Want to start 10mo DD swimming, dumb questions...

[Bobby99]

...I expect these questions are very silly, but:

1. How do you get changed for swimming when you have an active crawler with you?

1. Do you take your babgy to a pool just for an open session to get used to being in the pool before going for baby lessons?

1. Are dads allowed to come to baby swimming lessons too?

1. Do I need to get one of those floaty things babies sit it?

I've never been a very comfident swimmer, and I was to give DD a better chance than I had to explore her sporty side!

1. Take her infant car seat or buggy into changing room or check if they have a playpen. Change her into costume last and back first to avoid her gettign too cold.
2. Up to you, pick a quiet time when there are no school lessons to add to the noise, chaos in the changingn area or restrict where you can go.
3. If they must ! It really only takes one of you though - the other could enjoy a real swim.
4. Lessons may not allow any flotation aids but it may make you feel more happy to go alone with her.

You are usually required to dress the baby in a swim nappy either reusable or disposable.

1. Quickly! Wear your costume under your clothes so all you need to do is whip off your clothes. Take a snack with you for DD, I used to give a rice cake at the right moment and that would give me about a minute and a half to get dressed!

2.I didn't just because the open sessions are normally so busy, I was very PFB was worried about others not seeing I had a baby with me and knocking into us.

1. My DH took DD1 lots, though worth knowing that my old swimming pool only allowed one parent in per child. So if DH and I wanted to go then one of us had to sit on the side.

4.We didn't, neither did anyone else. Probably depends on your pool. Go once and see what the others do.

Goodluck, I bet your DD will love the water.

I'd highly recommend baby swimming classes,they are fantastic fun for the children and if you're not a very confident swimmer having an instructor there would probably help. I'd try and find a warm pool and try a baby wetsuit or wrap-my ds loves swimming but always cried if he got cold. Take towels onto poolside too and have a drink/snack for straight after. Most of all enjoy!

depends a bit on your pool. Ours lets you take the buggy onto the poolside so its easy, baby strapped in seat while you change and you can pile all the stuff on the buggy.

Lessons are great for everyone's confidence. usually only one parent per child in the lesson but no reason why that can't be the dad.

floatie things can wait - DS (15 months) loves armbands so he can be independent but he's been at lessons since 6 months. the seat things are good for when you go just for swim not a lesson and you want to not have to have hold of DC all the time

Thanks everyone, I think I'll look for some proper baby swimming lessons. Thanks for all your advice.

We live in a lovely warm country and have been taking DS swimming for a while now- in outdoor pools with loungers and lovely steps to ease your way into the water, and he loves it! HOWEVER, when back in Scotland for the 'summer', I decided to take him to the local pool on my own...bloody hell!! I hadn't thought about anything...the playpen had a really solid plastic base, the flip down changing thingy was on a slant so he would have just slid off, so I had no idea where to put him while I changed! He wasn't even sitting up and the floor was (aren't they always?!!) minging so I couldn't put him there! I eventually found one of the flip down seats on the wall and had to strap him in REALLY tightly!!!! When we did get to the water, I then had to figure out how to get in safely...and after all that, the water was cold and we only stayed for 5-10 mins!!!!! We found other activities for the hols!
We're starting proper baby swim classes on SUnday, and I'm very excited!

I have been taking DS swimming since he was 7 weeks old. His 2nd birthday was 6 weeks ago, so:

1. How do you get changed for swimming when you have an active crawler with you?

Both the pools I go to have play pens in the changing rooms. Or take your buggy.

1. Do you take your babgy to a pool just for an open session to get used to being in the pool before going for baby lessons?

Either. We go to baby lessons in the toddler pool, then go for a splash in the big pool. It is a "Leisure pool" so has very shallow areas whuch DS can walk and crawl in. We also go to the Family Swim open sessions at weekends. Family Swim means children under 14 and parents only.

1. Are dads allowed to come to baby swimming lessons too?

Of course!

1. Do I need to get one of those floaty things babies sit it?

No. All you need is a swim nappy. DS had a tiny wetsuit when he first started at 7 weeks, but I did not feel the need to replace it when he grew out of it at about 6 months.