When can we go swimming?

[MoonFaceMama]

ds1 13wks LOVES his bath. So can't wait to take him swimming (can wait to buy huge post preg swimming cozzy)

Due to mix up at docs is yet to have any jabs. Fortnight till first course.

Can we go swimming? Can you get special nappies? Will he need some sort of inflatable? Or can i just hang on to him?

any other advice welcome ta!

I took mine at about 8 wks but that was after first jabs.

Doc advised me to wait until then.

I bought mine kooshies washable nappies this kind of thing which I had in about three sizes (they need to fit), IIRC up to 6mo, 6-12mo and 12-20mo or thereabouts.

You can get a swim seat but I wouldn't bother if he is the only baby you'll have (they are iuseful if you also have a toddler! ), just hold him in the water.

Try to find a pool where they do a toddler session - ours used to have an instructor who did nursery rhymes to get them used to going in the water (eg humpty dumpty) or you could just make these up yourself! HTH

My DS was 6 wks and had had jabs. Just used a disposable swim nappy (altho the washable ones are more economic if you plan to go regualary). I held DS and we went to one of the parent and baby groups.

Enjoy

Thank you both, very usefull. Guess i have a couple of weeks to get hold of nappies!

They dont need to have had any jabs to go swimming. I used a disposable swimming nappy to start with but ended up with washable ones which I got from mothercare. I did get a swim seat but only used it about twice. It is easier to just hold them.

You can wash the disposable swim nappies - something they don't tell you!

They last anywhere from 6-8 washes and so a pack of them to start with would last you a good few weeks until you knew how regularly you were going to go (we bought a reusable one after that as all our kids loved/still love swimming)

I think making them happy and comfortable in the water is a great thing - one of the best things you can do for them. My dd2 (6) has had to swim a lot due to a hip problem and can do 20 lengths of backstroke and is being assessed for further training as she is so good . But more then that, we were fishing in the sea in April on holiday, she fell overboard (jumping around!!!) and didn't panic, was quite comfy in the water till we could get to her (obv she had a lifejacket on).

They don't need jabs to go swimming. Get swimming nappies.

They do get cold really quickly so you might like to try a baby 'wetsuit' (wraps around the body). My baby liked the first few times we went (older than yours though, about 6 mo) and then really hated it until I got one of these ('Konfidence babywarma', but there are lots of others). Now she loves it again.

We're taking our little one to swimming lessons, not suggesting you have to go to these classes but they have a page about babies going swimming here:

www.poolbabies.com/questions/

Apparently the pool needs to be 30 degrees, so in our area only some of the pools are suitable.

My HV advised that there is nothing they are vacinated against that they could catch at a swimming pool so no need to wait but they will get cold very quickly so don't stay in for very long.

Took my DD at 6 weeks and she loved it.

I'd also recommend washable swim nappies. I was advised against swim seats as the child gets used to the water only coming up half way. I just held my DD until she was old enough for arm bands.

Thank you all! Very useful, off to the pool we go!