Swimming first time with 9mo, any tips?

[SKLM]

Hi everyone, would love some tips about swimming with a baby for the first time.

He is starting some lessons in September when he will be 11 months but I'd like to get him in the water before then, he loves bath time.

Our local pool is 30 degrees c, with stepped access, one depth all the way through. I have bought disposable swimming nappies and a happy nappy plus wet suit. Big towel too!

I'm a strong confident swimmer but nervous about taking him the first time. What did you do with your babies in the pool the first time and how long did you stay in?

How did you get the baby into and out of the pool safely? I will initially be going with my mum or husband.

Thank you in advance x

To be aware that you may spend longer getting them ready either side than actually being in the pool. I think that age DS used to last 20 minutes before starting to turn blue or grabbing at me for a feed.

I regards to getting in and out I used to put them in my hip and walk down the steps holding the handrail with my spare hand. If you are going with others then they get in first and you pass baby to them before getting in yourself.

Sounds like you have the right stuff for him to wear. Double nappy system rarely fails - just make sure none of the inner nappy is visible; that means you have a good seal to keep things in. Take a soare disposable inner nappy sonif he poos you can change it, rinse the outer nappy well and get back in. Even at 30 degrees we found a wetsuit of some kind good right up to age 4. You might want to take a folding changing mat for under the towel but if you are going to a leisure centre they'll probably have big cubicles with changing tables.

Just get him used to being in the water. Hold him, swish him around if he enjoys it. You can hold him in a swimming position with one hand flat on his chest and one on his back. You can gently put water on his face (but don't submerge him without learning how from a baby swimming teacher first). Half an hour is probably the maximum time you want to be in. If he gets cold sooner get out.

When you get out I would take his wet things off then wrap him in a towel whilst you quickly dry yourself and get your clothes back on then put his clothes on.

Thank you both for your helpful responses :)

@MarioLink would you try to give your little one a quick shower after being in the pool? I was thinking the chlorine might irritate his skin? Not sure if a shower would scare him!

I always took mine into the shower from 5-6 months when we started swimming. Hold them close to you and just let the water fall over them.
Once mine were confident sitters, I’d sit them on the floor under the shower to wash their hair / body with a bit of baby shampoo and they’d splash away in the water!

My biggest tip is a towelling robe for yourself. You can pop that on, swimsuit off in less than a minute then focus on getting your LO changed and dry. Snack for them afterwards, always starving in my experience, plus gives them something to do when you are changing.

We do have a quick rinse in the shower both before and after swimming at the leisure centre (only before if you are sure you can get straight in the pool as otherwise they get cold). Unfortunately at our smaller pool we have lessons in we just have to leave straight away and have a bath at home later in the day but the chlorine hasn't done my kids any harm and one had mild eczema.

I’ve been taking my swimming since she was 6 weeks and we go at least once a week. Swimming is my ‘thing’ and if I could I do it every day - I do triathlons etc.
Really important things for me when she was small:

1. neoprene suit from JoJoMaman Bebe, kept her warmer but also made it easier to hold her slippery body in the pool & reassured me
2. Have a suitable snack for immediately after, she was always starving and still is.
3. Hoodied / decent towel, we would shower after together (like PP said) then I would wrap her up it in and pop her down to eat snack whilst I threw on my clothes. Made sure she wasn’t too hungry & then got her dressed. When very tiny she got swaddled in a towel and laid on the bench!
4. Some little floating toys from Zoggs, she spent hours grasping out for them and splashing them. Now I think we have every form of kids swim toy that exists
5. Be ready for them to be shattered!

Good luck! The joy I now get from swimming with her as she gets older is immense and she was swimming independently (mainly underwater) by 2.5.

Enjoy

Get him dry and dressed first by then you’ll be pretty much dry, give him a snack while you get dressed quickly.

swim nappies are not absorbent, change into them at the pool, not before you leave. Yes, I learnt that the hard way with DTs!

As others have said, if you’re going with someone then one of you get in, the other passes baby to them, and then the other person gets in.

If you’ll be going solo, then I would sit baby next to the ladder, get in myself, then lift them in. If there are wide shallow steps with a handrail then you could try slowly walking in carrying baby.

I’d suggest getting yourself dry and dressed before tackling baby.

Initially I’d focus on getting him comfortable with the water. You could then bring along some toys: squirty ones are fun! Things like rubber ducks or small balls for them to ‘chase’ across the pool, with you having him on his front, can help with starting to feel comfortable with swimming body positions. It’s also what they tend to do in baby swim lessons in my experience.

All good points made re baby.

Take warm clothes for you for afterwards. I used to be freezing when I got out because I wasn't moving very much. I went home for hot chocolate and a snack!

I've been taking my baby to swimming lessons every week since 3 months old... the main thing I've done to make my life easier is make sure I have my swimming costume on before I get to the pool.. ive always dressed my son before going to- if the wetsuit they wear has poppers they can wear a normal nappy to the pool and then just change at the last minute which makes it so much easier. We only do 30min max, and he's knackered after that!

Tie a woggle / pool noodle under their arms with a circle ⭕️ weight behind their back. Great for keeping them afloat but still being able to have full movement. You just hold on underneath.

Thank you so much everyone. I feel much better prepared now and have a good idea of how to approach swimming with him x