swimming goggles in lessons for dd 3.9yo good or bad idea?

[vickyjo]

dd 3.9yo has just started swimming lessons, seem to be going well apart from usual water in face problem, instructor has suggested goggles in encourage children to put faces in the water etc. Anyone got any advice on this?

Good advice - my dd2 loves hers and dd1 is now water baby thanks to 'no water' in them.

DS1's (3) instructor has asked me to get googles too. They actually give me a realy bad headache, but he seems to like them

yes they are a good idea

they were bad for my kids

they did nothing but fiddle with 'em constantly......

I got dd goggles when she started swimming with her face underwater.
She likes them, but chooses to take them off when not underwater

They were good for ds when he started age 3

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she needs to learn how to put them on & off safely. If you put the elastic around the back of the head first the goggles can ping into the eys & have been known to cause injury. So the goggles should be placed against the eyes first & then the elastic pulled back over the head. & take them off from the back first too. I think it could be a bit difficult for a 3 year old, but some to manage OK and it does help with encouraging the face to go in.

have to agree with anyfucker!

my ds 8 and dd 4 have lessons and im refusing to buy them goggles. a little girl in dd class constantly fiddles with them and prob spends more time on the goggles than actually swimming!

ive told both of them when they move into the group above ds they can have them! in this class they learn more style - we are currently working on not sinking!

DD has always worn goggles, she's a fabulous swimmer and would have eyes like pissholes in the snow if she didn't. We've been through about 15 pairs though, so, don't necessarily buy the most expenisive to begin with. She is under orders not to lose the prescription ones she has now.

great advice given thanks to everyone for taking the time to answer. on balance think i'll give them a go, thanks snorkie for advice on safety which i hadnt even thought about.

Dd (now almost 6) also always worn goggles, seemed to really help with her confidence....
v useful for under shower at home as well!

My youngest DD used to wear goggles for swimming lessons but when she started lessons here in Gibraltar they advised us to discourage her wearing them as they said if she fell into the sea without her goggles on she may panic which could lead to trouble. I thought they had a very good point!

Good idea. Young children often struggle to put their faces in the water (also the chlorinated water can irritate the eye) and as a result try to swim with their heads stuck up in the air. This stops them from achieving the correct body position in the water, impeding their progress. Just make sure they are the right size and adjusted to fit correctly (a good swimming teacher should be happy to help with this before the lesson begins).

get ones that don't adjust across the bridge of the nose for less fiddling.

I have been recommnededm these goggles for a three year old.

Also my firends got some very good ones from Lidl, so worth keeping an eye out