Swimming advice!

[Sparra22]

Hi

I've booked for my twins to go to swimming classes in January when they will be about 14 weeks old. I just wondered if anyone else had done this when their babies were so young and if you have any practical advice (my MIL is coming with me to have one baby each!)

E.g. did you just have them in normal swimsuits? The pool is heated obviously but I think they will still be so small (both just over 4lb when born) they would get cold so I thought about getting a couple of these?

www.mothercare.com/Mothercare-Baby-Warmer-3-6mths-Pink/dp/B001OBSLEQ?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_12&nodeId=42764041&sr=1-12&qid=1320311031&pf_rd_r=1ECBE4TZ30W0SEYEHH3A&pf_rd_m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_i=0&pf_rd_p=231490887&pf_rd_s=center-7

Do you think it would be worth getting these, will they even be warm enough in these??

Thanks in advance from paranoid new twin mummy! :)

Congratulations on the birth of your twins! I recommend that you get in touch with the company running the classes for advice. Most baby swimming classes are held in private pools, so they're a few degrees warmer than a council run pool - that makes a big difference.

Most swimming schools recommend "Splash About" baby swimwear. They like you to have a splash about happy nappy over a swimming disposable (provides an extra line of defence against accidents).

If the pool is a bit cooler, a neoprene body wrap can help - you can pick them up on eBay really cheaply. My swimming teacher always brings a few spares to class though, so you can try before you buy.

I recommend you stick with the nappy and then borrow a snug - you may not need one, and they make baby a little bit too floaty for underwater swimming!

Thanks for the reply :)

I've just been having a look on the Splash about website - I know you recommended the snug - do you think this 'warm in one' one is a bit over the top?

www.splashabout.net/catalog.php?language=en&category=1&id=178

Also, with either that or the snug, are they just worn with the disposable swimming nappy and then the happy nappy on top (rather than a swimming costume underneath it aswell?)

I will contact the class nearer the time too and see what they recommend, I was just thinking that if I do want to get something it would be a good thing to ask for as a Christmas pressie for them from grandparents!

Thanks again

The all in ones look super cool, and are probably warmer, but they are tricky to wrestle one baby into, never mind two! The snug opens out almost like a giant nappy, you lie the baby on and Velcro all round - it goes on in seconds.

I do a disposable swimming nappy, a splash about happy nappy on top, and then the snug on top, depending on pool temperature.

We started taking our boys swimming from 12weeks though they were probably a fair bit bigger than yours will be since they were each over 7 1/2 lbs at birth. It sounds like yours may still be under 12lbs when you go so the recommendation is to use a wrap or similar. We've only ever used swimming trunks with terry lining & haven't had a problem, even though we just go to the local council pools general swim sessions too where the temp is 31 C. I know the baby swim pools round here are kept even warmer (36oC I think) and that's where the private baby swim classes tend to be held & they do tend to have strict rules on using a double nappy system.

Congratulations on your twins & enjoy your swimming - ours love it & are so confident in the water now!

Really useful info, thanks both :) Great to hear that yours enjoyed it so youn Atlonglast and good point about getting them in and out of them though, definitely something to consider.

Just one final question nancerama - on the website there's a Snug, a Wrap, then the Warm in One. The Wrap says it opens out completely but the Snug doesn't say it does - is it the Wrap that you use? The Snug also says it incorporates the Happy Nappy system so I thought that might save a bit of money, but then the Wrap is suitable from 0-6 months so will last longer as the Snug is only from 0-3 months.

It is a lot of money for something they might not use for long so I need to consider that too - Nothing's ever simple!! X

Just to add into the mix... We took boys from 8 weeks in Mio Bambino reusable swim nappies, Splash About Cover and the neoprene body warmers. They were ok but super floaty and didn't really get much of a swim! However they were council pools and I think they would have been cold in less. Will be starting classes in the New Year (alternating theem eack week) so it would be nice to hear how you got on.

Hi DW123

Thanks for the reply - what do you mean by the neoprene body warmers? Do you mean the Splash about wrap?

I suppose even though they didn't actually get much of a swim it's good to get them used to the water and to do something different :)

X

Sorry for late response - was using phone to post.
www.amazon.co.uk/Baby-wetsuit-warmer-neoprene-perfect/dp/B004P98KY0/ref=sr_1_7?s=baby&ie=UTF8&qid=1320527385&sr=1-7

Hope this link works - if not its the babywarma wetsuit on Amazon search. It is adjustable which helped with smaller babies and as others have mentioned they opened out so you just lay the baby in and velcro them up. TBH their first trips weren't about the swimming but more about getting used to the environment - it was very loud, bright, humid then cold compared to a bath at home, so I wanted to keep them as comfortable as possible. We haven't been for a few weeks now - but hope they will still fit into them. As you say - it could get expensive!

Sorry to confuse in my earlier post! The snug looks like a wetsuit, but with just sleeves, not legs. It looks really really cool, but friends who have tried them say they are a real struggle to get on and off.

The wrap (also known as warm in water) is the neoprene Velcro thingy - much easier to get on and off and really useful in a cooler pool, but they do make baby a bit floaty.

Both options are pricey though, I really recommend that you call the swimming company you've booked with for advice before spending your cash. Some pools that do baby swimming can be as warm as 36 degrees, so nothing would be needed. Additionally many babies grow out of the first size really quickly as they only fit up to 6 months. If you do need wraps, you may be able to get away with borrowing the smaller size from the swimming instructor until your little ones have grown into the bigger size.

The pool we swim at seems to vary in temperature between 31 and 33 degrees, so we only need to use our wrap if the pool is on the cold side.

Oh, and our swimming teacher recommended a happy nappy as well if you go for a snug, otherwise poo up back incidents can happen!

Hi both

Thanks again for your replies, that's so helpful. I could imagine that the wetsuit / snug would be a nightmare to get on and off so great advice from you both to go for the wrap instead.

Also good advice about the poo up back incidents - how mortified would you be??!!!!

So I've managed to get a second hand wrap off Ebay for £8 which is the 0-6 month age and includes two of the happy nappies for up to 6 months so I'm really pleased with my bargain! :o I just need to find another one for my little boy now! Only paying that much I won't be as bothered if they don't use them much.

I'm really looking forward to going now :) X

1st time I took dd1 swimming at 8 weeks it was freezing and I was worried, but she actually fell asleep so clearly wasn't bothered. However my twins are 10 wo and really feel the cold. I think I'll look into the wraps etc...

dd never pooed in the pool ever and we went every week from 8 weeks old.