FIRST TIME EVER! going swimming with 2 DSs age 3 & 19 months - any advice/ tips?

[Disenchanted]

They love the bath but Im aware this is totally different,

have swimming trunks and also got thoses floaty life jacket things - can you use them int he pool?

I really hope it goes well, Ive been ahving a shit time lately, well actully all of us have and I thought this would cheer us up

Are you the only adult going? I think all pools now only allow under 5's on a 1 to 1 ratio. When we take dc aged 14, 8, 4 and 2 there has to be two adults. I understand why but its a pain tbh.

1 adult to 2 under 8s at our pool.

1 to 2 in our pool but if your children have never been before there's a chance they will cling onto you a bit.

That's a good point about the clinging. If they've not been before be prepared that you might only spend a very short time in the pool.

We're allowed 1 adult to 2 under 8's but that changes to 1 to 1 for under 5's. I'd ring swimming pool 1st to check.

Have towels (lots of them) handy right by the side of the pool as they will be freezing when they have had enough!

have your 3 yo in swimmers under clothes (but don't put the lo in a swim nappy until you get there - they aren't absorbant).

Take your 3 yo through 'the rules' i.e. stay close, help get themselves ready, whatever.

Get the lo dried and ready, strapped in the buggy first, then the 3 yo, then you. I give mine a snack and a drink whilst I get dressed. They need it afterwards.

Getting changed is the hardest part. Take a deep breath, take your time and don't get flustered! Its hard work but worth it.

good luck.

At our pool it is only one child under 5.

I would take another adult. Best piece of advice I can give you.

Bring a spare set of clothes for each of them and keep them in a carrier bag, ready for if their first set drops onto a wet changing room. Snacks and drinks are vital - they'll be hungry afterwards no matter how little you think they've done. The floaties life jackets are godsends but defnitely be prepared for clinginess for the first visit or two. And go again quite soon afterwards, so they can get used to it.

Goggles for the 3 yo.

Don't let your lo on any slide, he won't want to stop and your toddler will want to follow!

Lifejackets are great, our swimming pool is 1 adult per 2 under 8. Does yours have special designated toddler times, our does when only 5yrs and under are allowed in the little pool, it makes it a bit quieter and less splashing, although if you're going during the school day you'll be fine anyway. Goggles might be a bit strange for the first time, my dd (2.8) wears hers some of the time now. Would second having snacks and drinks handy, and maybe a porta potty for the changing room after, always handy when they suddenly need a wee and you're wet and naked. But most of all have fun!

Be very organised when taking their clothes off, make piles of clothes for each person so that you are not frantically searching for DS1s vest while DS2 tries to escape. (Can you tell I am speaking from experience?)

My Mum always advised giving the DCs a packet of smarties while you get yourself dressed.

Lifejackets are great. Big towels. Small change for the lockers/hairdryers (is that just here in Germany?)

Hats for coming home, for yourself as well so that if you don't have the time/energy to dry your hair, then you won't get a cold.

Have great fun!

I take mindees swimming everyweek (1adualt-2 under 8) and take another Mum with me with her child, I have 3 under 2.

Organization is the key.

Dress them in sleepsuits, if you can trying to get clothes on quickly after is a nightmare,

Wrap them in towels when you get out and give them a biscuit, then dress yourself, trying to dress them when you are shivering takes more time.

I take mine all in arm bands and rubber rings, you can keep hold of the rings.
and when you get them out and wrap them sit them on top of the rings on the floor that way they cant fall off the bench in the changing rooms.

And good luck

Ohh it all sounds very military! lol

Yes there are 2 adults going

I quite excited!!

Thankyou

good point RE snacks, wouldnt have thought of that,

hats and spare clothes fab too!!

Put your swimmies on under your clothes before you get there. Also don't expect too much of them. It took quite a while before my DD liked going (no crying just very clingy). She loves it now though. Have fun!

Disenchanted
I believe that the Desert Storm operation was a shabbily organised affair compared to an outing to the swimming pool with 2 small children.

Indeed it was. A mother would never have gone in without an exit plan. The correct application of star charts and Smarties bribes could have saved many lives.

lol

Im actully going tomorrow too, my sis just asked me but im just taking my 19 month old, the 3 yr old is staying with granny as Dh wont be there.

I always took mine from being tiny - they were close in age, and I generally took them on my own.

I always took just one towel, but all 3 towelling bath robes (kids bath robes are not much bulkier than a towel). Once out of the swimming pool, trunks off kids, and everyone puts a bathrobe on to keep them warm and get them mostly dry.

Then help kids get properly dry and dressed first, and plonk them somewhere with a drink and a snack, whilst adult gets dressed quickly.

I love the idea of 'an exit plan'. Why don't they ask MN for advice in military manoeuvres?
Good luck Disenchanted. I 'm going to take my DD for the first time soon so this thread has been helpful.