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Original poster

Baby swimming lessons - too early?

33 replies

sunseaandme · 10/01/2023 18:35

Is 6 months too early to start swimming lessons do you think? Though the baby won't actually be swimming obviously just splashing around and getting used to the water im afraid. Im just about to pay for a place in 6 weeks of 'baby first swim' classes and not sure if I should bother.

Anyone else start swimming with their baby at 6 months?

Thanks m

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Original poster
sunseaandme · 10/01/2023 18:36

Didn't mean to put 'im afraid' !

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Original poster
sunseaandme · 10/01/2023 18:36

Didn't mean to put 'im afraid' !

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Original poster
sunseaandme · 10/01/2023 18:36

Didn't mean to put 'im afraid' !

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Original poster
sunseaandme · 10/01/2023 18:37

Ignore the 'I'm afraid'

OP posts:
BellaCiao1 · 10/01/2023 18:37

To took my child from 12 weeks, it's all about water confidence at this stage

Phineyj · 10/01/2023 18:37

I started at 4 weeks! Her little face lit up and as the years passed she turned into a terrific swimmer (or maybe always was?)

parietal · 10/01/2023 18:39

6 months is fine. it is more about fun & splashing than swimming but that is all good.

sanityisamyth · 10/01/2023 18:42

DS(9) started with Water Babies at 6 weeks. Best decision I made.

Playdoughcaterpillar · 10/01/2023 18:43

We started at 5w. She's 13 now and swims really well. Confident and loves the water. Do it. It's fun and they sleep really well afterwards!

TankFlyBoss · 10/01/2023 18:44

I also started both mine at 8 weeks. They both enjoyed it and it was fun for me too. I would do it again.

mummymummymummummum · 10/01/2023 18:45

I started swimming with mine at 10ish weeks. I didn't do lessons straight away though, just took them to the local pool.

tealandteal · 10/01/2023 18:47

Took both at 3/4 months. There’s loads of babies that are 5/6/7 months so take your baby and enjoy!

tillyrainbow · 10/01/2023 18:48

No, Starr as early as you can, they become naturals in the water. My DS loves his swimming lessons. (11months)

NoNoNoMYDoIt · 10/01/2023 18:48

Do it. Best thing I did with my two. Although 13 years later my DD is now swimming 15 hours a week and competing at national level. I'm up at 5am 3 times a week to take her before school. So be warned - you may be in for the long haul!

PandaOrLion · 10/01/2023 18:50

We’re taking DS tomorrow and he’ll be almost 5 weeks. No reason to not go early, but we’ll just be taking him and splashing round for a bit then getting out, not actual lessons.

MaverickGooseGoose · 10/01/2023 18:50

I've got twins so it was all a massive ballache. Took them casual swimming from around 2, still a massive ballache. Started lessons at 4. Both county swimmers now so starting early doesn't make any difference in future ability.

But if I had just one I would have taken them as babies for sure.

Cass345 · 10/01/2023 19:16

My baby is 7 months now and we started going when he was 3 months old. He loves it and is completely comfortable going under the water. We started at water
babies which was great but now go to a council pool and it’s a quarter of the price and just as good…

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 10/01/2023 19:23

I took ds the day after his first set of jabs @ 6 weeks. Then every week until I was pg and sick with DD 3 years later.

Dangermouse80 · 10/01/2023 19:28

Definitely go, all three of mine loved it and it was a great activity to get out of the house for.

Notsuchacleverclogs · 10/01/2023 19:32

I started with DD at 6months (now 18months) and it is the highlight of my week. We love it. She squeals and has so much fun in the pool - so gorgeous to hear.

Our classes technically could start from 8weeks (after the first set of jabs) but the instructor told us she thinks 3months is the best time to start. So you def arent too early!

Margo34 · 10/01/2023 19:37

I didn't bother because the cost was ridiculous at £17.50 per session! Local pool did drop-in sessions for 0-4y so I took there instead for the much more palatable cost of £4 for each drop in session. Little one is an absolute little fish. 😍

Cuwins · 10/01/2023 19:43

My DD has been going since 10 weeks she is now nearly 11m and absolutely loves it. She enjoyed it from day 1 although the first 2 lessons we got out after 20mins as she was tired and started crying. After that no issues. Now she sits on the bench at the side with me waiting for her lesson- shouting and trying to lean forwards as far as possible to get in!

MGee123 · 10/01/2023 19:44

I agree with pp - formalised lessons at that age are a total rip off. Just take her yourself to a local pool until she's old enough to actually participate in a class. All you're doing when they're little is getting them used to being in the water. We've taken our daughter regularly since 12 weeks and she loves going. £6 per session as opposed to £15 and we can go when suits us.

Felicity42 · 10/01/2023 19:55

It could be a great way to get out of the house and meet other parents of babies the same age. No one is expecting the baby to actually swim. It's just a fun activity and getting the baby used to the water. It's not much fun taking the baby on your own each week when the baby is so small. If it's not too expensive then why not?

Cuwins · 10/01/2023 20:02

Felicity42 · 10/01/2023 19:55

It could be a great way to get out of the house and meet other parents of babies the same age. No one is expecting the baby to actually swim. It's just a fun activity and getting the baby used to the water. It's not much fun taking the baby on your own each week when the baby is so small. If it's not too expensive then why not?

For me it was also about my confidence in handling her in the water as I'm not a terribly confident swimmer. And our local public pools are freezing and never seem that clean, the pool we go to is a lovely warm and clean private pool- maybe less if an issue at a more robust 6m but massively important to me at 10 weeks