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Parenting

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Original poster

Baby Swimming - Tips for First Timer & 14 week old Please

20 replies

EeyoreIsFab · 23/01/2007 20:06

I'm planning on taking DS swimming for the first time next week (will be 15 weeks old then). Just wondering if anyone has any star tips - would you recommend any floatation aids? How do you get changed afterwards? Do you rinse off at pool or at home?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

poppynic · 23/01/2007 20:09

Ah, don't want to put you off if you're dead keen but my doctor said, fine, if you want to expose your baby to every germ going, take them swimming. I took mine at about that time and ended up on tv who (unbeknown to our group) were doing a story on baby pooh causing pools to be closed (not our actual babies' poos you understand....

DizzyBint · 23/01/2007 20:10

go and look round the pool and changing area before you actually go to swim. some places have baby change tables, others don't.

my top tip is to take a dressing gown so you are drying while you get baby ready, then you very quickly get dressed. no showers or faff, just a very quick rinse.

it can help if you go on a mum and baby swim session cos mums will help keep baby amused if you take it in turns to get dressed. they do at my pool anyway!

also, put your costumes on before you go, under your clothes, saves time.

missmapp · 23/01/2007 20:13

I took my ds swimming at 3mths and he loved it then and loves it now ( nearly two) I agree with all the other tips, see if you can take your buggy or car seat in to put your baby when you are changing. Would recommend mother and baby sessions - our pool did a 'ducklings' session which was great - gave us tips on how to hold babies in the water and had fun games with nuresery rhymes etc,, great fun.
Enjoy

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TheBlonde · 23/01/2007 20:22

Baby wetsuits are good - they get cold so quickly
Mothercare do them or splashabout.net

Surfermum · 23/01/2007 20:22

I didn't bother with flotation aids at that age, I just held her and swished her around in the water. You'll need a swimming nappy, you can buy disposable ones or reusables and my top tip is to have a hooded towel or dressing gown ready to pop him in the minute you get out of the pool as that's when he'll get cold.

My other tip would be to pick a pool with a learner pool as they tend to be much warmer, and also you can generally walk in and out of them holding the baby.

I can't say I ever felt there was a problem with dd picking up germs and she's been swimming regularly since she was 13 weeks.

SoupDragon · 23/01/2007 20:27

Don't get your DS into a swim nappy before you get there because they don't hold in wee!

Don't bother with floatation stuff although all of mine have enjoyed one of those floaty seats.
At the very least, get them in one of those all in one UV suit things. Not to stop them getting suburnt but because a wet baby is damn slippery!! They're much easier to hold onto in a surfsuit thing. The baby wetsuitsl are probably better as they keep them warmer too but they're more expensive.

I think that the germ thing is a bit alarmist to say the least.

rookiemum · 23/01/2007 21:12

Do it now, believe me its a lot harder once they are able to move.

Wouldn't bother with flotation aid, just one more thing to carry. The towelling dressing gowns are good to keep them warm.

Find out if there are any baby swimming classes at your local community pool as tbh it is a bit of a hassle getting them ready to go swimming and changing back afterwards so its loads better if you know fun things to do with them whilst you are in the water.

Oh and don't even think about having a proper shower or hair wash yourself, wait until you get home to do that.

Original poster

EeyoreIsFab · 28/01/2007 15:45

Thanks for all the tips! I'm now all geared up and as prepared as I'll ever be - can't wait

OP posts:

LIZS · 28/01/2007 15:48

Keep it short as he will get cold quickly. Take a large towel or gown for you to slip on while you dress him and the car seat or pushchair so he has somewhere safe while you dress. Also take him a spare set of clothes in case you drop something on the wet floor.

CoozerP · 28/01/2007 15:58

Actually my Doctor said exact opposite about germs, she thought it would be fine and this was when DS was 10 weeks (but I'm always getting conflicting advice from GPs/HVs etc).
I also heard that babies naturally do not poo when in water, does anyone know if this is true or just an old wives tale?

shosha · 28/01/2007 16:41

Message withdrawn

Coolmama · 28/01/2007 16:51

I would also skip the flotation aids for the first few times - your lo might well feel more secure and safe if you are holding her close to you as the first few swims might be a bit overwhelming for her otherwise -

squishy · 28/01/2007 18:50

Coozer, can say from experience that they do poo in the water!! DD pooed all over me in the birthing pool (we kept it for several weeks after she was born!)

LittleB · 29/01/2007 12:55

I've been taking dd swimming at least once a week since she was 7weeks - she loves it. Only for a few minutes at first, now about 45mins (she's 20mths). She's never pooed in the pool, gave up swim nappies when she was 1 and thats when we started useing floats, she has a float suit which is great, she also sometimes just has a swim suit and armbands, she can happily swim with either. We joined a class when she was 7mths (they take them from 6mths here) and it was great to give me ideas of the sort of thing I should be doing with her, mainly its fun and they sing lots of songs but it helps me. I used to take car seat or buggy into the changing area which helped alot too, and I'd rinse dd in the shower after - if it wasn;t too hot. Take plenty of baby lotion too as their skin can get dry. Have a great time, the added bonus is dd loves the water so much she's great to bath, doesn't mind hair washing, water all over her face etc. I love it and I don't even like swimming - she just has such a great time!

frenziednester · 29/01/2007 20:40

I can remember feeling really nervous the first time I took DS1 - one great tip I was given was to line the car seat with about 6 towels, and then you can quickly wrap, discard etc and get rid of the damp quickly too. I also put aqueous cream on him before we left home, to protect his skin. Also, a feed as soon as you can afterwards is nice and warming and comforting for both - and I have always found they sleep really well afterwards, so you may just get a little extra 'you' time!!!!! Good luck.

fishie · 29/01/2007 20:49

ooh yes they are STARVING when come out. the main thing is to make sure the water is warm enough.

Enid · 29/01/2007 20:51

don't go

its too cold and they are too little

fishie · 29/01/2007 20:58

i think it depends on your pool. my local is freezing and completely unsuitable for babies or toddlers. further away one has special baby sessions wth extra-warm water, music toys and instructor.

frenziednester · 29/01/2007 21:02

I used to put him in his all in one swim suit, but still we only ever stayed in about 15 mins when he was tiny - all that soon changed though and now his lips can be blue and he still creates when told to get out!

kittypants · 29/01/2007 21:06

i think my tips would be-2 towels,1 for drying ,1 for keeping warm.get ready to feed straight away,it makes them very hungry!save showering baby till you get home,much easier than juggling baby and products in yucky cubicle.and get ready for couple of hours kip afterwards!!!babies get very sleepy.i love baby swim.my lo is 13 months,hes been going twice a wek since 4 months(i was ill before that),hes very confident,swims on and under water,were learning now getting in and out of pool!its great fun!

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