When did you take baby swimming?

[enbh]

Just wondering how old your babies were when you first took them swimming? I think DD would love it but I'm worried she's still too young
She will be 5 months on Sunday

I recommend getting a baby wetsuit if you are going to a public pool. They enjoy it more if they are not chilly. Keeps the swim nappy in place too.

If you can afford it baby swimming classes are great for your confidence and are usually in a warm pool. I would never have put DS underwater at a couple of months old without the instructor's encouragement.

My daughter was about 10 weeks when we first took her, she loved the water and was swimming like a fish at an early age.

We've been going since 12 weeks DS is now 9 months, he loves it! We go to a 'swimming lesson' it's more water confidence at that age but met a lovely group of mums and dad's who also go with babies the same age.
I second the baby wetsuit, ours sell there own branded ones but are warm as they have fleece on the inside and neoprene on the outside.
Don't make the mistake I did though, I put his swim nappy on at home (thinking it would be easier, they only hold poop what a disaster that was.
We love it though, would recommend to anybody!

8 weeks in the sea for both splashing around, then being lifted to swim at 6 months and at a year under water. DCs loved it but that's how I was taught and I was confident about it. Both progressed to Polyotters (available now? this was late Nineties) in open lido where they're supported and you gradually take the supports out as they get more confident. And unlike arm bands allow them to swim freely. A really good swim class sounds wonderful but like others have said depends on the children and parents attitude to swimming. It's a wonderful gift to give.

As soon as their belly buttons had healed. About 3 weeks, if I remember correctly.

We have a pool so it was just sitting in the water with us to begin with. Swim 'lessons' from about 6 months. Both could swim 10m before they could walk.

We first took DS swimming when he was 4 weeks old (well his dad did I was watching from a sun lounger as my c section healed!)... he started baby swim lessons at 4 months (when he was old enough) now at three he can swim underwater, has no issues jumping in and pulling up to the surface, he is a bit small so currently lacks the strength to swim completely unaided (just turned 3) but can do a handful of strokes to get to the side.

@enbh since she was 6 weeks old and we've been once a week since.

She's now 7 months old and loves the pool.

We started dunking her completely under the water around 5 months which dhe thinks is hilarious

6 weeks here! We went to centerparcs so he had no choice.

I thought health advise was to go after 16 week vaccinations?

Nope. That’s puppies

6 weeks!

At about 8 weeks. We've done weekly swimming lessons ever since and now, at 13 months, she loves the water. She climbs in safely, knows to hold on, hold her breath and blow bubbles. Though she keeps trying to swim away from me on her own now -cocky little thing.

All mine have gone weekly since 8 weeks - definitely recommend getting a nice warm baby wetsuit.

Thanks for recommendations! Baby wet suit looks like a must, especially as the weather gets cooler.

We never bothered with a wetsuit, but my local pool is fairly warm - 29.

I just wrap him up in a towel after and we take a nice warm shower. I think if your baby is five months he'll probably be okay, check temp at local pool. I've got a warmer for my baby but we never use it.

Yes have a go but go to a warmer pool or buy a baby wetsuit/baby warmer for swimming in x (mine went in from 8 weeks)

6 weeks, as soon as I was OK to take him in. It was a Turtle Tots class in a warm hydrotherapy pool with a very warm changing room, which helped.

Took him around 2months. Nothing excited happened. Take him regularly now he's 18months and it's soo much fun, he interacts a lot more now and is a character but babies are cute but pretty boring

About a month. They all love swimming now as young adults.