Swimming with 8 week old

[toadabode]

Hi all,

Would really appreciate hearing your experiences. My partner and I are keen to start introducing our 8 week old (first baby) to water. We've looked at group swimming classes in our area, however most of them require sessions to be blocked booked (i.e. up to 6 weeks at a time). We spent a lot of time with friends and my family (my family are a considerable drive away) on weekends so we would find it difficult to commit to attending each class that we would have to pay for.

I'm wondering whether we should just take him swimming ourselves or if it is really important to have some guidance from someone who knows what they're doing? If that's the case we will look to book a private teacher, though this seems a bit 'extra' to do with an 8 week old?

Any thoughts, tips or advice would be much appreciated - thanks

I don’t think an 8 week old needs lessons, they won’t learn anything. Just get them used to being in the water and associate it with having fun. I’m trying to remember when I first took ours - I think I waited until after the 12 week vaccinations as swimming pools are germy places!

I wouldn't bother booking classes at that age unless it's for you to meet people. And invest in a baby warming wetsuit type thing - even quite warm pools are too cold for a tiny baby.
I've taken DS from very young and he absolutely loves water. No fear at all (not sure that's a good thing to be honest).

I think 8 weeks is pretty early to go swimming. They can't regulate their body temperature at that age so you'll need to be very careful to keep your baby warm. Scuba material costume etc. But I'd probably just wait until they are a bit older and will actually enjoy it.

I did lessons at that age. It was fun and my ds mostly enjoyed it I think though if honest I did it more for me with some friends, excuse to get out the house etc. However all a bit pointless unless you plan to keep it up which is very difficult when you go back to work etc. My son then ended up having lessons from scratch aged 4.

Nothing wrong with taking him swimming however. My local pool does "baby splash" sessions, kind of a very gentle introduction with a teacher, no need to book just turn up etc. The main advantage of these sessions is they didn't let older children in at that time so that it could be quite calm.

I started my daughter at 7 weeks, on classes booked for 10 weeks. The first week she just screamed and screamed, tbh I’d i hadn’t booked 10 weeks I’m not sure I’d have gone back! It did get better however, and she’s fine now. If I have another child I’m not sure I’ll start so early - the other babies in the class are a few months older and seemed to cope better.

The school I went with wouldn’t allow children under 12 weeks go in pools below 34 degrees. Your average local swimming centre will be more like 30-32. Even at 34 degrees my daughter was cold so we ended up buying her a baby wetsuit thing. I’d say you either need to find a really warm public pool or wait TIL your baby is around 12 weeks.

Oh and don’t expect to be in there for more than 20-30 mins!

Tips from the best! Rebecca Adlington...

www.motherandbaby.co.uk/baby-and-toddler/baby/baby-development-and-milestones/rebecca-adlington-s-best-baby-swimming-advice

I'd wait until all vaccines are done at 12 weeks.

Baby will only be able to tolerate 10-15 mins in the pool before getting cold even with a baby wetsuit on.

Easiest way with two parents is one in the pool with baby and then one dried and dressed to get baby changed and warm after.

Take a towel robe so you gab stay warm while you dry baby.

You don't need swimming lessons for quite a while yet although they can be nice to meet other parents at.

Biggest issue for kids and swimming is getting their faces wet, when you give baby a bath allow water to splash/ drip on their face, as they get bigger you can increase the water on the face etc so it doesn't become a thing.

lol i took my daughter swimming at 8 weeks.I fed her shortly before,made sure she was in a good mood,put her in a wet suit to keep warm and placed her in a baby swim seat.

I stayed in baby pool were it was very warm and guess what the warm rocking of the water sent her right to sleep lol.Some swimming trip that was.I think i will wait till shes 3 months next time and see how it goes

Definitely just take yourself, and invest in a baby wet suit (not to be confused with the up sun suits that simply cling to skin and make them colder). Look in to a warm pool locally. Often gym pools are warmer and keep sessions short. It's great to start developing water confidence from early on imo

I took my lo at that age. Got one of those thermal type swimming suits. Just took them to a normal baby pool