Wanting to take 3 month old swimming - tips/advice?

[maria199]

So we want to take our 3 month old swimming to get her used to the water/being in the pool. She loves the bath so hoping she will enjoy the water.

Ideally we want to start lessons, but a lot of the classes near us are waitlist only at the moment.

For the first time it would be me and dad so there will be 2 of us there. The pool we want to go to has a baby pool so the temperature etc will be fine. I know what items to take and she has a swim costume and swim nappies.

My questions are:

• Should we put a disposable nappy under the swim one?
• How long should we be in there? I have seen variations of 10 - 30 minutes but want to check if this is right? (Obviously if she is shivering, blue lips or distressed we will end early)
• Tips for what to do with her in the pool?

Any advice that can be helpful would be great! Want to check as well that 3 months is fine to take her?

No, dont put a disposable nappy on in the pool as it will expand. Only put the swim nappy on when you get there as it prevents poo leakages, not pee

Just the swim nappy.
don’t over think it. Let her float around and splash and get out when she looks like she’s had enough or is cold. At that age 10 minutes was plenty for my son.

Swim nappy only, and if you really want to take her often I'd recommend a baby wetsuit. I had to get one for DD as she would go blue in a very short space of time even in a warm pool. The only way she could do a full 30 minute leason was with her wetsuit.

My little boy is two and has been swimming since three months, he’s an absolute water baby now!

I would say:

No - just the swim nappy is fine
Follow their lead especially the first time, if she’s getting fussy and irritable just leave, I think 10-15 minutes is absolutely fine
Just swirl her around and help her bob in the water, let her splash her hands and explore the water, don’t worry about having a checklist of things you need to accomplish!

Honestly, it’s easy peasy.

Some places (eg Waterbabies) recommend a disposable swim nappy under the neoprene swim nappy (not a normal disposable one!). But if it fits properly you’ll be fine.

In the pool at this age they’ll mostly be happy cuddling and looking around. Remember that it’s such a massive change for them that just being in the pool is a novelty, you don’t need to entertain them.

When you’re done, my tip is to bundle them up in a towel then get yourself changed first. It can be instinctive to get baby sorted first, but trying to get them into dry clothes when you yourself are wet doesn’t work. This is best if you have clothes that you can very quickly whip on!

Baby will be both hungry and knackered afterwards.

Enjoy it! I love bay swimming, and miss it now I have bigger ones. But it’s clear that going from tiny gave them brilliant water confidence.

My friend/neighbour is a swim teacher and advised us not to even bother with lessons until about 3 when they understand more and can take some instruction. We take DS to our local warm baby pool and just let him splash and kick and enjoy being in the water until he’s had enough. Sometimes 10 minutes, sometime half an hour. Agree with a PP about getting yourself dressed first after, we have a hooded towelling poncho thing for DS and strip him to his swim nappy poolside and put that on, then sit him on a folded towel with a toy while we get dry and dressed. He’s basically dry when we get to him and much easier to dress than with us dripping all over him!

The swim nappy works by preventing “more solid matter” escaping into the water, it does not absorb urine or else it would inflate massively in the water.

Woolley hat for when she gets to the changing room. Pop it on as soon as you’ve dried her head.

It's a waste of time and regular swim lessons are a pain at that age. There is zero difference between my toddler and those who have been doing swimming lessons since they were babies. It's just splashing about for fun.

Mine started ‘lessons’ at 3 months, but it was very much for my benefit rather than theirs (obviously) as I’m a keen swimmer and was looking forward to baby swimming. If you can’t get into lessons it really doesn’t matter, it’s just floating about in a pool splashing water, you can certainly do that by yourself. As PPs say, just the swim nappy and yes to a baby wetsuit, they do get cold really quickly at that age. A rinse under a warm shower when you get out, wrap them up in a towel and get yourself dry first. As they get a bit older a water toy can be fun, something that squirts a bit of water was a favourite with mine!

When she's a bit bigger in a few months, take ducks or a floaty ball. Plan a trip to a nice café after because she'll probably sleep very well so you and DH will get some adult time! We go swimming then for brunch

Don't bother with disposable nappy.

