Is it worth continuing?!

[Bomper]

Just took my dd2 for her first swimming lesson today, and it was a nightmare. She screamed through the whole thing, and was petrified, trembling and burying her head in my shoulder. The teacher said it would probably be like that for the first few lessons then she would get used to it. But I felt awful for her, it was like I was deliberately being horrid to her. Dh thinks I should persevere, whereas I think I should leave it a while and take her when she is a bit older, and I can explain to her more about what is going on. (She's 21 months btw) What do you reckon?

I would carry on. Is it possible to take her swimming with you on other days? Splashing in the shallow end. Playing with floaty toys etc so that she gets used to the environment. I think if you stop now she will remember this and will make it harder for you in the future.

I would keep going too. Could you take her to a pool but not go in IYSWIM. What about playing swimming in the bath.

carry on. is the water cold?

No, the water wasn't too bad. I think the problem was (for me not her) that all the other children appeared to have been doing it for a long time, and most of them were about a year older than her, so they were all splashing around happily, and laughing and my dd was bright red and screaming her head off!! The other mums were giving me sympathetic smiles but you wonder if they are really thinking 'Get that brat out of here!!'

I would persevere, but if everyone else in that particular class is older it mightn't be the best one for your daughter. Could you switch to a class with younger kids?

I would carry on taking her swimming but I don't think you necessarily need to go to a class at this age. She might prefer it if it were just you and her and it was relaxed - more like 'it's this fun, splash, splash'.

I think being water confident and able to swim is hugely important so I really would try to get her used to the water. I always took mine and just did whatever they wanted to. Ds1 started his lessons at 3 (in a small group of 5) - he's been going for about 18 months and has already done his 25m and is now in a class totally without any armbands. Ds2 is starting his at 3 too.

Tbh, I personally think there is little benefit to these mother and baby classes - you don't need to be doing anything specific with your dd to make her a super swimmer, it's just about comfort and confidence in the water and you can do that yourself just by taking her regularly.

HTH.

don't worry about the other mums, I am sure they are all thinking "i remember when my dd/ds was like that" Persevere, it is worth it, and holding off will not mean that your dd is any braver when you next have a go a few months down the line. does your pool do any fun toddler sessions with toys and floats etc? she may enjoy those

Thanks for all your suggestions. TeddyRobinson, I suggested exactly what you said to my dh. I think she would be far happier if it was just me and her having a splash and a giggle, rather than a class environment. For example, today was the first time she'd been in a pool since we were on holiday last July, and it was straight into 'hold on to the side, kick your legs, face in the water', I think it was too much all in one go, and she would have preferred a gentler introduction. Think I may forego the classes and just take her for half an hour a week by myself.

She is really young for classes, I think best to jsut go and have fun together

Good decision

I think TeddyRobinson is right too, it's taken my youngest about 2 years to get used to the water (pool was too cold when I took her as a baby and it put her off for months) There's plenty of time to learn to swim and the mum and baby courses can be a bit of a swiz, try taking a fav bath toy from home, barbie, ball etc etc that might help.