4 months old and swimming - advice please

[REIDnotREEDorREAD]

My DH wants to take our 4 1/2 month old ds swimming. What equipment/clothes does he need? floaty devices, life jaket type swim wear? we have no idea. What can any one recommend?

swim nappy and trunks. I wouldn't worry about anything else, as your DH will be keeping a pretty good hold on him anyway!

Just a swim nappy/trunks
You can get those floaty seat things but some people don't like them as it keeps a lot of baby out of the water and they can get colder

You can get those floating chair things and some people swear by them but I found them a pain in the bum. Yep, just a swim nappy and you're good to go.

Your DH might like to pack a bathrobe as he'll find once they get out he will be sorting out baby and not have time to dry himself.

i reccommend a huggies little swimmer with a reusable swim nappy over the top.... cause if they poo then that is the only way i ahve found to at least hold most (tho not all) of it!

I'd recommend one of those all in one sun suits - wet babies are slippery little b*ggers and this makes them easier to hold onto!

I didn't put dd in a floaty seat until she was much older. My best advice would be make sure you have a big towel on poolside to wrap your ds up as soon as he's out of the pool as they get really cold. I used to use a hooded towelling dressing gown.

www.splashabout.net/ sell baby wetsuit wraps that keep them warm - very useful esp if the pool isn't really really warm

I took DD at 4 months for the first time - such fun Bought one of those floaty seat things, bit of a faff to get her in and out, but good if you are not 100% confident. I only used it a couple of times as it was much more fun to swish her about in the water myself
Top tip - make sure dh goes to the toilet before he leaves the house as it is IMPOSSIBLE to go to the loo with a baby Actually maybe it's just impossible for mummies :O

thanks everyone! its kind of what i was expecting but needed advice from people who have actually done it. Any more advice still greatfully recieved!

Hi Reidy - I use a floaty seat thing for DS - though I also let him swim without it aswell - bit of both. Advantage of floaty seat is that you can push it up and down the pool whilst swimming yourself (so you get exercise too - bonus!)

Echo about the dressing gown for DS - obviously you need to dry and dress DS first so it is easier to put a dressing gown on whilst you do it.

Re: trunks - I use Mothercare nappy trunks - they are just like swimming trunks,reusable and seem to be very good.

Dunked Ds yesterday for the first time - not a good move as he cried for about 10 minutes afterwards (in a busy pool) - don't think we were too popular!!

Good luck!