Babys first swim - advice please

[LittleLadysMama]

We are taking my baby girl swimming tomorrow for the first time, she's 4 months. Does anyone have any top tips from experience that I may not have thought of?

Planning to put her swim nappy and costume on under clothes before we go to minimise faff pre-swim. I've got spare costume and swim nappies in the bag, hooded towel, her rubber duck from bathtime(!) and cosy clothes for after the swim. I'll take her normal change bag too for a clean regular nappy and a feed post-swim - anything I've missed?
I dont swim so I'm not used to going myself, let alone with a baby 🤷‍♀️

Take two towels for her, just in case she wees on one. Something easy for you to dress her in afterwards, and easy clothes for you to dress yourself in too!

You need to be aware that if she wees before you get to the pool the swim nappy won’t hold it in and you will end up with a wet pram or car seat (speaking from bitter experience 😂)

Dont put the swim nappy on beforehand, they arent designed to hold pee, only poo. Put your costume on under your clothes and remember to take underwear with you

Swim nappy will not contain wee on the way to the pool.

If you’ve got a towelling dressing gown take for yourself so you don’t get cold. Changed baby into dry clothes first and she’ll probably be hungry.

Swim nappies only hold poo, not per so don't put it on until just before you get in the pool otherwise she'll be soaked as will buggy/car seat.

Just pop her in a swim nappy when you get there. Unless you don’t mind wee on the car seat.
Also I find it easier if I lay the towel on the change station, then wrap DS up and then get myself dried and dressed, takes a minute and by the DS is dry from being snuggled into the towel.

Swim nappies only hold poops so you will have to change her there.

I always used to dread the effort of getting her changed etc but in reality it's only as much effort as a bum and outfit change. Are you going alone? We've just been swimming today and both me and DH were in the same change room - it was the baby change & disabled toilet combined so it made it easier

Have fun!

I feel so stupid for not knowing about the pee / poop thing 🤦‍♀️ THANK YOU all, you've saved me from a nightmare!
I'll just get her ready when we get there. DH will be with us and he thinks there are bigger family cubicles that we can all get ready in which is a relief.
It all feels like such a faff but I dont want to miss her first time in the pool just because I don't swim 🤷‍♀️
Hopefully she enjoys it! I've also taken a little bottle of wash for her but maybe just rinsing her off in the shower afterwards will be enough... dont like the idea of the chlorine on her skin.

I'm
Sure she will love it! Nice towel for straight out of the water and then another towel for actually drying off in the changing rooms. Nice cosy onesie and hat for after so they can be warm soo as poss. Enjoy it!

When you say costume do you mean the neoprene warmers rather than a swimsuit? Because if you don't, I would get one. My wee man didn't get too cold his first time, but he was much happier once he had the wrap thing to keep the heat in.