Baby swimming classes in Milton Keynes

[cem79]

Can anyone recommend a good, structured swimming course for 6 week old baby in MK? I've heard Water Babies is good, any thoughts on the little turtle swim company, or other classes? i really want my son to be confident in the water, i see this as an ongoing thing, not just a few sessions so don't want to waste money on classes that are not structured towards being good swimmers.

All ideas appreciated :)

Both my DC's have had lessons at Middleton Pool in Newport Pagnell but I don't think you can officially start lessons until baby is about 6 months. They do have a Parent and Baby Swimming session with the same instructor just before the lesson on a Monday (and possibly Friday too) though so you could go along with your DC and at least have the instructor there for advice? TBH baby isn't going to be learning anything at 6 weeks anyway except getting comfortable in a pool environment.

The first class goes from 6 months to 2 years and then the children start moving up the classes as they progress with their swimming. DS is 4 now, he's very confident in the water and can swim. His cousins have been all the way through the class system and 2 are now club swimmers.

I've heard awful things about Water Babies and there are a few of the Mums at our classes who have swapped to lessons without the forced dunking. Depends what you're happy with.

Thanks Blatherskite. Do you know whether it was just the forced dunking at Water Babies that the other mums didn't like?

I will look into the sessions at Middleton Pool too as it's closer for me than MK :)

TBH, I've only heard about Water Babies from the other Mums at Middleton Pool so I've probably got a skewed perspective. From what I remember them telling me, the forced dunking was the major issue but there was a general 'not like' of them too. We were already signed up for lessons at Middleton so I wasn't taking much notice if I'm honest :)

The lady who teaches the lessons at Middleton (and who also does the Parent and Baby session) is called Karen and she is lovely. She stays on the side and leads you through holds and songs and splashing with her dolly (called Patrick) to help her demonstrate. My Son got very attached to her and was heartbroken when he had to move classes and have another instructor. They're lovely classes and I've made quite a few friends there. A lot of DD's current class are there with their second babies too and I know them after having taken our older ones to the lessons together so it must say something that so many people not only keep coming back with one child, but sign up later babies too.

Signing up is a bit of a pain the first time but it does get easier once you're in the system.

Hi there,

getting your children into swimming at the earliest opporuntiy is the best for them!
i teach swimming lessons every day of the week from little ones to children with talent who would benifit getting into club swimming and you can always tell the children who have been swimming since they were babies against the ones they havnt!

i currently work for community swimming (one of my employers!) and they offer swimming lessons at LA Fitness Milton keynes (we work with LA not for LA) and there is a parent and child class currently taking place on a saturday afternoon - its nearly full but i am hopful we can get another class opened up as soon as possible to get more little ones into swimming.

we take babies from 6 months + or when ever the child is able to support their own head! :)

hope this helps!

Rachael

I know this is a little late but I thought it was worth a mention. I have been taking my ds (10 month old) to Little Turtles swimming classes since he was 4 months old and Zara is fantastic. She is in the water with you and the babies in a small class and is very friendly and reassuring. Every week there are new toys for the babies and a bit of singing which they love. The classes seem to focus on the child gaining confidence and just having fun. They do do the submersion if you want to but you are guided by your own child and if you don't then that's absolutely fine. There were a few weeks when my ds was teething when I just didn't and we got to focus on something else. The submersion aims to teach your child to kick their legs and arms to get to the surface and hang onto the side so you can rescue them should they ever fall into water. My ds happily goes under the water, kick his legs and splash his arms. He absolutely lovely the water and loves going every week. The added bonus is that it also gets them used to showers and having their hair washed both of which my son is now fine with. My last holiday would have been a nightmare if he hated showers.

I would recommend Zara from little turtles to anyone in and around Milton Keynes. I now have a little water ds thanks to her.

www.littleturtleswimcompany.co.uk/ (this is the link to her website)