swimming

[squirmyworm]

anyone know how early you can take a baby swimming? we're keen to start but it's a bit scary...all tips from water babies and their parents much appreciated

after that have had their jab. Some people take tham after the firdt lot but I waited until DD had all of them as the polio is a live vaccine.

I took DD from 4 months after her 3 lots of jabs. She is 21 months now and still adores it; never once has she complained or been wary - not even the first time!

At the baby class she used to go to at first there were some younger babies there than her at times.

When they are ltiny iwe were advised to stay in the pool no longer than 30 minutes and to keep checking for signs of getting too cold.

Would have taken dd after her first jabs but she was ill so she was around 4 months when she started.

She went to a Baby & Carer class for about a year, where she got used to putting her face in while she still had the 'no breathe reflex' but mostly it was just about them enjoying being wet and singing songs etc.

The best bit of advice I can pass on is confidence - even if you're terrified, hide it, big time. Make sure you're organised with clothes, towels, nappies etc & ready for a feed straight after (IME). I found taking towelling dressing gowns for both of us helped, there's no point trying to dry/dress baby if you're dripping water all over them.

We carried on with classes, even through the terrible twos (and they were) despite my questioning why I was putting us through it.

Now at 4, she can swim - under water & pops her head up to breathe, dive to the bottom of the pool to pick up stuff and is really confident in the water so I'm pleased we stuck at it.

Good luck !

I took bob in a private swimming pool (at a motel at 2 weeks),I took him to a spa town at 5 weeks and he had a wee dip, but not swimming as such as they can't put their heads under spa water. Proper swimming at 5 months after third set of jabs. Then nothing for ages because of eczema. Our local pool has a six months old rule, which obviously we broke.

It's certainly a lot easier taking them in summer, putting winter clothes on a baby that can't sit up is a nightmare.

If you are going to start classes try to book into a pool that uses salt instead of chlorine, but if you have eczema in the family you might need to skip it.

I took them after first jabs too. The pool does need to be warm which is why baby lessons are generally in hydrotherapy pools or private pools heated to bath temperature. I also recommend those UV sun suits as a wet baby is very slippery if naked!

I took DSs for lessons from about 6 months old I guess. The result of this is that DS1 could swim 5 m at 3 1/2. DS2 can nearly do it at just short of 3 but unfortunately hasn't mastered the coming up to breathe which is (as you can imagine) a bit of a disadvantage!

The main benefit is that neither of them has any fear of the water. It's also wonderful to see the reaction of other parents around the pool on holidays

Lovely photos soupy. We have those underwater pics of ds1 in our bathroom.

Great pic SoupDragon! Squirmyworm, where are you thinking of taking your baby swimming? Our local pool has guidelines - they prefer babies to be 6 months or older. They have had problems with cleanliness/infections in the past and I think the guidelines were introduced as a result (whether to protect them or us I'm not sure).

SoupDragon, LOVE the black and white picture, how sweet
The water pic is fantastic too

brilliant pic Soupy - what a little cracker!
Was thinking Aquatots, HD (live near Biggin Hill/Oxted). Think our nearest is Sevenoaks or poss Orpington...both definitely use hydrotherapy pools in hospitals so they can be heated to a good temperature. Great advice all...many thanks as ever. Off to buy sunsuit and towelly dressing gown. Been dying to get one of those for ages...

Lovely pictures soupdragon.

Been trying to find an article I read last week or so but can't. It did give some warnings to parents of children who learn to swim early (before age 5 possibly?). It warned that sometimes these children can be more at risk of drowning because they may become over confident and parents may not watch them as carefully as they feel they are able to swim. I hadn't read or thought of this aspect before and wondered if anyone else had read it and what they thought. Will try to find it still.

Have any working Mums ever found any of these Mum & Baby swimming lessons that run on a weekend - I enquired all around here when mine were babies but they were all during the week. I ended up taking them myself every Sunday morning from about 4 months and taught them to swim myself. Prior to taking them to a pool they were dunked and splashed quite regularly in a deep bath at home. Have to wonder on Hulababy's report as I have always been concerned at ds' complete inability to recognise the danger of water (unfortunately, he witnessed this first hand when a school friend very nearly drowned).

We've taken DD since forever!!!! She loves the water, always has done - pisces!
Were told by HV that it was ok, even with ezcema, as long as it wasn't really sore before, and as long as you used cream afterwards to prevent dryness.
At nursery we take the 3-4 yrs swimming once a week, in a small group, and the deifference in the less confident ones is amazing. They thrive on it, and it increases their confidence socially as well.
Plus you get to buy incy wincy swimmimg costumes!!!

Squirmyworm, Aquatots is who we used (not for that underwater photo though). As it happens, they do run classes at the weekends at some pools.

Hulababy, I think that report is probably quite accurate. DS1 is pretty safe and reliable in water but I would never ever let him swim without me watching. I've let him in a pool alone where I was on the side keeping an eye on him but that's it. DS2 is, at the moment, a bit of a liability. He will hurl himself into the pool at any given opportunity although, generally speaking, he will wait until the adult in charge tells him that they are ready. Obviously, at under 3, he's not reliable and I would never let him near a pool alone. Personally, I don't think the danger is a reflection on the swimming lessons per se, but on the vigilance of individual parents. It's difficult, on one hand, yes the children are over confident but on the other, DSs can get back to whatever they've fallen off (eg pool side) and hold on, can spring up from the bottom of the pool to grab a breath or swim up to the surface to grab a breath. They are also taught to float on their backs which is a great lifesaving skill. Personally, I'd never rely on their skills to keep them safe on a day to day basis but I would rely on them to get DSs out of trouble in an emergency or at least give them a few extra seconds which could be vital.

Love the photo, Soupdragon! We used Little Dippers, thoroughly recommend starting as young as possible, esp as when they're little, it is one thing you or DH can do with them (if you get weekend class). Little Dippers also do a series of cards/book which gives you some simple exercises like tipping water over their heads, and dunking them - I think you can order these.

I agree about the dangers Hula, which is why swimming pools have got a lot stricter about adult:child ratios. Mine are 4 and 6, and the youngest has been a bit of a liability for the past 6 months or so. (He can swim 10m now, so it's not so tricky.)

If your 4 yr-old is terrified of water, and won't let go of you, then they are not going to drown are they? If you (like me) are concentrating on some stroke-improvement with your 6 yr-old, and turn your back (briefly) on an over-confident 4-yr-old, who swims out of his depth, and when you turn back he's glugging to the bottom of the pool ...

You do have to be very vigilant with them at this age, and it's hard work. But well worth it!

we were bought this book which has exercises for children from tiny to about 5 years of age.

Nicely illustrated and easy to do in your local pool - and when they are tiny, in the bath at home!