swimming and under 1's

[CharliesMummyMeg]

When did you first take your little one swimming? mine is 10mo now and im going to take him next week - feel awful because he is 10 mo and he hasnt been swiming yet! xx

Mine is the same age and hasn't yet either. I figure it's a nice thing to do, just not got around to it yet because I loathe swimming . DD loves a good splash in the full size bath so I doubt she's missing out. And seeing as she's currently learning how to walk, talk, eat and make brick towers, it's not as if she's going to sink into a coma without that additional stimulation!

Personally I'm waiting for warmer weather and DH to take her .

My nephew has gone swimming since about a month old though. Might be interesting to see if it made any difference once they both reach 5.

Ds was about 4 months, we were on holiday so first dip was in the Caribbean!

Dd was about 2 months because I was so desperate to get out with ds after the longest winter of my life!

Ds was 8months on holiday. He loved it and i feel bad cos not taken him since. It was a year ago.

Tried lots of times over the first 3 years with DS2 (now 11) and he screamed the place down. Eventually, I realised that he was cold and got him a shorty wetsuit (proper wetsuit, not the sun protection sort). He's never looked back, he now swims for our local club, is in a water polo team, and next weekend is swimming in the county championships. Don't worry about your DS starting at 10 months, or later... he'll soon catch up (if he's warm enough ).

DS - 7 weeks, then weekly, for ever (he is now 3.5) except when curtialed by morning sickness and hyperemisis with DD
DD - about 8 or 9 week, and then a bit sporadically, as I know no pools where I can take both DC and DH doesn't awim.

I took dd from 8 weeks, but I don't think it matters too much (at that age any activities were really just to get me out of the house).

didnt take dd until she was about 18 months. Ds went from about 12 weeks

3 months for both - I also have shortie wetsuits for mine - they love swimming - and will spend hours in the pool so even though they are 2 and 3 it's good to keep them in til they are falling asleep it's important to make sure they are warm

I think its always scary the first time you go, the anticipation of all likely problems makes it seem so much harder than it actually is. I would second (third?) the shortie wetsuit, my son wears one and its so much better, his skin is better (eczema) and he is warm.

After the first time we took my son aged about 8 months we wondered what all the fuss was about. Do it. Its fun.

Been doing it with mine since they were tiny but don't feel guilty. It can seem daunting. The thing to do is think about a bit first. Ring the pool reception and find out what the situation is re buggies in the changing room / poolside, do they have family changing rooms with changing tables or a playpen available? Once you know the answers to these questions you can work out how you will do the logistics. At one pool I go to you can take buggies in the CR and poolside so I go in, change me first, then DD, put a towel over the buggy for quick wrapping afterwards and head out for the swim. I take a couple of bath toys or small ball for her to play with. Afterwards, I get her dry first and sitting in the buggy with a biscuit while I get dry. You could look at getting one of those rubber rings with the seat in so she can float around on her own but at 10m she won't be in it long so maybe borrow one or just not bother and hold her until she is big enough for armbands. If you can't take buggies poolside maybe keep her in the car seat so you have somewhere to put her while you get changed. At one pool with poor facilities I had to sit DD on the bench and keep her there with my knees while I somehow got changed!

For little ones in my view is a nice thing to do - but not essential - my DC1 didn't like swimming until he was about 2.5 - I would say my top tip is to have another adult go with you - the whole getting changed and getting them into the pool is quite completed -

Have done it with both my two since they were under 3 months. But it won't make any difference in the long term. I swam at county level in my teens and hadn't set foot in a swimming pool until I reached primary school as it never occurred to my parents to take me. TBH the only reason I've taken mine since they were so young was that I enjoyed the exercise and there's very little activity you can do with a teeny tiny baby and swimming worked for us as a fun thing that got us out of the house in the early days.

Do check the temperature of the pool. I would recommend a splashabout wetsuit as babies up to 12 or 18 months do get cold quite quickly and it can affect their enjoyment. The wetsuit really helps. And I also totally agree about the faff of getting changed etc - much easier if you have someone with you.

