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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

What age for swimming?

17 replies

Cordial · 16/07/2013 16:21

I think the official advice is 5 months but i have lots of friends taking their kids from 6 weeks. My dd is 9 weeks I'd like to let her 'swim' at the weekend but not if it endangers her health can anybody shed any light on what is minimum age and why?

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bruffin · 16/07/2013 16:30

The advice used to be once they had all there first vaccines, but that was 17 years ago and im sure it has probably changed since then. I took mine from 5 months and DD had swimming lessons from 6 months which was the youngest out pool does them.

iseenodust · 16/07/2013 16:36

It was still after first vaccines about 6 years ago.

lljkk · 16/07/2013 18:50

They don't get a lot out of it until at least 5 months, I really wouldn't bother any sooner. Save your money!

looseleaf · 16/07/2013 18:55

This is interesting and I do agree sooner better. I used to not see the point but our 6 year old started recently and is very afraid and cautious. Mind you so was our then 18 month old and he's still not exactly enthusiastic after 2 terms! Am making an effort before school teaches them as DH and I both loathe swimming

ElphabaTheGreen · 16/07/2013 21:05

We started swimming with DS at 8 weeks. From his first lesson he was smiley and cool as a cucumber. Now at almost 14 months he's a complete fish and is still never happier than when he's in the water.

We do Water Babies and I saw in one of their newsletters that their youngest was four DAYS old.

devonsmummy · 16/07/2013 21:15

My nephew went to his first class at 6 days!
Apparently they still have the reflex to hold their breath under water

ilovepowerhoop · 16/07/2013 21:26

there is no minimum age and they don't have to have their jags.

SizzleSazz · 16/07/2013 21:28

We went with DD1 at 6 weeks (with Aquatots) and she is a complete fish

BearsLikeMarmalade · 16/07/2013 21:31

Personally I found starting at about 6 months to be easier in terms of being more predictable/longer periods awake.

SizzleSazz · 16/07/2013 21:32

The holding breath reflex wanes by 6 months I think

TwasBrillig · 16/07/2013 21:32

Er. At 4 days surely mum is still bleeding???

xyla · 16/07/2013 21:33

however, i believe the youngest ones tend to wear wetsuits if the pool is not specifically a warm baby pool - i think something to do with newborns not regulating their temperatures very well.

devonsmummy · 16/07/2013 21:34

Doesn't have to be mum taking them, my nephew went with his dad

SkiSchoolRun · 16/07/2013 21:35

They get SO much out of baby swimming. We waited til 3m (more because of my bleeding/wounds) with both. WaterBabies from 4m. At 4.5 DD1 swims well on front and back and at almost 2 DD2 is swimming well underwater on front. More importantly they love it and are safe and comfortable. It was fabulous bonding time at first too

stressbucket1 · 16/07/2013 21:42

We started water babies at 3 months they don't need all their jabs before hand but make sure the pool is warm and dont keep them in there for too long 1/2 hr max first time

Original poster

Cordial · 16/07/2013 22:47

Thanks guys for all the responses, this is just a paddle at a local pool where we are meeting friends rather than lessons. Though id like to start her as soon as poss as my dh has profound fear of swimming so want to avoid passing that on! So I think the water temp might be the key thing here at the moment it's a kids pool but at a private gym so unlikely to be baby friendly temp. I think I'll leave it to be on safe side and research some lessons locally.

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Twicethehugs · 17/07/2013 09:14

We started taking our twins when they started enjoying baths, just before 3 months - no lessons as I can't take them both on my own so we just go to local pool on Sundays. They enjoy it and it's a nice activity for us to do as a family esp in this hot weather. We wanted to start before they have time to become scared of the water and they are learning e.g. Close their eyes in anticipation of being dunked!

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