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Parenting

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Original poster

Taking a 7 week old swimming - tips for first time?

14 replies

bumperlicious · 30/07/2007 13:48

I want to take DD swimming next week, with my DH, and was just wondering if anyone had any tips on introducing the baby to the pool, getting them to go under etc.? She enjoys a bath so the water is no problem, but just want to introduce her in a way that is not going to put her off.

Also, what would you recommend for her to wear on her bottom half to avoid leakage?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

TootyFrooty · 30/07/2007 13:50

I think the advice is not to take them until they've had all their jabs (16 weeks?) but I'm sure someone else will come along and correct me if I'm wrong.

lisad123 · 30/07/2007 13:54

my only advise would be one of you stay on side of pool if possible. Have a towel handy for when little one is ready to get out as they get cold very quickly.

Also if you blow gentley on babies face she will hold her breath, so possible to put her under water, if you so wish.

Good luck
L

Tootiepegs · 30/07/2007 13:54

Either buy little swimmers swimpants (disposable) or get some trunks/cossie with built in swim pants. The little swimmers are sold singularly and in packs but are quite expensive so don;t committ to buying a big pack unless you're taking them again!
Take 2 towels - one to obviously dry yourself and one to put baby on when they're dressed- as the floor is usually wet! You may find that your pool has family change rooms with change tables/playpens in. If not then when you've finished swimming maybe either you or DH could get dressed first then take baby and dress them whilst you get dressed.
My DD loves to play with a ball in the pool.
If it's there first time it seems to help to hold them close to you til they get more confident in the water - and hope that the water's not too cold!!!

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cornflakegirl · 30/07/2007 14:02

Motherease reusable swim nappies are great.

And you don't have to wait for jabs.

I loved taking DS swimming when he was tiny - but getting changed after was a real hassle!

MerryMarigold · 30/07/2007 14:05

I think it's ok to go when still having jabs as my nurse gave me a leaflet about it. Was still bleeding at 7 weeks though, so no hope of us going in pool! Our pool has a session with an instructor (not a class exactly, but she wanders round giving out advice) and will help you with difficult things such as putting under etc.

Mumzarello · 30/07/2007 14:30

I took dd from 8 weeks & she loved it. Mothercare reusable swim nappy is great
Also used a "baby wrap" made of wetsuit material. Keeps their body warm so you can stay in longer.
The blowing on their face tip is a great one too lisad

Sidge · 30/07/2007 16:05

You don't have to wait for their jabs.

Take 2 towels for baby, one for when you get out to wrap them in, then another for drying them.

Keep your visit quite brief - tiny babies get cold a lot quicker than you might imagine. Even a baby pool heated to 30-32 degrees isn't that warm for a tiny baby.

As soon as you see shivering, a bluish tinge to lips and extremities and goosebumps then get out.

As for bottoms, I have used disposable swim nappies (Little Swimmers) and reusable swim nappies. Much of a muchness really.

TootyFrooty · 30/07/2007 16:20

I wish HVs would get their act together! Both my HVs (with ds1 and ds2) told me not to go until they had their jabs otherwise they'd be really ill. They couldn't be more specific () but did a good job on the mother guilt front.

Grrr. I should have asked MN.

Sidge · 30/07/2007 16:29

TootyFruity - the jabs protect them from illnesses that are very unlikely to be doing the rounds in swimming pools.

No need to wait for the jabs, but to be honest I wouldn't take a baby less than about 12 weeks swimming anyway - might as well fill the bath up realllly deep and climb in with them and let them 'swim' there!

Less likely to catch verrucas and much warmer!

iwouldgoouttonight · 30/07/2007 16:29

We used the Huggies little swimmers nappies with a wrap around fabric swimming nappy on top (from Boots but they sell them in Mothercare, etc too). DS used to do very explosive poos so I didn't want to risk any leakage!

We went to swimming lessons for babies from 4 weeks to 4 months - and they all seemed to enjoy going under water once they were used to it. We were told to hold them with one arm around their front (under their arms) and the other hand on their bottom and whoosh them back and forth a bit, and then gently pour a little water over their face (with your third arm! I think it was easier than it sounds when they're in the water!) before you put them under the water so they get used to this routine and know what to expect rather than just dunking them in. And its best to make sure their whole body goes under, don't leave the top of their head out otherwise they get confused - just for a second or two - and then when they come out they do a really cute blinking thing and look slightly confused, but after that they get used to it.

But don't put them under too many times in one session - we were told no more than three. Swimming tires them out - DS used to sleep really well afterwards!

Sorry - that was a bit long - anyone would think I'm trying to put off doing any work!

cornflakegirl · 30/07/2007 16:37

Oooh, I forgot the other thing about swimming... I don't know how much water DS swallowed there, but it seemed to really clear out his bowels in the following 24 hours!

yogimum · 30/07/2007 16:59

Iwouldgoouttonight, sounds like you went to a Birthlight teacher as your lessons sound identical to the one I take ds too. Our teacher doesn't teach blowing on the face as she says that there won't be anyone there to blow on their face if they fell in, which makes sense I soppose.

LittleB · 30/07/2007 22:00

I took dd from 7 weeks and brought a swimsuit (well bottoms) with inbuilt swim nappy which was great, I've always taken her swimming at least once a week (she's 2.2 now and she loves it and happily jumps in and goes underwater and will swim easily with armbands on) Playing in the bath isn't the same as they will get used to the sounds and sights of a swimming pool too. I blew on dd's face when she was tiny before I dunked her, but just tell her now she's older. I only took her in for a few minutes at a time when she was tiny. Its good to swoosh them about in the water, and get used to them being on their back and front as they get used to it. Our pool started lessons from 6mths, they were great as they taught me more things to do with her, lots of fun things to nursery rhymes, just to help them have fun and gain confidence. I don't even like swimming, but love taking dd, and she still gets tired and hungry after swimming!

dejags · 30/07/2007 22:03

Haven't read the replies but I would not take such a young baby into a public swimming pool - or into any chlorinated pool for that matter.

It's a tossup what's worse the germs in the pool, the germs outside the pool or the chemicals in the water.

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