Swimming tick list

[Jayne266]

Right after weeks of me backing out I am now going to take my 4 month old swimming. Has any one any tips or a list of what's needed to make it a quick and easy experience. Or items to take?

A toy to entertain them - and use a beach bag so yiu can reach in and grab stuff easily without fiddling with zips etc.

And they're often hungry afterwards.

Have fun!

A changing mat, every surface seemed to be cold and surprisingly wet! I know, who'd have thought it.
Take the towel to the swimming pool, don't leave it in your locker.
Hungry and sleepy!!!

I use an Ikea blue bag - really easy to find stuff/waterproof/big enough for everything.

Choose your pool carefully - the warmer the better.

Take extra towels - one to wrap them in, one to lie them on/one to dry them with when they've weed on the other one.

Take the car seat or pushchair into the changing area with you so that you can keep them dry once they're dressed waiting for you.

Is it a warm pool? If not then you might want to get a warm swim vest (for the baby not you).
Obviously swim nappies, and at our pool you have to put a waterproof nappy cover on too, called a 'happy nappy'
Wear your costume under your clothes. Wear something really easy to pull on and off, for both you and baby! I wear cotton maxi dresses or yoga pants/top (not easy gettng skinny jeans on damp legs)
When mine were that age and not yet moving, I tended wrap them up in towel and leave them while I got myself dry and dressed, then dry the baby - otherwise you just drip all over them.
Abandon any thoughts of having a shower yourself!
Good luck! We've been taking our twins since they were 12 weeks old, now 13 months, and they love it!

As cee says, get them wrapped up and the dry yourself first. Hooded towels are good to keep their wee heads warm. Take easy clothes for them too, a sleepsuit is ideal.

I had for both of my young ones a neoprene baby swimsuit. Keeps them lovely and warm in the water.

I swore by the little neoprene body wetsuits - they really do keep them warmer - i was sceptical as their arms and legs are out, but a finger down the back proved they were toasty! Especially important for dc2 who may have to stay in the water a long time because of toddler sibling!

Can pick them up cheap on ebay

Ok ordered wetsuit from eBay have a few hooded towels (need to find big ones they all seem to barely cover him) have got a baby ring seat thing any good? I didn't think about getting myself dressed first I would have done him. Tunics and leggings for me Baby suit, vest and snow suit for him. Haven't got a baby toy suitable for water will hunt one out today. I am really nervous for me (body issues being a bigger mum) really excited for him and keen to get going. My nephew is 10yrs old and can't swim and I really want my DS to be a water baby xxx

I've been taking my dd since she was 6 weeks. I take a seperate bag from my changing bag.

Swim nappy
Nappy cover
Wetsuit (although shes started swimming without it but then were in a therapeutic pool at 33 degrees)
Wipes
Her in babygro and vest
Towel with hood (I got a great one from mamas and papas that poppers up around her.

I get her out and wrap her in the towel, take nappy etc off while shes in towel, dry and dress her. Then I get dressed and feed her (shes still ebf) She drops off after that and I'm guaranteed a peaceful drive home.

I have to say whatever I do she screams from getting out till shes dressed as she does get cold, I've not worked out how to solve this except to be as quick as possible so be warned he may do this but I wouldn't not go because of this as she absolutely loves it.

Enjoy, you'll have so much fun. (btw I'm still wearing my maternity swimsuit, people are so busy looking at the cute baby they barely notice you!)

My most important item is DH! He can see to DS (now almost 7 months, swimming weekly since he was 8 weeks old and LOVES it) poolside while I sort myself out in the changing room afterwards.

I put DS in his swim nappy and happy nappy under his clothes before we go. I pack a spare swim nappy in case of explosion en route (it's only ever happened once) and a clean normal nappy for after. All he needs extra then is a hooded towel. I wear my swimsuit under a tracksuit, then all I need extra is a towel and my underwear to change into afterwards. I don't take anything else (no toys or anything) - I don't find I need anything else as it would just get wet anyway.

My DH takes LO swimming each week, and I go occasionally...
We take two towels for her (plus one per adult) - one to dry her and a second to dress her on.
Adults put the swim kit on before we go, we change her when we get there (swim nappies don't absorb wee I think). we take a couple of swim nappies in case and a change of "normal" nappy.

We change her last when getting in and first when getting out, but it's necessary to strap her in a car seat/pram/change table while we change unless we're both there. (the weekly swim group put a carry cot in the changing room which is useful but OTT to take with you).

At 4 mo she only wore a swim nappy because the pool was a good temperature and happy nappies are not required. And she also disliked getting out.

Work out how you're going to get into the pool while holding your baby. If its a toddler pool and has sloped edge or similar it won't be a problem. But if an adult pool, you should take a mat and lie your baby on the side on the pool while you get in. Then reach up to get your baby. It's safer than carrying them down those ladder step things adult pools have. It's a bit weird to lie your baby on the side but as you're close they can't roll into the pool.

Take a little watering can or ball to play with.

I always forgot something. Money for locker.

I take a dressing gown for after and strip off my cossie and put the dressing gown on.

Then I dress the baby. Usually by then the baby is screaming for a feed so you can sit and feed when wearing a dressing gown.

By the time the feed has finished you will be dry enough to get dressed :)

If you are going by car take the car seat in with you for somewhere to put your baby.