Not sure which country you're in, but try to see if there are any local baby swimming clubs. In the UK, the Surestart centres usually do something. Mine is great. You meet other mums and other kids. You have got help then when it comes to changing rooms. It's a faff when you're on your own getting changed, but your pushchair or car seat will help. I get mine ready to swim before we leave the house. Me and my DS have been going weekly since he was 3 months, he is now 5 months. He has gradually stayed longer each week. It's overwhelming at first with the echoing noise. He has a short wetsuit to help keep him warm. Go for it! It is good mummy/child bonding time. We go to family swims with my DH too, so we all can have fun.

Tried to take DD from when she was about 3 months and she hated it every single time and screamed the place down. Took her on holiday when she was 1 and she hated it then (pool) but liked being in the sea! I wouldn't feel bad about not taking your DS swimming. Not all babies like swimming until they are a bit older. Planning on trying again with DD when I go off on maternity shortly (she will be 2) and hoping now she is more active, can walk etc, that she will enjoy it more.

I took DS when he was under 12 weeks. Can't remember exactly how old but he was pretty tiny! I would never have done it by myself but my SIL is a swimming teacher and took us so we were in safe hands (quite literally with DS!)

After that we did weekly lessons until I went back to work full time shortly before he was 4. He was just starting to have lessons by himself but was not swimming. He used to do a very good impression of swimming, while keeping his feet on the floor!

We used to do it for fun, mainly but also to build up DS's water confidence. We've not been much since I've been back at work so he still can't swim. I'm hoping for him to start swimming lessons when he starts school.

My top tip is take a dressing gown for yourself (I had a short, cheap one from Primark) so you can sling that on to keep warm afterwards while you dry and dress the baby. Then put him in the buggy/car seat with a drink and snack while you sort yourself out.

I never bothered with a wetsuit but DS was built like a baby seal and the cold never bothered him!

About 3 months i think. Tbh though he's always been a bit about swimming - not really sure what to make of it - until recently when he's suddenly developed some kind of fear about swimming pools. He's like a limpet and he's really not happy, which is no fun for anyone least of all him, so we've stopped taking him for the time being and will try again in a month or two.

Took DS (now 16) from about when he had all his jabs, which I think was the advice at the time. He then had swimming lesson from the week of his first birthday. He has just qualified as a pool lifeguard and is working at the local sports centre on a casual basis.

DD 14, cant remember when we took her first time as not so easy with a toddler and a baby, but she had lessons from 6 months old and is now doing her bronze medallion.

Daft question but what do you dress them in if they are teeny? I want to take DD to the pool. She is 13 weeks but only 8lbs 14oz. Can/do you get tiny swimming nappies?

Thank you!

Both DD's first went swimming when they were only about 10 weeks.

DD1 started lessons at 14mths and DD2 started at 9mths.

We are a water loving family so was important for us that the girls were confident in the water. Thankfully they both adore swimming and DD1 (now 3.5) easily swims 5 /almost 10meters completely unaided.

i took my son to baby swimming lessons from 11 weeks, i adore swimming and found a hospital that have a hydrotherapy pool which is lovely and warm so thought it a good idea to get him to not associate swimming with cold. hes 6 months now and adores it, and i also take him to local pool, where he seems unphased by the cold and actually kicks a lot more! as people keep telling me though, this could all change and he could end up hating water!

i use a splashabout neoprene happy nappy over a regular swim nappy (amazon) but i think they do wetsuits too for a colder pool.

dont feel guilty about not taking them already, a lot of people hate swimming and its hard enough with a young baby without forcing yourself to do stuff you dont really enjoy. as others have said if your childs going to like water it will happen regardless of when you start.

I took my little one from 8 weeks but as above poster said just to get out house really at that age and used to water x

I took my DS from about 8 weeks. We did Waterbabies lessons from 12 weeks, though that was perhaps a bit young as half an hour is a long time at that age and he got quite cold. You'll probably need a wetsuit unless you have a very warm pool.