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Parenting

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Original poster

How to take 21month dd and 6month ds swimming on my own?????

16 replies

nuclearsatsuma · 29/02/2008 13:08

Finally feel brave enough to don my cossy, how on earth do I juggle the pair of them?

Don't really want to leave ds on poolside in his pushchair, would like him to have a dip too, but is this possible? ?

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mazzystar · 29/02/2008 13:11

Don't think you are allowed to actually - certainly all of the pools we use insist on a one to one ration for under fours.

Original poster

nuclearsatsuma · 29/02/2008 13:14

Oh, didn't know that. Makes sense though probably isn't very safe is it. Maybe I'll have to drag mum to the pool too then!

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luckylady74 · 29/02/2008 13:14

With help - even if they're in rubber rings and floats you can't dump the baby if the 18mth old is in trouble! i took my twins when they were nearly 3 but it's hard work.

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TheMadHouse · 29/02/2008 13:16

I have done this and it is all down to planning. I took them both every week (15 month gap) from DS2 being 6 weeks old. He is now 20 months.

DS1 has armbands, DS2 had a sit in ring at that age.

I took the car seat in with me and didnt bother with showers until they were bigger.

I poped my costume on at home under my clothes and had towels that went over their heads like tunics

I would sit largest down with food and drink in his towel whilst I got DS2 dried and fastened back in car seat, then do DS1 and then me.

We all bathed together once at home. DS2 wore a sleepsuit, DS1 a tracksuit.

It is possible and they love it - good luck

fryalot · 29/02/2008 13:20

you need to check with your local baths before you do anything.

At mine you are absolutely not allowed to. They have all sorts of rules, the most relaxed one being that you can take two children over 2, but under 5 in the toddler pool.

Other than that, you need one adult (over 16) per child.

I know that each baths is different, but if they're not going to let you take them both in, there's no point even thinking about it any more.

And they don't let you take a toddler swimming whilst leaving your baby in his car seat/pushchair at the side of the pool either.

Original poster

nuclearsatsuma · 29/02/2008 13:22

Wow, thats impressive every week from ds being 6 weeks old!

So it is doable then.

I used to take dd until I was so prenant with ds that I was worried my waters would break in the pool!

Looking forward to doing it again.

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Original poster

nuclearsatsuma · 29/02/2008 13:24

Pool Shouln't be a problem as I work there (fitness instructor at the gym) they are pretty relaxed.

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TheMadHouse · 29/02/2008 13:31

They both love the water and are very confident now. Both wear armbands now for my sanity and we get showered and dressed, although I do give them a sugar free lolly pop now whilst we get dressed. The hardest part is walking to the pool with the car seat and holding the others hand so they do not slip.

I have never had an issues with the pool and we have been to 2 different ones

willdaisymummy · 29/02/2008 13:37

Our local pool won't allow more than a 1:1 ratio for children under 5. However they will allow 2 per adult when there's an organised session for babies on and they have more dedicated staff.

Tommy · 29/02/2008 13:40

those little ring seats for babies are great - they can just float around in that and you can hold the toddler. Alot of it might depend on the pool of course - our local one is sloped so there is a really shallow bit which is great when you have tinies with you

foxy1 · 29/02/2008 13:41

hi i take my nearly 3 year old and 13 month old swimming on my own, the eldest has armband and my youngest has float belt around him. We go to a childrens pool so the water is shallow. I would not go to a deep pool on my own with them unless the youngest was in a inflatable seat/ring. childrens pools are the best. My friend takes hers as well and they are the same age difference. So it can be done but it hard work and not very relaxing but they really enjoy it and is worth it.

OneHandedTypist · 29/02/2008 13:46

Our pool would let u (I have seen people do it). I would have toddler in a full body floatie suit & babe in a floatie seat. Hard part is keeping them both warm enuff after getting out of pool.

Original poster

nuclearsatsuma · 29/02/2008 16:27

Full body floatie and floatie seat sounds like a good idea, OHT, will be looking to buy those! Thanks all X

OP posts:

WestCountryLass · 29/02/2008 21:43

It is doable and it can be fun as well!!!!

If both the kids are in easy on and offable clothes, that will make changing easier. Also, because a small baby cannot stay in the water as long I used to change them, put a pampers care mat in the buggy/carseat in case they wee'ed in their swimming nappy, wrapped them in a towel and left them in there for 20 mins or so (so long as they were happy/asleep) before bringing them into the water otherwise it can be difficult if the older one doesnt want to get out when the baby is cold/tired.

Christywhisty · 01/03/2008 00:04

Our pool wouldn't let you either, not that I would do it with two children that age. It is just not safe trying to keep an eye on two little ones, even if they do have armbands on.

Flibbertyjibbet · 01/03/2008 00:43

Our pool will let you but only on specified parent and toddler sessions when there are extra lifeguards.
I have taken them both several times from ds2 being 8m and Ds1 24m. Its reallly hard. It got a lot harder when ds1 got potty trained and we arrived at baths, got changed, ds1 in armbands, ds2 in floaty seat in the water, ds1 announces 'I need a wee', so out of water, all 3 of us plus swimseat and armbands in a tiny cubicle and I'm trying to hold him on the loo while also holding ds2 in swim seat......

Anyway the way I worked it (with lots of shouting etc along the way
was
get out of car, get buggy out of boot. Put ds2 in buggy, then get ds1 out of car. Enter building.
Changing room, change me first then ds1 who would then play with blow up nemo while I changed ds2 who had to be done last in case he weed in swim nappy. Put ds2 down and fold up buggy, place in corner by lockers and hope no one pinches it! (buggies not allowed on pool side at ours)
Waterside, attendants put armbands on ds1 and ds2 into seat. Enter water. Exhaust myself making sure ds2 doesn't tip over while ds1 needing constant vigilance and running about on the side looking like he's going to jump in. Have heart attack and get out of water, run around poolside with ds2 in swimseat as ds1 heads for large pool....
You get the picture??
Then out of pool, change ds2 first while ds1 wanders about out of sight, put ds2 in buggy. Change ds1 and have constant battle with inflatable nemo as I try to put his clothes on.
IGNORE ALL COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE WITH ONE NOT-YET-MOBILE-CHILD OF 'OOO THAT LOOKS LIKE HARD WORK'
I am by this time dry. No chance of shower or any body lotion etc. Pull on my clothes, push buggy, stagger to car, get us all in, they fall asleep in the car. I arrive home utterly exhausted just as they wake up raring to go

And it got worse when ds2 got mobile and they said he was too big for a swim seat...

Anyway don't let me put you off, you go and have a good time

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