Swimming should be fun.....

[GailTheGoldfish]

6mo DD is getting ready to crawl, always moving and generally getting more physical so I decided to take her to swimming classes. She is a lovely natured baby, always happy apart from the odd grizzle like all babies and the beginnings of teeth coming through. First lesson last week, she absolutely loved it at first and squealed and kicked and then suddenly had a meltdown when the teacher gave us floats to use. She cried through the rest of the session - I've never seen her like that but just assumed she had tired herself out, was overwhelmed etc. Second lesson today she cried pretty much the whole first half and only quietened down when she got hold of a rubber duck to chew! The teacher was brilliant and spent some time with her at the end which was lovely. I want to persevere as she seemed to love it at first but am surprised at how she reacted. Obviously I don't want to distress her and am keeping her close. I know it's not life or death but does anyone have any tips or strategies they used to help acclimatise babies to the water?

Try taking her to your local pool yourself outside of lessons. Make it fun, take some of her bath toys with you. You might find she reacts differently. Even if she's still not keen, if you keep going regularly she'll settle into it. My DD has been swimming from 10wks and at 19mths has all of a sudden developed a bit of anxiety with it. Its V common for them to go through phases of this. Just keep it fun, splashy, lots of smiling at her and encouragement, don't make her do anything she really doesn't want to do. Good luck!

I agree with DomesticGodess - go with her yourself once a week in addition to the lesson.

I wouldnt even do classes at that age. Neither of mine got lessons until they were closer to the age of 4 but we did take them to the pool to play/splash about, etc before that

Thanks everyone, I have been keeping it very smiley and trying to jolly her along. A friend suggested bath toys so I will do that and also try going just the two of us. The classes are very simple with songs etc and the teachers say they have seen much worse reactions than DD! It just really surprised me as she isn't a crier at all. I've signed up for a term, if by the end of that she's no better I'll leave it but I would love to see her having fun there!