Taking 5yo to swimming lessons with 1yo

[RedRobyn24]

Please give me all your tips

We went today for my almost 5yo’s first lesson and I feel like some things were harder than they needed to be

What do you recommend to make it easier?

I used to do this with dt from 6 months and 5 year old dc.
Baby in a pushchair so you've got hands free.
Swimming things under clothes for quick change. Dont use a locker just put clothes under pram. Once in water I'd feed dt. Get them out walk around etc so when dc1 was out the pool they'd go back in pushchair. Dc thought l was watching but in reality saw very little (especially compared to when dt had lessons) however I was present and that's what dc needed.
No shower. Just dry and dress, then take home for a shower.
Same routine every week so they all know what they are doing.

Putting on a onesie or a tracksuit and crocs. Don’t go in skinny jeans and converse. Keep clothing as easy as possible.

Take a hairdryer if there are plugs for this. I always showered my dc and washed their hair, this might be because one of them is sensitive to chlorine though.

I’d recommend leaving them with someone else if at all possible

I was going to say this…assumption from your op that by ‘we’ you don’t mean 2 parents do you?

No tips, but following as DH sometimes works Saturdays so we can't always divide and conquer. I was going to go with sticking the baby in the sling as I don't think we can take the pushchair into the changing rooms.... but he's getting too big for that now 😕

Ha Ha
I raise you a 5 yr old a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old

I just second what has been said above.
Baby in pushchair.
Swimming child ready to just strip off joggers and hoody.
Clothes in pushchair basket.
Then it does depend a bit on the layout of the baths, and things like how you get home - put them in a onesie then shower them at home is good if you are going in the car, but not so practical if you are walking / going on the bus.
If you have the luxury of more room, then it is just nice to get them showered there then dried and dressed - but again, dress into a onesie or joggers or something really easy.

I have similar age children and do swimming lessons alone, we go with swimsuit on under baggy clothes & crocs, take these off poolside & sit & watch with DC2. Get DC out of pool and into changing rooms for a quick towel dry & dressed & into the car for bath at home. Snacks and toys/iPad for DC2…!

My ds was a menace when dd had swimming. I made sure he'd napped before at home and then took drinks and snacks and books to read with him - lots of interesting pictures, things to find etc.

For getting changed, my dd was pretty independent once she went to school. We went with swimming costume under a snuggly onesie and then for after put on pants and a tshirt under the onesie. Crocs for feet - easy to get on and off.

Ds went in the Tula carrier on my back while I supervised changing - he wouldn't sit in a buggy and would climb out but we were always more successful with the carrier.

Then snacks for everyone once changed and walking back to the car!

Oh yes, and bath and hair wash was always done at home, no queuing for manky showers and adding to the stress.

I take a bag for life rather than a swim bag when I'm on my own so can see and grab everything easily. Move towel to top ready for DC getting out and don't use the lockers. Crocks and tracksuit.

You’re not going to believe this but I can’t bring a pushchair, there’s stairs to get to the changing room and it’s tiny… there’s no where to put a pushchair and we (parents, siblings) sit on chairs literally next to the pool so I can’t really give her food. I do breastfeed but would rather not do that unless I need to as DD enjoys coming off and staring around or trying to catch the eye of others 🤦🏻‍♀️

their dad is at work and their grandmother is travelling, nobody else unfortunately

lol no, I meant “we” meaning myself and my DD’s

I took a carrier for 1yo and I will keep putting her in there until she can competently walk, which hopefully won’t be longer than 6 months 🤞 she’s on the 86th centile so not small and we use an ergo baby if your looking for something

No space for a pushchair 😩 no where to put it, the parking situation is a nightmare as well, it’s across a street and it’s free but it’s unbelievably busy, when we got there last week it was literally full. I had to drive around for 15 minutes until a space came available.

Make sure the five year old is competent at dressing themselves, practise at home if need be. Make sure she's wearing something that's really easy to get on/off.

Do you have to wait by the pool? If not go somewhere else with the baby so she can crawl around. If you absolutely must stay by the pool bring a few toys to entertain her with and so your best (but this is a nightmare scenario with a wriggly one year old!).

Thank you, yes next week I’m going to get 5yo to wear the swim suit under her clothes ready and we need some crocs for an easy life. I think I might wear mine as well.

This probably won't help but I am mentioning in case you can find similar in your area... we take our kids to drop-off swimming lessons with no parents allowed poolside. I actually think it's been better for DS's swimming as he's not constantly looking for me.

Ok I will need to look for onesie for 5yo thank you 🙏 yes I brought a ridiculous amount of snacks 😂 1yo wasn’t that happy next to the pool tbh so I need to think of more way to entertain

one of our local pools has a plastic playpen in the corner of the changing room, game changer!!

Yes she can dress herself. I need to stay by the pool, it’s only a 30 minute lesson but feels like forever when she’s trying to fling herself off my lap (she can’t walk yet)

I have taken my nearly 2 year old to her siblings lessons since she was very young. I go with (even now) sling for the changing room, onesie on top of swim suit with crocs, quick change (no shower) and bath when we get home. Snacks and books and small toys for the baby/toddler during the lesson! Mine enjoyed those magic water pens even at that age?

Thats so convenient, yes that would be easier for us

That’s really helpful thank you. Can I ask where do you get a onesie for a 5yo? Can you get them at the supermarket or something?

If you can't leave or eat by the pool then I don't think there is any way to make it easier, sorry OP! Hang in there!