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Original poster

Swimming with baby - advice needed

27 replies

CaractacusPott · 28/01/2023 23:03

Next week I'll be starting swimming lessons with my 6 month old DD. I've got swimming nappies and a nappy splash wetsuit, so all good on that front (though during my practise run she would not stop wriggling around, so god knows how I managed it!).

But I've got no idea how to get myself and a baby changed before and after the lesson! Silly I know...

Are there special cubicles for parents with small children? The only thing I remember from when I would go by myself is there is a small bench in the cubicles but they are just the normal ones. Do I change her on that?

Is it easier to sort myself out first, or her?

I guess showering is out of the question? But I might be able to rinse myself whilst propping her on a hip?

I'm also nervous about leakages, her bringing up milk, possible crying/screaming through hunger or being overtired.

Despite all this, I'm actually really looking forward to it! But any advice on how to hopefully take some of the stress out of it would be greatly appreciated please.

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inappropriateraspberry · 28/01/2023 23:05

They might have playpens you can pop them in, otherwise just take the pushchair. Get ready first, then you can get her out of the pushchair and changed. Should be family cubicles with changing tables, otherwise a mat on the floor if not too wet!

Lkydfju · 28/01/2023 23:08

Have two towels for her; get out of the swimming pool and wrap her in one while you quickly change then use the second dry one to actually dry her. I found that to be the easiest; if you don’t have a cubicle with a baby change then just make sure she’s as safe while you get changed. I didn’t even try to shower afterward and just showered at home and would have my swimming stuff on under my clothes when I arrived
Mine were very chilled in the water and slept very well after and most babies seemed the same in my experience (can’t remember any screaming throughout)

oop · 28/01/2023 23:11

I started swimming at 4 months and was really nervous about how to sort changing them too but you get the hang of it.

My pool had little plastic table things for babies but I often used a wide bit of bench too (in the shared section, our cubicles were too tiny to manage myself and baby). Take an extra towel (or use yours) to lay baby on. I would go with my swimming costume on under my clothes, change baby and then just strip off my clothes and go.
Getting out is a bit harder, people told me it's easier to change yourself first so you're not dripping on baby but our changing rooms are cold and I couldn't leave him shivering in his towel so I always sorted him first, got him in a fleecy star wrap over his clothes and then changed myself.
I wouldn't attempt to shower the first few times. After I got the hang of it I would strip the baby down and take him under the shower for 2 mins to wash off any chlorine before changing him but no way I could have done myself safely.

It's much harder once they can crawl but quite easy if they lie there!

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mynameiscalypso · 28/01/2023 23:11

I'd say get in and out as soon as possible. I did swimming lessons at a community centre where there were no changing rooms. Generally most people got out, put their baby on a changing mat in a towel and then threw their own clothes on over their wet swimming costumes and then got the babies bundled up. Occasionally they'd be a travel for you could dump the babies in if they looked like they were going to roll away but we generally just kept an eye on each other's babies.

notea · 28/01/2023 23:14

All our local pools have little chairs bolted to the wall with straps (bit like a high chair) so you can strap the baby in there while you get changed - you'll need to get her changed first (two of those pools have fold down changing benches, like you get in public toilets, so you may be lucky), else she'll get cold.

gogohmm · 28/01/2023 23:15

Going the trick is to be already in your costume, coming out take 2 towels for baby, and have simple clothes

DonnyBurrito · 28/01/2023 23:17

inappropriateraspberry · 28/01/2023 23:05

They might have playpens you can pop them in, otherwise just take the pushchair. Get ready first, then you can get her out of the pushchair and changed. Should be family cubicles with changing tables, otherwise a mat on the floor if not too wet!

I've always been confused when people say take a pushchair in... Surely all the dirt from the wheels gets all over the wet changing room floor? I've not been in any where that would seem appropriate.

gloveson · 28/01/2023 23:18

Second going with your swim stuff on underneath I get myself ready to go in first then sort my 5 month old.

