lessons or swim with me

[madame]

My dd is 2.4mths and I took her swimming today for the first time, she was very reluctant to begin with but then warmed to it and we ended up in there for around 45 mins with her really enjoying herself.

My question is should I just continue to take her on my own and get her confident with the water or should I go along to swimming lessons?

Swim with you, too young for lessons. You/she will benfit more if you wait until she is about 4.

i took my dd to swimming lessons at 4 months. she loved it. (you do it with the instructor showing you what to do - so you are still swimming with your LO, but guided) I took her to the next level around 6 months, and once again she really loved the water and been in it. I learned really useful ways of holding her, helping her do things etc, and there is a safety aspect as well, teaching them to fall face in, holding on to the side of the pool, how to go underwater etc. I can highly recommend swimming lessons (although i am talking about a baby, so not sure about anyone older) - and then also take her swimming on my own ....
I will wait a few months before putting her on another course - it is one of the most fun things i have done with her ... and seen those little thighs of her pounding in the water makes me smile ...

I second lapsedrunner. Especially if you are reasonably confident. On your own you you can do more of the things SHE enjoys most rather than what an instructor wants the whole class to do. If you want to learn how to help/hold her etc. there are books in the library with pictures that show these things.

Mother and Baby lessons are lovely! It was my favorite time with my children when they were babies.
Lots of nursery rhymes and play but also as krugerparkrules says they are taught lots of safety so that if they accidently fall into the pool they don't panic and automatically turn to the side etc
Our mother and baby lessons don't start until they are 6 months and go on until 3.

I'm pro lessons. ds and i have been going since he was 3mths old and he loves it. Although my friend has stopped going as her dd wasn't happy and cried when in the water so maybe its not for everyone. I think if your dd enjoyed the water then you should definetly try lessons.

Just to add (no expert here - just info from swimming classes) - to take babies for 30 mins in water ... and for the pool to be heated to 30 degrees ....
You could definately do it on your own, but the classes are fun, and I guess i needed the confidence of lessons before going on my own. It also helps to have someone take your baby in the water etc ... If my daughter needs more stimulation during the class i give it, if she doesnt want to do something i dont ... so you can do what you want, and the instructor's normally keep it going with ryhmes, games etc. (as christwhisty says) So the swimming "lesson" really feels like a fun time in the pool.
It really has been one of the things that i have done with dd that i love the most, and i look forward to taking her on my own, and usually showing dh what to do etc ...

I take mine to lessons and she really enjoys them.

45 mins is quite a long time for that age. There's two issues - firstly getting cold (especially if the water isn't very warm), and secondly getting tired - bet she slept well after!!

she did bless her, thank you everyone.

I think what I will do is continue to take her on her on my own for a few weeks and then when the new pool opens in February take her to the classes then.

Thanks for your thoughts all.

madame ... the great thing is they do sleep after a swim!!!!! i know that splashbabies and aquatots do courses for babies ... hope you enjoy them