Swimming ?

[Aleshia31]

Hey there

Finally ! Swimming's are opening back up and my little one is 16 months old , can anyone advise me on what she needs float wise I have water wings but for her first time would something she sat in be better incase of a freak out lol ?
Any advice would be great
I'm so excited to experince this is been so long 😰

The sit in things are dreadful, baby can’t get the feel of the water and there is the danger of it tipping up. Arm bands are good, but initially just you holding baby will do, play games like on your front, and on your back so swooshing her around in the water. Ring a ring of roses, atisho let’s blow bubbles then blow bubbles in the water, things that will encourage her to put her head in.

As she’s 16 months, I’d take the arm bands and put them on the side to start with, if you can find a pool with big entry steps that is good as you can play on the steps getting deeper with confidence.

Have fun, mine went from straight after jab no 1 I would have been so upset if we hadn’t been able to because of covid.

A swimming teacher told me that rather than arm bands use a floating jacket as that will help them learn to swim more quickly as arm bands don’t allow them to move their arms around naturally. Realistically you’re not going to let go of get in the water anyway. I’d just take your time getting in if she’s never been in a pool.

Thanks so much !

It's so awful she's had to wait this long to experience it! I feel the younger the better so they are used to it !
And soft plays we need them back open :(
Thanks guys x

Definitely floating jacket rather than armbands. I asked around to see what friends had and tried theirs on Dd as she liked some but not others

I don't think you need anything other than a happy nappy constume. You won't be letting go of her.

Don't worry my twins were 2 before they went swimming (I had 3dc as a single parent so was unsafe). Life jackets were great for giving them water confidence. Take it slowly, if you can take them to a pool where dc can paddle in the edge and gain confidence to enter the water independently. The twins actually became more confident swimmers than dc1 who went from having had immunisations.

She is probably too heavy and wriggly for one of the sit in seats. We took our 14 month old on Tuesday for the first time and she didn't have any flotation device, we just kept hold of her.

Nothing most swimming teachers don't recommend anything

i had both of mine in float jacket thingy-id only come across them since we moved over from uk..armbands arent common at all-they completely ruin the natural rotation/mobility in water here in Oz where we had a pool so were in everyday..

@user1493413286

A swimming teacher told me that rather than arm bands use a floating jacket as that will help them learn to swim more quickly as arm bands don’t allow them to move their arms around naturally. Realistically you’re not going to let go of get in the water anyway. I’d just take your time getting in if she’s never been in a pool.

My mum is a swimming teacher. She says never use a floating jacket unless the child is strong enough the maintain their own position in the water. The jackets can make them flip over and makes it more difficult to right themselves or stop the flipping all together.

But I doubt very much you're going to ler her out of your sight or let her go anyway.

I actually come from a 'swimming family' - had lessons really young, both parents were swimming teachers, I feel like I grew up on a pool side. The PP who said no floatation device has it. The progression for learning to swim is, very generally, learning to kick legs whilst holding onto the side, then kicking with a woggle, then take the woggle away etc etc. Obvs OPs baby is only 16months, so water confidence is the thing here. I wouldnt use any floatation device and concentrate on getting her face wet/putting it in the water (gently at her pace, NOT dunking like Water Babies) and jumping in with you catching her. Floatation devices just get in the way of that tbh.

DS is 5 now and he still can't swim but he's very independent in the water and has a lot of fun which wouldn't be possible without a floating aid.

We started out in a life jacket and moved to one of these. For DD (15 months) I am going directly to a weight appropriate version of this too as it's easier to swim in than a jacket.

Stearns Original Puddle Jumper Kids Life Jacket | Life Vest for Children https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00HN98OLI/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabcAZPD85WXGH15Z40XEA1A

At that age I just tended to hold my dc. All you need is a good swim nappy. Also would recommend taking in some snacks for when you're getting changed after swimming. It ended to dry off dd, give her a banana and got myself dressed whist she ate it.

(He hasn't actually been in a swimming pool since he was 3 due to covid otherwise we would hope to have taught him to swim by now)

Thank you ! I may just take the bands then and put them
On her if needed it will be me and my partner so I'm sure we can take turns x

Pool noddle are fab, you can fold it in half and she rides like a horse, use under her on her front whilst doggy paddling etc. You need to hold her too of course. Other thing to teach early is safe jumping in jumping forwards. Spider monkey where they hold on to the wall and move along to the side
Have fun

We have a puddle jumper for Ds6 and it's excellent - far better than blow up armbands and vests which tipped him over.

I don't need to worry about deflating or punctures. They're also exceptionally buoyant and he's been on a boat and jumped into deep sea.

Of course you have to teach them that this doesn't make them invincible and they must always wear them and not jump in without.

Only downside so far is they are big and bulky and you need space if taking as luggage on holiday.