After swimming I whip off her costume pool side where it is nice and warm and wrap her in towel and bring her into chilly changing room all wrapped and cosy. I then quickly get dressed as she lies and babbles keeping eyes on her and then get her dressed. Don't bother with showers and make sure we use baby soap in her bath that night. And I always dress her in baby grow to make changing as easy as possible. No messing about with tiny socks or jumpers. I also wear Ugg's so if it's chaotic I don't need to worry about socks myself!

In winter during cold snap I used to wrap a second towel up in a hot water bottle which also helped having another cosy layer for her.

Enjoy swimming - it's super fun with a little one!

Itsonlyagame · 28/01/2023 23:18

Put your costume on under your clothes. Take one bag with both of your stuff in so you only have 1 bag to carry. Change you first on the way in then her first on the way out.

ZacharinaQuack · 28/01/2023 23:19

I used to take the baby in his car seat - also handy if you need a wee. I would change him first afterwards so he wouldn't get cold, then pop him back in the seat while I got dressed.

Itsonlyagame · 28/01/2023 23:20

I would always wear a dress too so it was extra quick to change.

BCxx · 28/01/2023 23:26

The sick thing is fine, they are bring stuff up and it’s just scooped to the drain at the side without even being mentioned. At my pool you can either get changed out in the changing room or in a cubicle. There are play pens to lie them in in the changing room so probably it would have been easiest to change him, pop him in there then get ready myself. I’d usually go for the cubicle though and got him ready first but then just had to lie him on a towel on the floor with a toy or he’d usually scream for a bottle at that point so occasionally I’d have to feed him being getting myself ready. I tried to get ready as fast as possible and would sit feeding him in the car before we went home. It’s just whatever works best for you! Also I would do a quick rinse through the shower while holding him (he was a few months old by the time we started) as I didn’t bath him again until night time and didn’t want chlorine on him all day.

On the way in I’d put my swimming suit on under some easy on/off clothes and get his stuff on then take my stuff off.

LivingOnAPrayerYes · 29/01/2023 00:01

Not silly at all, everything is all so new (and so much more difficult with a little wriggly one)

  1. Wear your costume to go (but don't forget pants and bra in your bag!)
  2. wear the simplest outfit you can (dress and slip-on shoes - no socks)
  3. a towelling robe for you both would be perfect
  4. an extra towel to put on the floor for baby to lie on. Sometimes you just need to put them down. Just chuck straight in wash when home
  5. a hat for you (woolly hat now, cap in spring, because you'll have no chance to dry your hair!)
  6. a back pack with essentials like bottles, nappies, snacks, and to put your clothes in, but also a bag-for-life to just put all the wet stuff in (towels and costumes) to just put straight by the washing machine when you get home
  7. I didn't, but I saw people bring in the car seats and put baby in with a bottle while they dressed (think about 1 year old though and mine never would have done that!)
  8. my routine with my first was to take them swimming, home for food and then a nap, then bath with them in the afternoon to wash off all the chlorine. It was literally a whole day event!

... Added! 9) DONT put swim nappies on early - like for the car journey (they don't hold wee)
10) bring snacks and milk for changing after - they probably will be hungry and thirsty
11) take nappy bags for old nappy and swim nappy if no bins provided. But if not, just wrap everything up in the towel and deal with it at home.
12) if nothing else is provided, the floor is the safest place for he baby.
13) enjoy and remember everyone else is in the same boat and sometimes it just really isn't easy.

DontGetEvenGetEverything · 29/01/2023 00:31

Here to second the towelling robe suggestion. I have one with a hood so I was warm enough while sorting bub out. And take lots of towels.
If I'm honest I did find it very stressful so be gentle with yourself. Always worth it for my little one who loves the water.
My sister once had the fire alarm go off while she was naked and bub still wet!! So however stressed I was in the changeroom I could alwyays say to myself, Well, it couldbe worse!

