what should baby wear to go swimming?

[camflower]

hello, i've just signed my 4-month-old up for aquatots and i've got some swim nappies and i assumed that's all i would need but now i'm wondering if he should have something else on as well to keep warm?? any thoughts?

You can get little wetsuits if the water is fairly cold.

When we did water babies they also sold us these little swimming trunks to go over the swim nappies (think that was to prevent leaks rather than for warmth).

I'd say it depends on the temperature of the water - it was very warm where we did water babies but I did get DD a wetsuit when we went on holiday, think it was from ELC.

ime swimwear doesn't really keep kids warm anyway. My swimming costume doesn't keep me toasty anyway. The onlt thing that would keep him warm is a proper wetsuit but tthat is a little extreme for baby swim in an indoor pool. Baby pools are often v warm anyway.

A swim nappy is fine imo. Just wrap him up warmly and dry him well post swim

My skinny little DS had swimming lessons in a wetsuit til he was 6! He just didn't enjoy it otherwise because he was too cold ( he actually used to turn blue). He swims in trunks now (age 9) no problem because they work him so hard!

If you do want to look at what's available I recommend SplashAbout (there is a website) -- we got some stuff there and it was great.

DD had the Happy Nappy and neoprene wrap from Splashabout (the pool we went to insisted on happy nappies to prevent leaks). Try ebay, there are always loads on there.

thanks for your help everyone - water in the toddler pool is 30C so he should be ok i guess

Just check. Our baby swimming used to demand two layers, for leakage reasons. This was usually a swim nappy plus costume on top, but could be disposable and then reuseable swim nappy.

I would just ask. My DS just wears beach-style swimming shorts over his swim nappy

you need a little wet suit, you can get them with or with out arm and legs in. Make sure you get the neoprine ones and not the 'sun suits', as the sunsuits aren't for swimming in, they don't keep them warm, they just cling to the skin and makes them colder.
Your swim nappy will fit underneath it.
You can get them at mothercare or jo jo maman bebe for about £20.
Get a nice big towel or poncho for wrapping them up in when you get out.

Just to report back: I bought ds a little sleeveless wetsuit from splashabout (the baby wrap) and it looks like £20 well spent. It's really not that warm where ds has his lessons and we've been having to get out early cos he was so cold.

He is now having a whale of a time scrumpling the wrapper it came in!

You're probably sorted by now but for future reference there are a range of styles/prices available here

I purchased a great baby wetsuit for my son, he is 6 months old, it kept him warm in the pool, it was from solesupfront Heres a link to where I got it from www.solesupfront.com/products/twf/baby_wetsuit.html They are from £7.99 which included delivery.

Splash About Happy Nappies are now in Mothercare stores and online, cute colours too!

we have to wear a wetsuit thing for our swimming classes, I got ours from mothercare, it's just a neoprene bodysuit that velcroes on.

DS started aquababies when he was 5 months old, he'd wear a pair of little swimmers and a pair of neoprene swim shorts, he looked v cute :)