Swimming for a 1 year old

[Poppychick]

What do I need to buy to take my DS swimming with myself and DD?? I have seen those costumes with floats built in and rubber rings too.

Can anyone recommend with a link preferably???

Thanks in advance.

We take our son, now 18m, in swim nappy and no floats on basis there is no way we are letting go of him anyway!

How old is your DD? If only little I think you would probably like another adult with you to hand your DS to you in the pool etc.

Lifeguards at our pool don't like those float costumes or vests with floats in. If the child can't swim, the floats flip them on to their front or back. At this age just armbands will do but you will still have to support him for a while till he gets used to holding his head out of the water. and also a ring for him to hold on to.
Be prepared for him to not want to go in the water at all though - we didn't go for a while and ds2 had forgotten about swimming pools so we sat on the steps while he screamed the first time and its been a very gradual process.

My DD just turned one and I'd like to take her swimming too - I've been given a costume but I've also got a swim nappy... which do I use, or both?? Feel v dim for not knowing

I have used a Poly otter suit made by Zoggs for my DD since she was 6months. She is now 21/2yrs old and is an amazing swimmer.

I throughly recommend them

arm bands are the best once they are sed to them - it olds them up in the water without flipping them over onto their faces. Swim nappy essential - swim suit a matter of personal preference.

B1977 - if he had arm bands you could let go of him - he'll have much more fun and so will you if he can bob about a bit, and "swim" between two adults. You'll be able to relax more if you know he's safe, and he can find out more about the water.

I can't not let go of mine, she'd go mad if I held on to her all the time.

You can get swimming costumes with cloth swim nappies built in. And arm bands once they can walk. Takes a few visits to get completely used to them. DD is 15 months, and swimming is one of our main bad-weather activities!

Right so arm bands it is then!! I am certainly prepared for the screams, been through that with DD!!!

We are going away in Summer so want them both confident for water play before we go and yes preferably with 2 adults!

Thanks for the replies, very useful.

just another question, i used to take dd a lot before she could walk but now she is mobile she just runs away while i'm trying to get dried and dressed. any tips?

while we are in the pool she just wants to wander around in the shallow bit (our pool is gradual, like a beach!), how do i get her to actually 'swim' in the deeper bit?

sorry for gatecrashing!!

Maybe a poncho type towel would be good if she's streaking about and getting chilly!!! As for stopping her running off - get a cubicle and lock the door or bribery ...

good idea about the poncho. i tried the cubicle and she crawled under the door then i had to leg it around the changing room in just a towel rying to save my dignity!! she's a little houdini in the making!

sorry 'trying'

Little Minx!!! Bribery it is then

I take a packet of cheddars in that usually makes DD sit still for a couple of minutes while I speed dress, my problem is getting her out of the pool in the first place.