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Original poster

Baby swimming lessons

32 replies

maybae · 01/03/2020 18:51

Hi all

Just wondering if you took your little one to swimming classes how old they were? A swimming school I’m looking at said baby’s as young as 6 weeks can start however to me that feels quite young?! This is my first baby however so please feel free to talk about your experiences.

Thank you

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SummerHouse · 01/03/2020 18:56

I just took mine swimming up to about age 4 and 6. Then they had lessons and were confident swimmers within a year. Unless you really enjoy baby lessons I would just go swimming instead. Saves lots of money.

LovingLivingLife · 01/03/2020 18:56

We started around 10 weeks and wouldn't have done it much earlier. That said there were a few much younger babies there.

The issue is more around keeping them warm so check the water of the pool and ideally opt for a hydrotherapy pool if possible. And you can get fleece lined wet suits / dry suits / vests. At 10 weeks, in a hydrotherapy pool at 34 degrees our LO still needed a swim vest and sometimes still got a bit chilly.

That said most swim schools will let you defer to the next term if you try and then decide it's too soon for you!

modgepodge · 01/03/2020 19:40

We started at 7 weeks, we were in a 34 degree pool and baby needed a little wetsuit as she was cold in just a nappy. She is a skinny one with no fat rolls though!

Tbh, if I have another we will leave it a bit later, maybe 3 or 4 months. The first few weeks mine just cried and we got out early a few times. The turning point was when she was able to lift her head up reliably in tummy time. Before that I think she just found swimming exhausting as if she didn’t hold her head up she got a face full of water!! That said, other babies in the class were a similar age and didn’t seem to mind so maybe mine was a bit special!!

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Bubblysqueak · 01/03/2020 19:56

We did them from 4 or 5 months I think with both of ours.and can't recommend them enough.
It made bath times and hair washing easy as they were used to having water on their faces. Also they are now 6 and 7 and both very confident in the water and can swim really well . From about a year old they were both able to jump from sitting into the pool, turn underwater and get back to the side of the pool which is good.

dementedpixie · 01/03/2020 20:01

I just think it's a bit pointless at that age. Mine started at age 3ish and that was early enough

12345FishAlive · 01/03/2020 20:28

Started private fancy swim school lessons at about 10/12 weeks with dd1. Total waste of money and took up precious family weekend time. Dd2 has recently started swimming at the local council leisure centre pool, she's 2. Dd2 loves water and at her age dd1 hated it and I put it down to all the water on her face, swimming under water etc that they do to them in the fancy swim schools. Save your money.

EmotionalEllie · 01/03/2020 20:36

Personally I found the idea quite stressful. The lessons are often very expensive and the idea of needing to be at the pool at a certain time with a newborn who had been fed, changed and was happy to swim was daunting!

When DD was a baby I just took her to the local pool for a splash about if she was having a good day. She started proper lessons at 3 and loves them

Abouttimemum · 01/03/2020 20:50

DS was about 12 weeks i think, he still goes at 11 months and absolutely loves it. DH takes him and it’s something he gets to do with him on a weekend.
I couldn’t bear to take DS on my own during the week. Each to their own though, it is expensive and I couldn’t tell you currently if it will have been worth it - I feel like it is right now.

Bol87 · 01/03/2020 21:04

We started at 5 months. Was an ideal age in my opinion, bit more robust & way more alert. We were also past the poo explosion stage & my DD could sit up which helped with the getting dressed element!

They don’t exactly learn to swim, it’s more just dunking them in water and building their water confidence, so it’s a personal choice if you think they need that as a younger baby or can wait until they are a tad older. Bearing in mind it’s not cheap! We did lessons from 5 months - 12 months, at which point we stopped as I didn’t feel we were progressing anywhere really. DD gained her water confidence and after that we just took her to a local swim park. She’s coming up 3 now & still loves the pool, she’s fearless down slides and jumping in.. we are just about to start up lessons again as I think she’ll be at the age where they start to actually learn swimming technique!

BertieBotts · 01/03/2020 21:08

DS2 is doing swimming classes now, he's 18 months. He's at the upper end of the age range in the class and some of the other parents said this is their second course.

It's fine, he enjoys it, but in hindsight, very expensive for what it is - I reckon the value in it is sort of like a gym class, it makes you feel like you've already committed to it so you definitely go. Also, I suppose it's helpful to have the experienced teacher there telling you when to dunk them under so you don't feel like you're potentially doing something irresponsible/dangerous by attempting this yourself. But whether it's useful to get them used to the idea of being dunked I have no idea TBH. I assume that as they get older and experiment a bit more in the water they will naturally splash themselves more and more.