Original poster
CaractacusPott · 29/01/2023 08:07

Lkydfju · 28/01/2023 23:08

Have two towels for her; get out of the swimming pool and wrap her in one while you quickly change then use the second dry one to actually dry her. I found that to be the easiest; if you don’t have a cubicle with a baby change then just make sure she’s as safe while you get changed. I didn’t even try to shower afterward and just showered at home and would have my swimming stuff on under my clothes when I arrived
Mine were very chilled in the water and slept very well after and most babies seemed the same in my experience (can’t remember any screaming throughout)

Thank you! So two towels for baby seems to be a common theme! The floor of the changing rooms is often pretty grim (I seem to remember, so must remember my flipflops!) but I'll take an old towel and bung it straight in the wash.

OP posts:
Original poster
CaractacusPott · 29/01/2023 08:10

oop · 28/01/2023 23:11

I started swimming at 4 months and was really nervous about how to sort changing them too but you get the hang of it.

My pool had little plastic table things for babies but I often used a wide bit of bench too (in the shared section, our cubicles were too tiny to manage myself and baby). Take an extra towel (or use yours) to lay baby on. I would go with my swimming costume on under my clothes, change baby and then just strip off my clothes and go.
Getting out is a bit harder, people told me it's easier to change yourself first so you're not dripping on baby but our changing rooms are cold and I couldn't leave him shivering in his towel so I always sorted him first, got him in a fleecy star wrap over his clothes and then changed myself.
I wouldn't attempt to shower the first few times. After I got the hang of it I would strip the baby down and take him under the shower for 2 mins to wash off any chlorine before changing him but no way I could have done myself safely.

It's much harder once they can crawl but quite easy if they lie there!

Thank yo for the advice. I might try and give myself a quick rinse (even if I'm holding baby out in front of me) btu that might be too ambitious! I'll see how it pans out....you're right, once I've done it a few times I'll realise what works and what doesn't :)

OP posts:
Original poster
CaractacusPott · 29/01/2023 08:11

mynameiscalypso · 28/01/2023 23:11

I'd say get in and out as soon as possible. I did swimming lessons at a community centre where there were no changing rooms. Generally most people got out, put their baby on a changing mat in a towel and then threw their own clothes on over their wet swimming costumes and then got the babies bundled up. Occasionally they'd be a travel for you could dump the babies in if they looked like they were going to roll away but we generally just kept an eye on each other's babies.

Good shout! There might be other mums I recognise there, and if so that might make things a bit less daunting :)

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Original poster
CaractacusPott · 29/01/2023 08:13

notea · 28/01/2023 23:14

All our local pools have little chairs bolted to the wall with straps (bit like a high chair) so you can strap the baby in there while you get changed - you'll need to get her changed first (two of those pools have fold down changing benches, like you get in public toilets, so you may be lucky), else she'll get cold.

This would be ideal! I do remember seeing family changing cubicles but obviously never looked at them before as I had no need for them! They could be full of useful things and I might be worrying for nothing (fingers crossed!).

OP posts:
Original poster
CaractacusPott · 29/01/2023 08:17

BCxx · 28/01/2023 23:26

The sick thing is fine, they are bring stuff up and it’s just scooped to the drain at the side without even being mentioned. At my pool you can either get changed out in the changing room or in a cubicle. There are play pens to lie them in in the changing room so probably it would have been easiest to change him, pop him in there then get ready myself. I’d usually go for the cubicle though and got him ready first but then just had to lie him on a towel on the floor with a toy or he’d usually scream for a bottle at that point so occasionally I’d have to feed him being getting myself ready. I tried to get ready as fast as possible and would sit feeding him in the car before we went home. It’s just whatever works best for you! Also I would do a quick rinse through the shower while holding him (he was a few months old by the time we started) as I didn’t bath him again until night time and didn’t want chlorine on him all day.