Have towel on the side ready to wrap them up in quickly.

If you can give them a quick rinse in the shower after (cuddling them), it's ideal as the chlorine can irritate their skin.

Find a quiet corner of the pool and take your time.

10 minutes is more than enough at this age! Just lots of cuddling, moving through the water, lying on their back, etc.

My DD was a bit shocked at first at 3m as the water is a bit colder than a bath but she was fine quickly after.

Have boob/bottle ready for a post-swim snack 😆

I put mine in a reusable Huggies swimming nappy (Boots sell them) with a Happy Nappy neoprene swim nappy on top. We have twice in 20 months had badly timed poos, and the combination kept things contained.

I think baby swimming is kind of pointless (eldest has been having “lessons” since 3m but still can’t swim very well aged 4 😂) - but also funny and I enjoy it so all three of mine have been dragged along. 3m is a good age as they aren’t too wriggly and can’t launch off the changing table. You definitely don’t need two adults, though I can appreciate that it might be fun for everyone.

Only advice is don’t over complicate it. Swim nappy and neoprene one or costume. Waft them around for a bit. Take them out if they start to go blue or cry. Get them dressed first if the changing room is chilly. Plan a lovely lunch or coffee date for afterwards as the post swim nap is always a treat.

I agree with others. Swimming lessons for babies are great but you can't teach a baby to swim so not compulsory. What you can do is get them comfortable in the water, putting their head in the water, blowing bubbles and generally having fun. We did the lessons as neither of us are swimmers so really wanted our daughter to swim and be comfortable in the water. If you're comfortable in the water yourselves then crack on.

P.S. Splash about do lots of great stuff so have a look there.

https://www.splashabout.com/collections/baby-swimming-happy-nappy-products

To be honest your little one will not have a long attention span, similar to a bath only more overwhelming.
What we used to do in your situation to get value for money was one parent goes first and has their own swim, then the other brings the child and gets them in and plays for 5 minutes. Then first parent joins and all play for 5 minutes. Then other parent goes for their swim and after 5 more minutes then first parent gets the little one out and dressed.
Then each parent gets a half hour proper swim, each parent gets time with the little one(s) and the little one is only in for 15 minutes or so.

In terms of kit we just took the neoprene nappy things and a few bath toys although nothing transparent as they literally disappear in the pool!

Op please do try a disposable nappy in the bath ....

so you can understand why not...

My big tip is - don’t forget your own swimming costume!
I remember when my son was a baby it was such a feat getting us to pool and I got him all changed and ready and then realised I didn’t have a costume. It felt like it had taken such an effort to get there (pool wasn’t close) and get everything sorted that I couldn’t face going home without swimming. So I ended up getting dressed and nipping out to reception and buying a new costume just so we didn’t have to abandon our swimming plans. Sounds very frivolous but in my defence I did need a new one as was squeezing myself in to a rather fetching, but way too small, pre-baby number.

Other than that, just keep it short and sweet to start with as you want it to be something they enjoy for next time. Just being with you in the water in the pool will be loads for your baby to take in. Enjoy!

I completely agree that a baby wetsuit helps keep them warm. We use the disposable Huggies swim nappies too - I’ve got the neoprene ones that go on top, but my little one is a bit chunky and even sizing up couldn’t get a comfortable fit. I also wrap her up warm and quickly change before changing and feeding her. This has seemed to work for my three and we’ve taken them all from about 6 weeks to warm pools - they’ve all enjoyed it. Have fun!

Most pools insist on 2 nappies for babies, a disposable one and then a neoprene one over the top.

OP you don't want to be the family that causes the pool to close so double nappy definitely!

Disposable swim nappy under neoprene nappy. I would get a baby wetsuit as even in a warmer than average pool as they get very cold; with the wetsuit and a warmish pool 30 minutes is fine. Less if they seem cold. Take a folding changing mat. I used to wrap them in the towel; dry myself them wrap myself in my towel then change them then me. The changing after is the hardest bit by far! They will probably want milk straight away after you're changed.