I'm not planning to sign up for the next round of courses, I'll just take DC swimming regularly myself. Hopefully I'll stick to this :o

Gettingonabitnow · 01/03/2020 21:13

It’s bloody hard work I found! Getting yourself and a baby changed was really stressful for me, but being in the pool was lovely.

Original poster

maybae · 02/03/2020 21:05

Thank you everyone! Very helpful

OP posts:

byvirtue · 02/03/2020 21:33

I did it at 14 months and found swim classes fairly pointless. They don’t learn to swim it’s just getting used to the water. I took her swimming from 3 months and she got used to the water then. We will do proper lessons at 3.

I think the only reasons babies start learning to swim so young is because mums are on mat leave and need something to do.

MillieMollie123 · 05/03/2020 01:20

I started taking my baby girl to Water Babies classes at 8 weeks old. It’s lovely to get them used to the water and build their water confidence... and a gorgeous experience being in the water with them whilst they’re tiny. She is the youngest in her class, the second youngest baby is two weeks older than her!

theschoolonthehill · 05/03/2020 01:38

I remember talking to a baby swimming ‘instructor’ who told me not to waste my money going to the classes! I was really shocked. She said they don’t really learn to swim and if I took DC to the local pool from six months, it would be just as good. The thing I liked about the baby swim classes was the temp of the water. I ended up bringing them to mother and baby sessions at the local pool once they had had their primary vaccinations. My first DC hated the water, my second DC loved it. They started lessons when they were four. They are now both in primary school and love the water. My eldest child is a much better swimmer now than me!

managedmis · 05/03/2020 01:40

Total waste of money before 2 years old, just give them a bath instead

theschoolonthehill · 05/03/2020 01:49

just give them a bath instead

😀

The pool is great fun for splashing around and floating.

DropYourSword · 05/03/2020 01:49

I kept thinking I would take my son to swimming lessons “soon” as soon as I thought he’d be able to attend and enjoy it and sort of take on board what they were saying.
We went along to a free try out lesson once and he just wanted to sit on the side and pour water over a plastic dinosaur. Not sure that would have been worth the fees so we just went swimming ourselves instead. He went from arm bands to a swim vest and recently has started swimming himself with no swim vest. Just frequently being in the water and getting used to it was all he needed to learn himself.
We probably will do lessons when he’s around 5 or so so he can actually learn different strokes etc, but for now I’m just happy he’s able to “swim” enough to keep afloat, get himself to the side of a pool, climb out etc.

Cdl84 · 05/03/2020 02:03

We went to water babies from 5 weeks old. It was in a very warm hydrotherapy pool though. I think the council pool would have been too cold at that age.

Electrical · 05/03/2020 10:16

The infants aren’t floating though, they're being held by the armpits and swished about as they get colder and colder in a filthy pool. Just get in a bath with them if you feel the need.

theschoolonthehill · 05/03/2020 12:57

The infants aren’t floating though, they're being held by the armpits and swished about as they get colder and colder in a filthy pool. Just get in a bath with them if you feel the need.

I sort of agree.

Personally I would never take a small baby swimming until they had most of their vaccinations so at least six months. I agree a bath is fine until then. When they are old enough to wear arm bands, a pool gives them the freedom to move around and splash that can't be recreated in a bath.

MillieMollie123 · 05/03/2020 14:56

NHS Guidence states that babies can go swimming at any age, even before their vaccinations. The department of health also echoes this!
Have a look at the benefits of baby swimming and see if that helps to make your decision. We love our baby swimming class!

www.waterbabies.co.uk/blog/benefits-of-baby-swimming

inwood · 05/03/2020 15:06

Mine didn't start until pre school class, age 3 when they go in without an adult. I've got twins though and one of us taking them to a class wasn't an option.

It is an enormous faff taking a baby swimming and I don't think they get much out of it based on the times we took them swimming when younger than that.

Jessie9323 · 05/03/2020 15:13

My
Husband takes our son swimming, getting him used to going under water etc. I wouldn't consider proper classes until he was 3/4 to be honest.

crazydiamond222 · 05/03/2020 15:21

I think it depends on the pool and the classes. I have been taking my son to baby swimming since he was 3 months old. It is in a private pool which is beautifully clean and very warm. It is a combination of swimming, singing and play in the pool and is quite social as we all sing the songs and move together. At 4 months the babies are starting to notice each other and splash around which is nice. It is very informal and one baby always gets hungry and has a breastfed in the pool.

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