Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Swimming with a 14 month old

37 replies

LuckySalem · 16/03/2009 22:29

Me and DD have been swimming since she was about 5 months old but when I take her swimming she just hangs onto me and we "wade" through the water.

I think that she's getting old enough now that she should try to do other things but I don't know what.

She's VERY confident in the bath and LOVES it but when we get to the pool she becomes this clinger and I really want to change that if I can.

Any ideas or help is much appreciated.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

nappyaddict · 16/03/2009 23:59

Have you tried her with a woggle? From about 12 months DS has loved holding onto that and kicking his legs.

BananaFruitBat · 17/03/2009 00:03

Inflatable kick board. Great for lying on for kicking legs, or hanging over splashing hands.

Original poster

LuckySalem · 17/03/2009 00:10

Ok but how do I persuade her to do that as she will not let go of me and if I try she panics and then starts to sink.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting

mrsjammi · 17/03/2009 00:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

BananaFruitBat · 17/03/2009 00:18

I got DS to let go of me by dunking him.

It did work, but now he spends so much time swimming around under the water that he doesn't listen to his teachers.

Original poster

LuckySalem · 17/03/2009 00:20

When do they lose the reflex to hold their breath when they go underwater? I've tried dunking A once but she just breathed in the water.

MrsJ - I wish I could do that but I'm not a strong enough swimmer - can barely keep myself afloat never mind go anywhere!! lol

OP posts:

BananaFruitBat · 17/03/2009 00:23

Oh sorry, I have no idea about holding breath under water. DS has been swimming since he was 11mnths old if that helps at all.

mrsjammi · 17/03/2009 00:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

LuckySalem · 17/03/2009 00:31

We've got a baby pool so thats where I stay. I dont mind throwing her around etc, I'm just not a "swim" person.

Will try taking her ball when we go then.

She gets soaked in the bath all the time cos we pour water over her head and splash the hell outta her so she's not scared to have water on her face its just when I dunked her she drank it and choked so not really too good. lol

OP posts:

nappyaddict · 17/03/2009 00:34

Will she put her whole face in the water if you ask her to?

Also DS loves it when i hold onto him and we both go under together. You have to cue them to take a breath when they go under. At DS' swim class they say Name, Ready, Go cue big exagerated deep breath face and under.

mrsjammi · 17/03/2009 00:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

LuckySalem · 17/03/2009 00:36

NO she doesn't understand putting face in BUT we do count 1, 2, 3 before we pour water on her head so maybe if I do that AND go under with her she'll learn.

I think her main problem is when she can't reach the floor. Also she's only just started walking so maybe she'll be a little more confident in the water?

OP posts:

Original poster

LuckySalem · 17/03/2009 00:37

There's a pool a little drive away that does that beach type thing. Maybe I could take her there once to see how we get on.

OP posts:

nappyaddict · 17/03/2009 00:42

LS - at first to get them to put their face in you have to show them what to do. They learn best my imitating and also if you are confident doing it then they will be. It's the same with the learning to take a breath before they go under. In your case you could do 1, 2, 3 big exagerated breath and then both go under together. When she sees you taking a big breath, she should eventually copy.

Original poster

LuckySalem · 17/03/2009 00:45

Ok - thanks NA, Will try that then.

DD has play group from 1:30 - 3 and I was thinking of taking her straight from that to swimming for an hour. Do you think thats too much for one day?

OP posts:

nappyaddict · 17/03/2009 00:56

She might be tired and uncooperative. Is it possible to go to swimming before playgroup?

Original poster

LuckySalem · 17/03/2009 00:57

No they dont do the free U16s till 1pm. Ok no worries, will go on Weds instead!

Cheers

OP posts:

nappyaddict · 17/03/2009 01:16

Good luck!!

seeker · 17/03/2009 06:25

I know a lot of people frown on them, but both mine loved arm bands. They give huge confidence because it's easy to keep your face out of the water.

Original poster

LuckySalem · 17/03/2009 11:04

Seeker we've got arm bands that we tried on her but they didn't give her any confidence at all, she hated that they kept her arms straight out.
I'll try them again when she's older but I think she's too small for them at the mo.

OP posts:

nappyaddict · 17/03/2009 11:16

Have you tried the disc sort? They aren't as restrictive.

Original poster

LuckySalem · 17/03/2009 11:22

no, not seen the disk type. Will have another look

OP posts:

nappyaddict · 17/03/2009 11:30

discs

nappyaddict · 17/03/2009 14:06

Also has she got any goggles. JJB sports do a pair for £1.99

soon2befamilyof4 · 17/03/2009 14:19

Those discs say from 2 years onwards.

My DD is the same age as your LS and we go to a pool with a beachy type thing. So the water starts off as vertually nothing. I put her in the shallowist bit and let her crawl around and splash with the water. It is much better than when we have been to a pool with no beach. They also do a toddler fun session where they have toys in the pool which really helps as she crawls round playing with the toys. They also have a small slide and she loves going down that and I catch her at the bottom. We do also have a walk round (she isn't walking so still has to hold on to my hands). She will usually stay in the pool happily for about an hour and then starts to get a bit tired. We get out at the first sign of her getting grumpy so she associates it as fun and that way is much easier to get dressed if she isn't too grumpy.

I personally think that as long as they enjoy it then the rest will follow. My DD won't let you lie her on her back in the water, including in the bath. But I am not worried about it and won't put too much pressure on her as I am sure she will eventually get it.

Flip

1 2