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Parenting

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Original poster

Swimming with 14 month old - basics please!

21 replies

PassTheCremeEggs · 27/07/2013 11:04

So we've only ever swum with 14 month old DD on holiday and used one or those floating seat things. I'm thinking about swimming classes for her and me, but in the meantime DH and I want to take her ourselves.

I feel really stupid but I don't know where to start! What does she need other than swimming nappies and costume? When we take her in what do we do with her other than holding her and bobbing around? What about going under water - will she hold her breath?!

So - idiot's guide to swimming with 14 month old please - no suggestion is too basic!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

dublindee · 27/07/2013 11:05

Watching with interest as have a 16mo DS I am thinking of bringing to pool also....

frissonpink · 27/07/2013 11:06

Marking place too..!

Original poster

PassTheCremeEggs · 27/07/2013 11:06

Ps she is walking if that makes any difference at all!

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bruffin · 27/07/2013 11:17

Food for afterwards. They come out ravenous and also keeps them occupied while your changing.

Original poster

PassTheCremeEggs · 27/07/2013 12:37

Thanks bruffin - good tip.
Anyone else have some hints for me?

OP posts:

dyslexicdespot · 27/07/2013 12:46

My top tip would be for you to wear your swimming costume under your clothes. It will make getting changed easier.

forevergreek · 27/07/2013 12:46

Get a reusable nappy ie happy nappy/ splash about ( amazon). About £10 but don't need to buy any more again, and means you can travel abroad with just one instead of who pack.
No swim nappy ( disposable or reusable) is waterproof so don't get them changed at home as they will just pee over pram/ car seat on the way

I personally just hold them in the water as easy and then they don't get used to floats and refuse to go in without ( also less to take)

SkinnyDecaffGiraffe · 27/07/2013 12:49

Oh no please don't give your child food in the changing rooms. They are. Generally dirty enough without good mess!

Surely child can wait for a snac A small touneoul

SkinnyDecaffGiraffe · 27/07/2013 12:49

Sorry child hit send for me helpfully.

Use a book or toy to distract !

SkinnyDecaffGiraffe · 27/07/2013 12:50

Food mess obviously. My

SkinnyDecaffGiraffe · 27/07/2013 12:50

I give up. !!

melonribena · 27/07/2013 12:56

I take my 12 mth old swimming every week.

I pack the bare essentials for us both in a rucksack - easier to carry - but then also take his normal changing bag and leave it in the car so if I need a change of clothes /extra nappies/ etc its with me but I haven't had to drag it into the pool area.

I recommend a baby wetsuit (£7 from primark) as it keeps my ds nice and warm in the pool.

Try and choose a pool with changing rooms that have play pens and changing tables - these are a god send on your own.

Have fun! It's fab!

enormouse · 27/07/2013 12:58

If they have any eczema or broken skin cover the sore bits with a good layer of vaseline to stop the chlorine irritating it. If they have sore skin a full wetsuit is better.

And bring a hat for afterwards.

ZumbaZara · 27/07/2013 13:08

I often swim in the early morning and a few people come with babies/toddlers then. It seems like a great time to go if you have an early riser. The little one has the shallow end/ baby pool almost to themselves and there are 30 cooing adults about. The pool staff love it too always very helpful with play pens, changing tables and so on. I wish I'd thought of it when my clan were little.

Happiestinwellybobs · 27/07/2013 13:14

I took DD from 12 months. My tips:

you wear your costume under your clothes
change DD when you get there. I used a swim nappy and costume.
half an hour is usually enough. If you don't do classes then bobbing around, "jumping" in I.e. you pop her on the side and lift her in - we did to her waist, her chin and then under for example.
afterwards, get DD sorted first so she is warm. I pack my bag with the bare essentials in, but always have towel at poolside for her, then her clothes and clean nappy on top. Once she is dry I usually give her a drink whilst I quickly get changed.

Some place allow you to take pushchairs or car seats in, but I usually pop DD on the bench in the cubicle. I sort my hair out when I get home so she isn't hanging around

Then a snack in the car.

Have fun. I was so nervous the first time (I even put 2 swim nappies on just in case) but had a great time.

frissonpink · 27/07/2013 19:24

DD is sitting up, not crawling yet, but rolling for England.

How/where do you put your babies whilst you get yourself dry?!

This is the bit I'm a bit about!

BloddersMum · 27/07/2013 20:18

Our pool has a baby playpen. So when you are changing you can pop baby in safely.

We have gone swimming with dd since she was 8 weeks (now 11 months old). Snack after is essential. We currently do classes and we do things such as chasing a duck round the pool and if you wiggle them from side to side as you do they start to kick their legs. We also sing the grand old duke of york and when they go down we pull her under the water.

Songs are always good to familiarise such as twinkle twinkle and you twinkle the water onto their body so they get used to it. The hokey kokey also good for spashing when you put your hands and legs in.

Also nearly forgot you pull them towards you as you walk backwards and blow bubbles.

Hope that all makes sense!

BloddersMum · 27/07/2013 20:19

Splashing. Flippin phone and sleeping dd on chest combo...

BloddersMum · 27/07/2013 20:22

Me again! Our council pool also has two family/disabled changing cubicles.

CheungFun · 27/07/2013 20:25

DS is now 19 months old, and enjoys swimming. DH and I usually take him together, although DH has taken him without me before.

We usually pack one bag each, with towels & toiletries, and a snack and drink for DS for afterwards.

DS also has a Primark all in one swimsuit, it's very good and keeps him a bit warmer, plus as we are holding him in the pool it's easier on his skin. He just wears a swim nappy and the swimsuit.

At our local pool we can leave the towels by the end of the pool, we do this as DS gets cold fast after getting out of the water.

The main thing is just to enjoy yourselves!

MillionPramMiles · 29/07/2013 08:30

Some of the OPs pools sound much nicer than any of our local ones!

I'd suggest checking out your local pools to see when they're less busy. Our local pools are all very busy at weekend 'family time' sessions with older children dominating the shallow end, so that's the worst time to take a younger toddler. Even early in the mornings at weekends pools can be busy with adult swimmers. During the week it'll be quieter.

I'd start off with splashing about, bouncing up and down in the water etc. Our dd also likes sitting on the edge of the pool and being jumped down into the water. As OPs have suggested, singing action songs makes it fun too. Once your dd is confidant in the water then try holding her horizontally on her front and encourage her to kick her legs while you move along. You can try the same thing while she's lying on her back.

Most swimming lessons will encourage you to duck the baby underwater but some kids hate it being down to them. You might find your dd just starts to do it naturally anyway.

I'd suggest let your dd lead on how long she wants to spend in there, our dd will sometimes happily play for an hour but at other times crawls up the pool steps and heads for the door after 20 mins!

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