Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Behaviour/development

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

Flip

Original poster

Baby swimming

9 replies

leonieandevie · 03/11/2007 13:33

Just started Litle Dippers. DD hated first session although pool was too cold. She's got a cold now so don't think she'll be well enough to go to next class. Just wondered what everyone thought about these groups? A few people have suggested that it can give bubs more ear infections and the dreaded "What to Expect in First Year" book actually advises against baby swimming completely.
Just another worry for my addled brain...

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

GunpowderDragonsAndSoup · 03/11/2007 13:35

I've done it with all 3 of mine. DS1 - no ear infections, DS2 - one before he started them and one after he finished! DD-none as yet, 1.5 years in.

They all love the water and are completely fearless in it. Both DSs could swim before they turned 3.

And the underwater photos are fab

Original poster

leonieandevie · 03/11/2007 13:37

Great, thanks - just hope she starts to enjoy it soon. I was expecting all smiles and instead I got screams which didn't go down well with other mums who had blissfully happy babies.

OP posts:

McDreamy · 03/11/2007 13:38

Agree with gunpowderetc both of mine started swimmnig as babies. DS only 2 now but doesn't seem to have alot of ear infections. DD is 4 and is a good swimmer. She has been swimming unaided since about 3 too.

GunpowderDragonsAndSoup · 03/11/2007 13:42

Personally I think your either prone to ear infections or you're not. Also, a lot of babies are somewhat unimpressed at the start of the course, the key is to make it fun and don't stress about it. Keep smiling at them and talking in that funny cheerful voice they seem to insist on!

BroccoliSpears · 03/11/2007 13:58

Have you got a little wetsuit for her? I wouldn't like swimming if I was cold either.

I've been swimming at least once a week with dd since she was about 4 months old (now 18 mths) - she loves it. She powers round the pool in her armbands, jumps in from the side, sits on my back while I swim in the big pool, swims underwater. It's fab.

I think it's really important to swim with them when they're little, and to keep it up, because swimming is such a necessary skill and I imagine it must be more of a challenge if you go for the first time when older. Am currently trying to work out how I'm going to manage when dc2 arrives in spring.

Original poster

leonieandevie · 03/11/2007 14:26

Thanks for that. Ok will get wetsuit and carry on grinning! We're emigrating to Australia next year where swimming is vital, so I'd love her to be happy with it by then. Any tips on making it a bit more fun?

OP posts:

beautifulgirls · 04/11/2007 22:31

We go to a pool that is superwarm - make the kids so much happier with it from the outset - me too

My Dd#1 has never been all that thrilled with the lessons and at times I have considered stopping them, only for her to cheer up all over again and start to enjoy the next few lessons. I think she is just a cautious child for the most part. She started lessons when she was 4 months and is now 3yrs old.

Dd#2 started when she was 6mths old and is now 19mths. She LOVES the water. She has no fear and thinks it is all one huge joke. I think two things have made her enjoy the lessons much more than DD#1 does - firstly from the start I was not so tense with her in the water - I knew what to expect from it and so she had the chilled mummy approach that I was less able to give to DD#1. Secondly she is just a naturally outgoing kid so that makes things easier for her to try and enjoy.

I would suggest that you look to another class if you can in a warm pool. We use a private pool that is only hired by the swim school we go to and kept warm for us. As far as you are able to do try and be really positive with your baby in the water. Make sure you always smile and look happy even when you are not, and wierd though it may sound with a small baby, make sure you always use positive words to them. eg if baby comes up crying it is better to say "you tried so hard then well done" than to say "ooh you didn't like that very much did you, nevermind".

I would stick with it though - I am glad I have even for DD#1 with all the hard times we have had with her. Some weeks are better than others for sure, and they are usually worse when they have had a break between terms and not been able to go swimming in between anywhere.

beautifulgirls · 04/11/2007 22:33

OOh and for the record - DD#1 swims with grommets in her ears. We use ear plugs and a head band for her (see swimstop website). The grommets are due to glue ear - nothing to do with the swimming though. I am not aware of any issues with ear infections in babies and swimming at our pool at least.

LittleB · 05/11/2007 12:17

Dd has been going into the pool since she was 6weeks old, (she's 2.6 now) and attending lessons since she was 7mths. She loves swimming, and I enjoy having fun with her too. She's never had an ear infection (despite both DH and me having them when we were toddlers). We do go to a pool thats warm though, and she did only go in for a few minutes the first few times we went. Is it worth taking your dd to a non class session, our pool runs parent and toddler sessions, when there are only under 3s in the little pool, this would give you a chance to both get used to it in your own time without the pressure of a class and teacher. I don't take her when she's not very well though, I'd aviod it if she's got a bad cold as it'd probably make her feel worse, especially if the pool is cold. I would second making sure its fun too, and not getting anxious if they don't do as they are supposed to do, they all get there in their own time.

Flip