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Original poster

Taking 3month old swimming

16 replies

alibobble · 19/09/2006 19:20

Hi, have been wondering about taking dd swimming for the first time as she loves it in the bath. What should I consider and what do I need. Does it matter about injections etc and which swim nappies do people recommend and do I need swimming cossie for her or what? Sorry, a bit clueless! Any help appreciated!

OP posts:

laneydaye · 19/09/2006 19:27

i waited till after dd had her injections aliboble... but then go for it. You can get diposable swim nappies as well as the really good ones, they are about £8 but you only need the one (till they grow out of them)..

lilymolly · 19/09/2006 19:28

hi took dd from 8 weeks old- not important about immunisations as my hv told me, but some people prefer to wait.
I use huggies swim nappies and although the smallest size looks massive they are ok to use. You can buy swimming costume or a type of wet suit for them, but I never bother as my local pool is well heated and dd is a tough baby!!
Enjoy it! its the best thing for babies I think- my dd crawled at 6 months and has great muscle control from an early age and I am convinced it is because I swam with her.

TooTicky · 19/09/2006 19:29

Most swim nappies seem okay, just make sure it's not too tight around her legs. Babies can get cold very quickly though so make the first few visits very short - 15 minutes max unless it is a genuinely warm pool!

maggiesmama · 19/09/2006 19:32

my dd started swimming at five weeks, and she is now 3 and can swim over and under and dive, and climb out of the pool. so aside from that being great, it means she is safer than otherwise around water, and was always easy re hair washing and so on. aside from all the strength etc benefits. think its brill, go for it.

also some special pools for physio and stuff are extra warm and worht checking out. or private ones?

TheBlonde · 19/09/2006 19:34

www.splashabout.net/ do wetsuits to keep them warm

Original poster

alibobble · 19/09/2006 19:35

Wow, cheers. That really helps. I'm def going to go for it.

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 19/09/2006 19:45

Swim nappies need to be tight (or rather snug) or they don't work!!

lilymolly · 19/09/2006 20:57

Yeah forgot to mention that I only took dd for 15 mins the first time and built it up over time. She now does about 45 mins. Your local pool may do rhyme time in the pool which is half hour of nursery rhymes in the pool, or you may wish to do the water babies course (www.waterbabies.co.uk) I have done this and can highly recommend it although it is expensive. DD can swim underwater, come to the surface and also hold on to the side of the pool! I hope my dd will be like maggies mama dd when she is 3! dd has no fear of water and can tolerate water on her face etc with no problem at all.

A · 21/09/2006 21:03

Have fun! Both mine loved the water (and still do). Floaties do reusable swim nappies - usual cheap on ebay.

Mum2FunkyDude · 21/09/2006 21:07

Interesting, our pool doesn't want you to take babies under 6 months, because of the chlorine in the water and their immature immune systems not coping with a public pool area. So inf act they must just be covering their arses!!

Mum2FunkyDude · 21/09/2006 21:07

in fact even!

Macdog · 21/09/2006 21:11

DD been swimming from 4 months. I use Huggies disposable swim pants, for convenience mainly. She started just in pants, cossie from about 5 months. Her skin got very itchy though, so now I slather her in sudocreme and bought her a suit from boots that goes from knees to elbows with zip. Seems to stop her scratching. Keeps her a bit warmer when going from pool to changing room. We read book from library on some exercises to do in water, floating etc. Helped us understand some things we could try.
Have fun!

bogwobbit · 21/09/2006 21:14

alibobble,
this guidance recommends waiting till babies have had their full standard course of tetanus, diptheria etc injections before taking them swimming. Although they probably are 'covering their asses' to a certain extent - I took my eldest dd after her first lot of jags and she was fine. It does give some useful general info though.

foxtrot · 21/09/2006 21:25

I read somewhere that babies generally don't poo while in water, but having had only a single bad experience i would definately go for huggies.
Check out the changing room when you go in for the location of any changing table and try and leave your stuff in a locker nearby. Take a snuggly towel with a hood to wrap baby in as soon as you get out of the water. Showers are a bit dodgy as they can be too hot. Take your car seat or buggy in with you so you can put baby in it whilst you get dressed yourself.
You can get swim seat things but i never bothered and people do seem to abandon them after a few minutes to hold the baby themselves, which is much nicer for you both IMO.

bonkerz · 21/09/2006 21:27

Just a quick point to check with the swimming pool first. I went to my local pool with my 14 week old DD and my 6 year old son and was told in no uncertain terms that my DD was too young to go in the pool and they had a minimum age of 5 months regardless of HV advice or jabs etc. I went mad but ended up leaving with 6 year old DS in tow and sobbing!

Original poster

alibobble · 21/09/2006 21:48

Thanks bonkerz. Will def ring and find out. Think that the pool has a mums and tots session. DD had her second set of injections today so getting there on that front anyway. (was horrid but that's anotehr post!) Thankyou for all the advice.

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