Taking baby swimming for first time

[Justanothermum93]

Hi all :)

We're taking our LO swimming in a couple of weeks and have been reading lots of conflicting advise. She's 7 months now so want to know about what nappies she needs and if we have to take things like floats?

Thanks in advance :)

You can get reuseable or disposable swim nappies: word of warning, they only keep in poo, not wee, so don’t think about putting it on before you get there or you will probably have a very wet car seat!

Floats are actually quite dangerous and our swimming instructor always rants about them and says they should be banned for babies. Basically if a child/baby can’t swim you hold them in your arms and move them about that way. You can get floats they lay on that are fine under close supervision, but those ring things they sit in are dangerous as they can easily flip and hold a child underwater.

Go and have fun and splash about and if your baby gets water in their face laugh and smile and don’t freak out (even if they do). They take their reactions from you so if you think it’s ok they will think it’s ok.

The best thing you can do is try and get them to hold on the side (or the bar) as they can learn that quite quickly from quite a young age and it’s a useful skill :)

Oh and don’t expect to last more than 20-30 minutes! If they are very skinny consider a swim body warmer, especially if they are going in a normal pool.

Thank you Ely :) so you have to wear a normal nappy underneath a swim nappy as I've heard they should be double protected?

No, not a normal nappy! Just a swim nappy and then a swimming costume (various types). In theory you don’t need anything else other than a swim nappy but most people use swim nappy and shorts/costume x

My DD is 9 months and been taking her swimming since she was 2 months, in our local pool they just advise you to put a disposable or reusable swim nappy on and then a swimming costume. I've recently signed her up to other swim classes which happen in a hotel swimming pool as the water is much warmer, and they advise to use a disposable swim nappy and then a "happy nappy" on top and also a swimming costume if you want but don't have to.
I use the disposable underneath and a happy nappy on top just for extra protection because sometimes my DD can have some explosive nappies and I'm paranoid this will happen while swimming so I feel better with both on haha

Disposable swim nappy
Neoprene happy nappy
Then swimsuit if you want.

Most pools insist on double nappy.

Thank you :) we've bought some disposable swim nappies and then a reusable one from our leisure centre abdw a swimsuit for ontop 🤞Still nervous but double protection :)

We started taking our DD when she was 2 months old. We are lucky as its a leisure pool that has a gradient into the pool. We took her in the busy school holidays (summer) and she loved it! As someone said don't make a big deal out of water splashing on the face ect. We use the finding nemo swimming nappies a bikini (its easier to get on and off) and a swim jacket (one with floats in). We had to put her in her wet suit last week due to her getting cold. once on she was happy to stay in till it was time to come out. She was lovely and warm.