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Parenting
monkey · 20/12/2001 12:48
Latchmere road leisure centre (near Battersea Park) does swimming courses for babies a couple of mornings a week, or at least it did a year ago. Can't remember the name of them. They were pretty good, and had follow on courses by the same teachers or older babies and toddlers to so you got continuity and progression. About £3 a go I remember. Hope this helps.
bossykate · 20/12/2001 13:29
They also have parent and baby swimming at Clapham Manor pool. Baby must have completed all 3 sets of preliminary jabs (i.e. the ones supposed to be completed by 16 weeks) to take part. Cost £35 for a seven week course. The course was fine. We took our ds at just around the 4m mark. Have to say he didn't seem to really enjoy it until towards the end. This is what I've heard from other parents - 5/6m is maybe a better age to start.
Cue all the messages from mums of babies who LOVED swimming way before 5m!!
Anyway, HTH.
Bugsy · 20/12/2001 15:06
There are a number of groups operating in London. Aquababies, Aquatots, Little Dolphins. We started taking our ds at 11 weeks old and he was been a "water baby" ever since. If you are an NCT member, these groups often advertise in your local magazine or they maybe listed at leisure centres or libraries.
Just to warn you, most classes do take the babies under water. As far as I can tell the babies don't mind at all but it is a bit of a shock for most parents!
bundle · 21/01/2003 10:23
I would recommend Crouch End - but it's always very heavily booked & you need to check the class times because they can clash with naps/lunch unless you don't mind your baby sleeping in the car, as they get v tired after their swim. the pool is so warm it's like a bath and has steps for toddlers to play on. the changing facilities are just as good in the men's bit too, as dh has taken her there.
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