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Original poster

Swimming with a Baby

12 replies

lilstarry1 · 10/03/2006 11:41

Our DD is 6 weeks old today and she loves being in the water! I'm very keen to take her swimming (I used to swim for my school and the county so it's definitely something I'm passionate about), however, I don't know if she's too young. Do any other MN users have any advice? Anyone take their LO's swimming from an early age? I'm worried about the chlorine and the water temperature, she's a complete nightmare when it comes to getting out of the bath because it's cold.. (or colder than the bath is!). I just don't know...

Also, as silly as this sounds - what is acceptable swim attire? They don't tend to make swimming costumes for babies, and obviously she'd need a swim nappy - is it ok to take her in this alone? I don't want her getting cold and poorly because I've been over-zealous, so any advice would be great :)

OP posts:

Mum2Ela · 10/03/2006 11:51

I know a lot of people stay to wait til they have had their injections, but i've also heard that this really isn't necessary.

I used to take mine in just a swim nappy, though friends of mine buy those little wetsuit-type all in ones. They get a little cold when you take them out the pool so I always took a towel onto poolside with me to wrap DD / DS in staright away afterwards.

Babies love swimming - it really knicks them out. When my DS was a bit younger I took him swimming the one time and afterwards he slept from 6pm until 10am!!

NotActuallyAMum · 10/03/2006 11:52

I used to love taking my nieces and nephews swimming, they absolutely loved it too - from a very early age

Are you sure you can't get swimming costumes for babies? My sister/sil always seemed to get them and I don't remember them ever saying they'd struggled. I used to take them in a swim nappy with their costume over the top

There always used to be a few tears when we went back into the changing room because they were cold after being in the warm water but I found that the quicker I got them dried and dressed the better

yackertyyack · 10/03/2006 12:03

I take my little man to weekly lessons and he has been going from 12 weeks as the teacher said after the 2nd set of jabs to be on the safe side. HE LOVES IT and can now 'swim' with a woggle without me holding onto him (he's a year now!) and is not scared going under water as they use the 'submerssion' technique in class. For little ones, its a good idea to get them a baby wetsuit to keep them warm as they do tend to feel the cold a bit more...this has a swim nappy built into it. We manage to take a few holidays a year and I feel a lot more confident knowing he is not scared of the water - recently he slipped off a 'surfboard' and fell into the pool but came up laughing!!!!! It also a lovely bonding time for the two of you....so enjoy it!! We do!!!

blondie82 · 10/03/2006 12:12

do you have to take them to special swim lessons?

Surfermum · 10/03/2006 12:20

Hi Lilstarry. I was a competitive swimmer too and was keen to get dd in the water asap. My HV said I didn't need to wait for the jabs to take dd. She had her first dip at 13 weeks in an open air pool in Newquay and loved it. I opted to take her on a regular basis to the pool locally that has a learner pool as it's much warmer than the main pool. Never mind them getting cold - we do too!

I got dd a hooded, towelling dressing gown to have on poolside and would put that on her as soon as we got out. She also had a re-usable swimming nappy that was actually a two piece costume. I preferred disposable swim nappies though as the re-usable one was a bit of a nightmare in a poo situation.

You can get swimming cossies for babies. The shops seem full of them now (I only know as I've been looking for a fleecy sleepsuit and all I can find are sun suits and costumes!).

eve2005 · 10/03/2006 12:24

my dd 13 months loves water too but as both dp and i are allergic to chlorine would be nervous about bringing her to a pool in case she is too. wanted to bring her to the sea last summer but weather over here (ireland) was disasterous so no go. had to make do with letting her swim in the bath which amuses her no end!

yackertyyack · 10/03/2006 12:24

The only reason we go to lessons is because i found that when i took him on my own we just mooched around in the water and didn't really do anything - at his lessons they do songs, games and have all different floats and toys and its really quite fun!! He sleeps for ages after!!! The teacher also does 'submersion' where they 'swim' underwater.....we have some great photos of that!

Original poster

lilstarry1 · 10/03/2006 12:40

Thanks for all the advice... I need to start looking for things better ... I've found a few for 3-6 months but nothing for 0-3 months as of yet, but maybe they just stock less/don't put them in such obvious places! I've not exactly been vigilant! :)

Blondie there are special lessons - I think they are called "water babies", and the youngest they ever had was a 3 day old... But they are very expensive and as I'm such a confident swimmer/love the water I thought I'd be able to do it on my own (or with DP).

Agree with the confidence thing, I was always very confident because it was something I was exposed to from very early on, I just wasn't sure what the best age was.. I'm still nervous of the chlorine, I certainly don't like it on my skin so it can't be great for a baby! Then again I guess if I moisturise her afterwards it should be fine!

If she sleeps from 6-10 mum2ela I'll be going weekly :)
xx

OP posts:

lexiemum · 10/03/2006 15:49

round here most pools have regulations regards babies - some say must have first jab, others say all three. we're off to centre parcs next week and they're rules are first jabs. though, not sure if they / how they regulate this.

ls - use a 3-6mth cossie - found it much easier with the swim nappy underneath.

Skribble · 10/03/2006 22:15

My tips are,

Check out the pool first by yourself it you haven't been, try the temp in the baby pool. Some are warmer than others. Find out where family changing rooms are and if there are playpens to put baby in while you get ready. Usually they are wet ones next to showers so I put baby on my coat on the floor once they are all dried and dressed.

Take towel and/ or robe on to pool side for baby along with shampoo/wash so you can straight to the showers and not have to try to get them out of the locker.

Take a lightweight toweling robe for yourself so you can put it on after a quick rub down so you can concentrate on baby and not freeze yourself.

Make it a quick swim to start with, don't wait until they go purple . Come out while they are still enjoying it.

WestCountryLass · 10/03/2006 22:50

I took both mine after their first lot of jabs when they were 8 weeks. Both just wore swim nappies as too much faff getting wet baby out of swimming cossie.

I always leave my buggy by the poolside and I lay out a towel and dresing gown on it so can take baby out of water and wrap in a towel right away.

Newborns do cry when you take them out of the water, most babies do cry when their envirnments are changed. I always get baby dry, give baby a feed and settle and then get changed.

Clary · 10/03/2006 23:11

I took mine after first jabs but agree, some say this is unnecessary.
Swim nappy is all you need, surely? I recommend Kooshies, genuinely do hold in the pooh (!) but you need to buy the right size (ie not too big). We had three (small, med, large) that went from a couple of months old to a 2yo and were used by all 3 of mine (I tell you this as they cost about £8 which seems a lot).
Check out what is offered at yr local pool - mine does a fab saturday morning session. You pay a small charge to reserve a space at a partic time (we go at 9am cause we're mad!) and then pay as and when you actually go. The instructor leads the children (some very young) in nursery rhymes and songs in the pool to get them used to the water. Lots of big floats and access to the pool's special armbands. Also they can do badges when they get a bit bigger than yr DD. It's really excellent.

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