were 4, definitely not 8.

user2848502016 · 13/10/2025 09:22

You can definitely take your baby swimming, stick to the shallow end and make sure there’s a lifeguard (there will be in a council run public pool), it’s good to get your baby used to the water.
Baby swimming lessons are a bit pointless in my opinion (babies won’t learn to swim and they can still become nervous of the water as toddlers) but they can be a nice way to introduce the baby to the water and to meet other parents, you can check with the individual instructor whether you need to be able to swim but I would think not as you will be in the shallow end with a qualified instructor if anything went wrong.

Starting swimming lessons at around age 4 is the most important thing though, so before then you could think about adult lessons for yourself

BadgernTheGarden · 13/10/2025 09:22

You would just be standing in very shallow water with your baby, are you actually water phobic or just can't swim? I don't remember ever being asked if I could swim when taking baby to baby swim classes, which at the start are more splashing around getting used to and enjoying the water (while wearing suitable flotation devices).

QuickPeachPoet · 13/10/2025 09:23

Gerbera55 · 13/10/2025 08:39

I should have said in my OP, I plan to learn to swim while I’m on maternity leave. The pools local to me only have adult lessons during the day in the week and as I work in a school, I’ve never been able to do them so maternity leave is my chance!

This is a really good idea OP. As you say, it's a life skill and one day your baby will be a mobile child who could end up in water very quickly, especially on holiday and you need to have the skills to supervise her safely.
But taking her to a pool where you are able to stand is a great idea. It is good to get babies used to being in water at an early age. That way it won't be such a shock to the system when you are teaching them to swim.

Out of curiosity, how did you miss the boat to learn before? No judgement, as it sounds like you are really invested in this :)

Original poster
Gerbera55 · 13/10/2025 09:24

BadgernTheGarden · 13/10/2025 09:22

You would just be standing in very shallow water with your baby, are you actually water phobic or just can't swim? I don't remember ever being asked if I could swim when taking baby to baby swim classes, which at the start are more splashing around getting used to and enjoying the water (while wearing suitable flotation devices).

I just can’t swim but it stems from a horrible experience during a school swimming lesson which left me scared of water for a long time. I’ve worked on that now though!

OP posts:
bruffin · 13/10/2025 09:25

DaisyChain505 · 13/10/2025 08:56

I believe getting babies in water and comfortable and confident from a young g age is vital.

Go for it. Even if they’re not “learning to swim” at a very young age they’re building confidence and it will all pay off when they’re at an age where learning techniques starts.

and they are also learning water safety ie automatically holding breath when they go underwater and turning to the side when they jump in.

cornbunting · 13/10/2025 09:27

Bitzee · 13/10/2025 09:07

I reckon you’d be fine doing water babies as a non swimmer as it’s just standing waist deep water but it’s all a bit pointless as far as swimming goes because they aren’t capable of learning properly until age 3/4 when they have the physical capability and ability to follow instructions. And you can get them used to water in the bath and by taking them in the shower with you. It’s just something to do with your baby the same way baby sensory or rhyme time is. What you really need to do is prioritise the lessons for yourself for all the future stuff like supervising your older child in the pool on holiday.

This is nonsense. My youngest earned her 5m badge at two years old - young children are certainly capable of learning to swim, just like they're capable of learning to walk!

OP: absolutely take your baby to swimming, it's a huge sensory experience, and good to get them familiar with being in water early on in life. Makes learning to swim later on much easier as they're already comfortable and happy, and "playing" become "swimming" very naturally. Your plan of taking the opportunity to learn to swim yourself is a good one. I hope you and your baby enjoy yourselves 💖

Original poster
Gerbera55 · 13/10/2025 09:28

QuickPeachPoet · 13/10/2025 09:23

This is a really good idea OP. As you say, it's a life skill and one day your baby will be a mobile child who could end up in water very quickly, especially on holiday and you need to have the skills to supervise her safely.
But taking her to a pool where you are able to stand is a great idea. It is good to get babies used to being in water at an early age. That way it won't be such a shock to the system when you are teaching them to swim.

Out of curiosity, how did you miss the boat to learn before? No judgement, as it sounds like you are really invested in this :)

Show quote history

I only started to learn to swim during school lessons which didn’t happen often enough to have much effect. Then I had a horrible lesson where the instructor tried to make me swim a length of the pool (I wasn’t ready for this at all) and I just remember panicking and then developed a fear of being in water!

OP posts: