Page 3 | To take baby swimming…

Original poster

Gerbera55 · 13/10/2025 13:34

Crazybigtoe · 13/10/2025 13:31

I'm talking going to the pool for general swimming... . Not lessons specifically. Although if the OP doesn't feel confident in the water, I would suggest they gain confidence first before taking their child- as it will be more enjoyable for child and parent.

I would suggest that regular fun general swimming when kids are small (toddlers not necessarily babies) is beneficial.

It really does depend on how confident the OP is in the water. You can be confident and not be able to swim. Not panicking in the water is key. Knowing limits is key.

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I am confident enough to not panic and when I do go into pools, I never go into water deeper than shoulder height.

OP posts:

cbbo · 13/10/2025 13:37

You do no need to learn to swim. It works be a lovely bonding session for you to take baby swimming.
my daughter has been doing water babies since 10 weeks old and she is now nearly 3 and very cinfi

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 13/10/2025 13:39

cornbunting · 13/10/2025 09:27

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 💖

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I was wondering about this, as my son is just under 2, and he's definitely kicking and scooping with his arms in floats!

OP - I wouldn't bother with a seated float if you're trying to teach swimming. You don't swim seated upright, so it's better to start as they mean to go on.

JillMW · 13/10/2025 13:49

Baby classes are well worth the money. You go in with baby but don’t need to be able to swim. If you are afraid of the water then it might be good to take some (separate) lessons yourself. If you really are worried is there another lady who might step in? I absolutely love teaching babies to swim and have, over the years taken many friends children for classes and practice. It is a lovely thing to do for your baby, enjoy.

Bitzee · 13/10/2025 14:03

cornbunting · 13/10/2025 09:27

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 💖

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It wasn’t nonsense for mine. I’d consider any lessons paid for before about age 4 a waste of money basically, unless I look at it purely as a nice activity along the same lines as baby sensory or toddler groups. Mine both started at around 2.5, got their 5m badge quite quickly too and then completely stalled with their progress until age 4 because their physical capabilities and ability to follow instructions needed to catch up for them to learn any proper stroke development. Maybe your experience is different, kids are all individuals of course, but talking to other parents and swim instructors it is apparently quite normal. Then it was flying progress from age 4 because their bodies and brains were ready. With hindsight I could have just started them at age 3.5-4 and I’m confident that their level of swimming at age 5 would have been exactly the same.

intrepidgiraffe · 13/10/2025 14:05

You wouldn’t need to be able to swim at a baby class and they’re great for baby’s water confidence, but agree you’d be much better off learning to swim yourself first

Bumblebee72 · 13/10/2025 14:12

Bitzee · 13/10/2025 14:03

It wasn’t nonsense for mine. I’d consider any lessons paid for before about age 4 a waste of money basically, unless I look at it purely as a nice activity along the same lines as baby sensory or toddler groups. Mine both started at around 2.5, got their 5m badge quite quickly too and then completely stalled with their progress until age 4 because their physical capabilities and ability to follow instructions needed to catch up for them to learn any proper stroke development. Maybe your experience is different, kids are all individuals of course, but talking to other parents and swim instructors it is apparently quite normal. Then it was flying progress from age 4 because their bodies and brains were ready. With hindsight I could have just started them at age 3.5-4 and I’m confident that their level of swimming at age 5 would have been exactly the same.

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There nothing wrong with seeing it as an activity to do with babies for enjoyment. By that logic pretty much anything you do with a baby is a waste of time. Those going to baby sensory don't develop super sensory skills. Those going to baby music aren't going to be better at playing the violin. Generally these classes are all to keep mums sane as having a baby is pretty dull for people used to busy lives.

If you see it from a utilitarian perspective you might as well wait until they are 8 or 9 and do an intensive course.

whatevenwasthat · 13/10/2025 14:16

I do water babies and am pretty much a non swimmer. Its the best thing I've chosen to do with my kids.

There's one thing we do where the parent has to kind of push off the wall with little one held out in front, and we've had a few times where we have them on our backs and are meant to swim maybe 10m with them but my instructor is so lovely she's said just walk along, it really doesn't matter. They're there to help and never judge (at least my instructor doesn't). My DC are so confident in the water now. I've been to a few different pools with the lessons and but each one is sectioned off so you're never out of standing depth.

Original poster

Gerbera55 · 13/10/2025 14:21

whatevenwasthat · 13/10/2025 14:16

I do water babies and am pretty much a non swimmer. Its the best thing I've chosen to do with my kids.

There's one thing we do where the parent has to kind of push off the wall with little one held out in front, and we've had a few times where we have them on our backs and are meant to swim maybe 10m with them but my instructor is so lovely she's said just walk along, it really doesn't matter. They're there to help and never judge (at least my instructor doesn't). My DC are so confident in the water now. I've been to a few different pools with the lessons and but each one is sectioned off so you're never out of standing depth.

This is really good to know - thanks!

OP posts:

SpottedDeer · 13/10/2025 14:26

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?

I think it's a lovely idea. I know someone who started taking her son there from when we was just two months old. My daughter has had a floaty vest since she was two and swims with the vest on. She doesn't need me holding her, she just picks where she wants to go and slowly swims along to get there. The fatter you are the more buoyant you'll be. Basically just try to hold your breath, keep your fingers together and make sweeping motions. Kick legs at the same time. Then you're swimming.

Had an ex who couldn't swim. He was quite ripped and didn't have a lot of body fat so sank easily. He refused to go in a public pool due to the water not being changed (even though there's the chlorine). He'd paddle in the sea but that was it.

Jan24680 · 13/10/2025 16:49

I did 8 months of swimming lessons with my baby. My feet didn't leave the bottom of the pool once. I was in the merchant navy, it was not a requirement to swim, just to float in a life jacket and paddle around. Swimming is great fun but the life skill is knowing how to survive if you accidentally fall in/ get in trouble.

Lauzg90 · 13/10/2025 17:07

Bitzee · 13/10/2025 14:03

It wasn’t nonsense for mine. I’d consider any lessons paid for before about age 4 a waste of money basically, unless I look at it purely as a nice activity along the same lines as baby sensory or toddler groups. Mine both started at around 2.5, got their 5m badge quite quickly too and then completely stalled with their progress until age 4 because their physical capabilities and ability to follow instructions needed to catch up for them to learn any proper stroke development. Maybe your experience is different, kids are all individuals of course, but talking to other parents and swim instructors it is apparently quite normal. Then it was flying progress from age 4 because their bodies and brains were ready. With hindsight I could have just started them at age 3.5-4 and I’m confident that their level of swimming at age 5 would have been exactly the same.

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Everyone is different, as you said. My eldest started lessons at 6 months. She was always water confident. However I felt that at 2 she was a great swimmer, I just stood in the pool while she swam to get toys (with arm bands on) . Before she was 4 she was moved to stage 1, a few months later to stage two. Once she was in stage 2 that’s where her progress deteriorated. She was there for over a year, basically not improving. She was tall enough to just walk around the pool. After much discussion I finally got her moved to stage 3 (in the deep pool and she is finally making progress again. I would say from 4 and 1/4 to 5 and 3/4 progress was basically nothing.
However I did not take my youngest to lessons until she was just over 2. We went on holiday and she was terrified of the water. She’s been in lessons for around 6 months. She has definitely improved but she is not at the same place my eldest was at that age. Far less independent. I wish I had started her lessons earlier as I can see big differences between the two of them.

LLM21 · 13/10/2025 20:32

I can't swim but we live near the sea and I wanted our son to learn, we started baby classes about 4 months old and he still goes now age 3, me not swimming hadn't been an issue at all

HappyMamma2023 · 13/10/2025 20:36

I don't recommend Water Babies. There is a massive focus on dunking the baby ubderwater all to get a 'flying baby' photo. I'd recommend baby swim lessons st your local leisure centre instead. I pay £5 for 30 mins with 6 other mums & babies and we do games, nursery rhymes, swimming. It's fun and I feel much more relaxed than when we did Water Babies. My son didn't like being dunked and often held his breath which scared me.

Crazybigtoe · 13/10/2025 21:00

We did family swimming for all our kids as babies- but didn't pay for lessons. Just took them into the pool and played in the water. We did this mainly because I couldnt see the point of swimming lessons for babies ..and so saved my money for when they were older.

You might find that you have a couple of group lessons and then have the confidence to take baby by yourself or with another couple of parents.

Tbh I found the most tricky part of swimming with a baby was the changing post swim!! I recommend having a snack on hand as mine were always very hungry and tried after even a swim of 20 mins when small. I also recommend a warm swim vest (not a buoyancy aid)as water in some pools is colder. In some change rooms they have high chairs for babies but in others it's balancing with you and baby wet. It's quite a skill to get a system that works!

ConstantlyTired312 · 17/10/2025 20:49

I can swim but not very well. I took my daughter swimming from about 4 months old, then silly covid got in the way, then swimming again as a toddler. You'll only be in the training pool, so you won't be expected to swim. Now DD's older and we go in the big pool, there's still no need to swim, we just stay in the shallow end.

It's such a good use of maternity leave to learn to swim yourself, great idea! Also, look at what age your little one can start classes (they can be in pool for lessons without parents from 3 at our pool). DD has lessons as I am not good enough to teach her, and she's so good!