Would you start your (almost) 4 yo dc in swimming lessons around this time of year?

[5lilducks]

I signed dd (soon 4) up for swimming lessons in the summer. Unfortunately, they didn't have any spaces at the time and put me on a waiting list. They contacted me end of October saying there is availability from November. Dd and we have been unwell with all the bugs she's got from nursery and now I need to get back to them. I appreciate they may not have any spaces again given the time I've taken to respond. We want dd to start swimming lessons ASAP but my issue is the time of year. It's getting cold, and I worry if she will be catching all sorts etc. Every two weeks or so she has been down with something from nursery and I don't want to make things worse by starting her swimming lessons in Autumn/Winter. She also has eczema which never seems to go away on the back of her knees, elbow and hand so I am worried if this combined with chlorinated water in Autumn/Winter would make things worse. I am a bit of a worrier so maybe I am overthinking all this. Would you have your 4 yo dc start swimming lessons around this time of the year given the circs?Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Tia x

She'll be fine. Being cold/wet in itself goes by make you ill. Unless it's like hypothermia or something, obviously.
Speak to the doctor about the eczema.

If the pool is warm it will be fine. Just make sure she's dry and all wrapped.up before you leave to go home.

I wouldn't if it's one of those teaching pools that are freezing cold though! Not because I think she'd be ill but because I'd worry it would put her off swimming forever.

Swimming lessons run all year, your dd will
enjoy it and it's a valuable skill. My ds has just finished his 2 weeks of daily lessons with the school as well so if they don't see a problem with it neither do we, eh?

Be alert about creams for eczema but be assured that it's a good thing for her to be a part of.

Thank you all for your replies. @girlmom21 I did speak to gp (several times) , keep getting told to apply Hydrocortisone and emollient creams which we do. It's not very serevere if we keep on top of it but was worried about the water aggravating it. But I think it maybe best to start her on her swimming lessons and see how it goes x

I have asked some of the mums I know who send their children to this pool, and they said the water is warm and fine (unlike the one that is closer to us), so they shouldn't be a problem I hope.

I'd probably wait a bit as they learn quicker when a bit older! What sort of lessons is it? Accompanied or just children?

(Mine learnt in a country where it was accompanied until 5yo)

@Aroundtheworldin80moves thank you for replying. This place is children only from when they are 4.

I would take the place. Swimming lessons are in high demand at the moment. Doesn’t really make a difference what season it is.

We've just started swimming lessons with my son who is 20 months. Swimming lessons are so hard to come by (he's been on the waitlist since he was born and the only reason there's a space is because they've added extra classes) that I'd take it for fear of having to wait another 29 months!

*20

I would 100 per cent take the place.

I would take the place. My just 4 year old DD has been going for the last 6 months and is loving it and coming along really fast. The pool can be a bit chilly but the teacher keeps them moving so they stay warm and she has a warm shower as soon as she gets out. I know nothing about excema sorry but there’s no reason anyone would catch more bugs as a result of going swimming.

I'd take it too. We've been going since late summer - it's just colder when they get out and there's more clothes to put back on. Pool is warmish (proper old school municipal pool!).

We decided against it just due to covid, back when our kids had viruses/chest infections the doctors always told us to sterr clear of pools for 2 weeks as they have ideal conditions to spread stuff (warm, wet etc) . Saying that since we haven't been to a pool I don't know what precautions etc they take now so hopefully it's all fine

We didn't do any weekly swimming lessons but did take our children swimming every weekend which is where they learned to swim which basically meant move through the water. They perfected stroke later on. As long as you put a warm thermal hat on their head when you come out they are fine and toasty warm.

Thank you all for replying. Much appreciated