3 yo swimming - give up?

[TBC45678]

My 3.5yo has been doing water babies swimming lessons since he was about 2 and seems to be making little to no progress. He does enjoy most of the lesson but he will not let his face go under and screams if I let him go when he's on a float or pool noodle etc. I just can't see him swimming independently for a LONG time. He's got no confidence. Even when wearing arm bands/a floaty vest (which they don't use in the lessons) he won't let us let him go at all.

When did other people's children learn to swim properly? I know he's still young, I'm not impatient or anything; I'm just wondering whether to stop the very expensive lessons and try again when he's a bit older. I don't think I could change him to lessons at the local leisure centre because I think for him age they expect them to be in the water (with floats) on their own.

*his age

My eldest was terrified of the water when he started lessons at 3 and thought he would sink to the bottom (just after lockdown so he hadn't been for over a year) and we stopped going as he wasn't getting anything out of it. A few months later we started at a new place where he could touch the bottom and it has been a game changer, he was like a different child. May be worth taking a break, trying somewhere else or just taking him to a fun swim rather than a lesson to build his confidence. Good luck!

I'd definitely stop throwing money at it if he wasn't making any progress. Give him a rest and try again under different circumstances eg summer holiday pool?

My daughter was absolutely petrified of deep water, and even with arm bands she would scream and wouldn't let go of me.
I then bought some new princess arm bands and she went straight in the deep water and loved it... with things like that they can suddenly change over night.
Saying that, I probably would stop spending money on lessons and just try to go to a local pool in a more relaxed environment.

My daughter was 3.5 when she was happy to go in deep water.

I'm in a very similar situation, my DD1 is terrified of getting water on her face and we have been doing waterbabies but I've just cancelled it. She's clearly not enjoying it so we're going to give it a rest for a bit although it's definitely one of those life skills I think everyone needs so we'll try again in six months maybe with proper lessons as she'll be old enough then.

@MattieandmummyandIs yes same, I've just cancelled ours too. There's no point spending £20 for 30 mins of him panicking about going under. I'll try again with normal lessons once he's 4 maybe. I'm sure they'll get there! I'd just love him to be a confident swimmer!