Taking ds (18 weeks) swimming for the first time tomorrow...

[feb]

...does anyone have any advice/tips?

We've loved swimming, from the first time I took dd at 8 weeks, we now go most weeks.

My lo took to it straight away, my friend's baby hated it, but after several progressively deeper baths, and bringing her home bath toy with her, she likes it now. These might be worth trying.

It might make it easier the first time to wear your swimming costume under your clothes, I don't now, but it's not easy to start with. Take a spare swimming nappy - you just never do know!

My dd ALWAYS wants a feed and crashes out stright afterwards. I have my route to the cafe well planned!

If you have more than one child, or aren't keen on the water yourself, one of those flotation things is very very useful. Otherwise, I don't think they're really necessary.

Any use???

thanks, wearing my costume under my clothes is a good idea.
I've got one of those floaty seat thingys. I guess will just be floating around the first time? not really sure what to 'do' with him?!

Don't expect to be in there for hours, he might only want 5 minutes of bobbing around!
I have taken DD since she was around this age and we just used to spend 10 minutes moving around the water and splashing her hands and feet so she got used to the water in her face.
Try lying him on his back in your arms and spinning if he gets fractious, they all seem to love this!

And take something to put him in for afterwards while you get dressed. you might not get a baby changing room and might not want to lie him on the floor so take a bumbo or car seat in with you!

hmmm...by spinning I mean turning slowly!

They get cold when you get out of the water, so take a hooded towel, or dressing gown if you have one.

I didn't use the floating seat until she was older, at this age I just used to hold her and swish her around and sing nursery rhymes. If you make lots of eye contact with him he'll get confidence from you.

thanks chirpygirl, now how do I deal with the trauma of putting on my costume for the first time since givin birth

Do what I did, wear a maternity costume so it looks big on you!

Don't whatever you do change your DS into the swim nappy before you go to save time. One of the dads from our class did this with the inevitable unpleasant consequence.

Don't even think that you will get a shower yourself, just focus on getting the main chlorine off.

I second the towelling robes, they are fab. Put your DS in that get dressed first yourself and he will be nice and dry when you dress him.

Finally enjoy. Our DS loves the pool and really enjoys splashing around

I've been taking DS since he was very little. Just swish and splash around and enjoy it! Maybe take one of his favourite bath toys for him to play with and for familiarity. One useful point to remember is that babies don't tend to like it for more than 20-30 min stretches - they get cold. So best to get out before he has a meltdown!

I take DS in his pushchair. He sits there while I get ready, then I get him ready and just shove all his clothes in the pushchair rather than in the locker so I can grab them straightaway. If you're walking home, a hat/hooded top is a good idea as little wet heads can get very cold. If he's weaned, take a snack for him to munch on on your way back.

I always take us both into the shower afterwards and then wrap myself in a towel and get him dressed first, then again he sits in his pushchair while I get ready. I've got quite good at it!

i don't know why i was worried - he loved it! thanks for all your advice ladies.

That's brilliant! I'm glad you both enjoyed it. I think worrying about new things is normal - I definitely do.