What to put DS in for swimming?

[ayal]

DS starts swimming lessons next week.

Do I put him in trunks or a full zip up swimming suit?

Also, can he wear goggles or do they prefer without?

I'm (clearly) clueless.

How old?

Sorry I forgot to say he is 4.

I’m sure whatever he’s comfortable in will be fine to wear, but you can ask the teacher or whoever you’ve booked with. Goggles probably aren’t necessary until they learn to put their face in the water. You can always send him in with some and he can leave them on the side if he wants! Ask them if he needs a swimming cap but if it’s compulsory they probably would have told you.

Check with the teacher which swimming scheme they use and if they can give you a list of the things he’ll be learning and when (sometimes it’s online e.g. the Swim England scheme).

Trunks, no goggles yet. Most swim schools colour code classes by cap colour and they will get you to buy the relevant one at the first session.

Beach shorts can restrict leg movement in the water when they're wet so put him trunks.

I would put goggles on him so he can put his face in the water easier. As he progresses he may also start diving down for sinking toys so he would need to be able to see where they are.

And if they say he needs to wear a hat write his name on the front so they can address him and get his attention easier.

For those saying no goggles, our pool encourages them to put their face in from when they start (they get them to blow bubbles) so they may be required. Check with the pool.

Our DS 4 just wears trunks for his lessons. No goggles in his classes, they are allowed to wear them at times but need to take them off for the face in water / underwater stuff.

Yep not beach swim shorts as they fill with air and make movement difficult- a pair of jammers are perfect.I would go with goggles to avoid splashes and they may do some jumping in at the end.

My children really feel the cold and a wetsuit top helps to keep them warm and able to focus on lessons. Especially important given how many pools are lowering the temperature these days.

At our pool they insist on goggles and a hat (we started out with the fabric ones, now both DC have the mesh silicone ones).

DS is nearly 5 and wears a zip up swimsuit. I'd say it goes halfway down his thighs and never seems to bother him when he's in the water!

Our pool pretty much insists on them having goggles. Helps them swim with their face in the water.
Trunks or all in one is fine. Just not board short things as they flap about and fall down.

And they all have to wear a coloured hat so that their teacher knows who is definitely part of the class without having to look too hard.

I stuck our DS in swim trunks, but as he's so skinny he was shivering and blue! It did affect his lessons. So I bought a thick-ish short-sleeved and short-legged 'wetsuit' (not those UV blocking ones that are still flimsy) and he's worn that ever since.

At that age until around 10 mine wore swimming shorts and a uv vest, he just felt more comfortable in it and was used to it from being on the beach.

Everywhere is different. Goggles are a must for our sessions but no swim hats to be seen.

We have to wear google and caps

Dd was 5 when started and now 6 and swims

And wears a costume as sun suits restrict them

Just swimming trunks and depending on pool rule's possibly a hat.

Trunks and goggles is the norm at our local pool.

Definitely get him goggles. In terms of what to wear different pools are massively different temperatures so it’s impossible to say if a wetsuit type costume would help him or not. I’d start without though tbh and just send him in jammers.

Sun suits though make them colder so I’d avoid those.

My two swim in trunks plus a fitted rash vest. They really feel the cold and the top makes a huge difference in how they feel by the end of the session. One pool had compulsory hats, the other is up to you.