On the way in I’d put my swimming suit on under some easy on/off clothes and get his stuff on then take my stuff off.

Great advice, thanks :)

OP posts:
Original poster
CaractacusPott · 29/01/2023 08:20

LivingOnAPrayerYes · 29/01/2023 00:01

Not silly at all, everything is all so new (and so much more difficult with a little wriggly one)

  1. Wear your costume to go (but don't forget pants and bra in your bag!)
  2. wear the simplest outfit you can (dress and slip-on shoes - no socks)
  3. a towelling robe for you both would be perfect
  4. an extra towel to put on the floor for baby to lie on. Sometimes you just need to put them down. Just chuck straight in wash when home
  5. a hat for you (woolly hat now, cap in spring, because you'll have no chance to dry your hair!)
  6. a back pack with essentials like bottles, nappies, snacks, and to put your clothes in, but also a bag-for-life to just put all the wet stuff in (towels and costumes) to just put straight by the washing machine when you get home
  7. I didn't, but I saw people bring in the car seats and put baby in with a bottle while they dressed (think about 1 year old though and mine never would have done that!)
  8. my routine with my first was to take them swimming, home for food and then a nap, then bath with them in the afternoon to wash off all the chlorine. It was literally a whole day event!

... Added! 9) DONT put swim nappies on early - like for the car journey (they don't hold wee)
10) bring snacks and milk for changing after - they probably will be hungry and thirsty
11) take nappy bags for old nappy and swim nappy if no bins provided. But if not, just wrap everything up in the towel and deal with it at home.
12) if nothing else is provided, the floor is the safest place for he baby.
13) enjoy and remember everyone else is in the same boat and sometimes it just really isn't easy.

Great advice here, thank you! Good to also know that (like everything with a baby) it might well turn into a whole day afffair!

And I'll be 100% thinking about point 12 the most :)

OP posts:
Busybutbored · 29/01/2023 08:22

I change baby at home, swim nappy on first, then swimsuit, then nor la nappy on top incase of any accidents on the way. Normal nappy comes off when we go in the pool.
After swimming, we both rinse inder the shower in swimming gear. I dry baby, nappy, and into dry clothes. I dry myself, then just put towel around myself and a top over the top and drove home. Proper shower at home, I find this much easier but I'm only 10 minutes from home.

Original poster
CaractacusPott · 29/01/2023 08:23

DontGetEvenGetEverything · 29/01/2023 00:31

Here to second the towelling robe suggestion. I have one with a hood so I was warm enough while sorting bub out. And take lots of towels.
If I'm honest I did find it very stressful so be gentle with yourself. Always worth it for my little one who loves the water.
My sister once had the fire alarm go off while she was naked and bub still wet!! So however stressed I was in the changeroom I could alwyays say to myself, Well, it couldbe worse!

I do actually have a hooded towel poncho thing, so I'll be sure to take that and if it all ends up going to pot, I'll be thankful of no fire alarm! 😂

OP posts:
Perfect28 · 29/01/2023 08:23

I never did this myself but I saw you can use those plastic tubs with handles (the large ones) to carry your stuff in but also doubles as a safe place to put baby whilst you change.

Original poster
CaractacusPott · 29/01/2023 08:24

Thank you everyone! I'm sure it'll be fine, and I'm overthinking things! My DP was supposed to be taking her the first time, and I'm sure that he would not have had any questions at all about it 😂

OP posts:
LivingOnAPrayerYes · 29/01/2023 09:08

Just realised that I made it sound like it definitely will be hard. I did find it stressful at times, but I am also quite an anxious person anyway. But they change so quickly at that age, that sometimes it was really easy and sometimes more difficult.

But, I also definitely did see other mums drying their hair, putting on some make-up and sitting their happy baby in the car seat while they leisurely got themselves dry. So it doesn't always have to be tough.

Plus, I LOVED swimming with mine when that little, so all totally worth it.