18 month old swimming advise please.

[PoppyIsApain]

Hi,
I took my 18 month old Ds to swimming for the first time today and he loved it, he was even moving his arms in a way like he was trying to get through the water. Do you think this possible?
Apart from swimming lessons as they are fully booked in nearby leisure centres and schools. What else could i do to assist him in being an early swimmer. Only I can swim, his dad can not.
Is there any tips that i can do that will get us started.
TIA.

The best thing you can do to get him swimming early is to let him enjoy the whole swimming pool experience. Personally I don't think swimming lessons at that age do anything more than give confidence and teach a child to be relaxed in the water.

Good 'swimming' games would be things like jumping in (start with plopping in from sitting), blowing bubbles with mouth in water, splashing the pool side walls by kicking feet, getting face wet.

Until your DC is around 3 they are not going to be able to actually swim so just take him and let him enjoy the pool, would be esp good if you can get him googles and you can get him used to putting head under and blowing bubbles and jumping in (into your arms).

doesn't matter than his dad can't swim, don't need to swim in childrens pool, my DH is terrible swimmer but still good and taking kids swimming. swimming lessons good from age 3-4, but not until he is happy to put face in water and jump in.

His dad loved taking him, and wants to again, just saying that he cant as he is no help really when it comes to teaching him.
Thanks for the help
I will try and get some goggles that will fit him.

I';ve been taking the daughter swimming since she was about 6 months old, she's now 13 months.

Never been to a course, as I thought them a bit expensive, and really, why do I need an instructor to tell me that I need to hold her head over water?

I usually just support her under her chest and let her paddle and chase after toys. Today she just went back and forth between me and her dad.

We're wondering from which age she'll be able to learn to swim properly. We don't use waterwings, but she likes holding on to balls and floats.

Confidence in the water is the most important thing - don't worry about "proper" swimming just yet (most schools do swimming lessons anyway and even if they are infrequent children do well in these if they go swimming regularly at other times) just let him play and splash about in the water. And have fun

I'd challenge the idea that children under three can't swim. Our dd went either to the beach or the pool every day from the age of about 6 weeks. She adores water and could swim with confidence by the time we went to Bangkok at 2.7

"Personally I don't think swimming lessons at that age do anything more than give confidence and teach a child to be relaxed in the water." I agree with this statement, but think that confidence in the water is a really important skill, whatever the child's age.

I have been taking DD to swimming lessons since she was 4 months old and now (at 2.4) she is very confident and loves the water. She has learnt many skills which could, potentially save her if she ever fell into water - turning and holding on to the side of the pool for example.

The fact your DH doesn't swim shouldn't be an obstacle in taking your child swimming. Just stay in his depth and he won't need to actually swim, just lots of encouraging your DS to get used to the water, putting his head under the water, blowing bubbles, jumping off (from sitting to begin with) the side of the pool, holding on to the side, etc. And have lots of fun doing it

Have fun taking hime swimming, build up his confidence. I wouldn't other with swimming lessons until they can understand what they are being told, DD was 3.5 when she started and for her was the right time. Can I suggest though in the meantime that your DH looks for adult swimming lessons so that he too can enjoy family swim time. Our DS also swims in a float vest and armbands which supports him totally in the water.

Just take him often and play and get water confident. I saw a woman recently with her baby of about 6 months they were playing a peek a boo game where she held the baby underwater and then brought her up for the peek a boo. The baby had no trouble with the breathing (I wished I had done it when mine were that age)and just looked slightly bemused!

I think the Under 3 thing is to do with having the ability to keep there head up over the water and swim. I think i remember reading that was the case till they were around 3 ish,Obviously some earlier like everything.

Underwater though is a different matter. DD has been going to underwater lessons since she was 13mths and now at 17mths can jump off the side of the pool and swim underwater towards me for about a meter. No armbands,rings, goggles etc. And also the other way.. swim towards the side and hold onto the side for safety.
Her lessons are quite expensive but im my opinion well worth it.

I agree that water confidence plays a big part..Theres no way DD would be dunking herself underwater if she didnt feel confident. We have been taking her swimming to the local pool since she was 8 weeks old and has really grown to love the water..also fab for bath time as she LOVES her nightly baths and has no problem with me pouring water over her head to wash her hair.

Id say continue taking DS swimming. Doesnt mater if DH cant swim as the waters only waist deep anyway and no need to actually swim yourself. Just keep making it a fun time

Give him commands before you do something - so he gets good warning and also so that he starts to understand instruction. For example, to get him used to water on his face (with the ultimate aim to get him to put his whole head under water), say something like "DS, ready, SPLASH" and then splash his face with a little bit of water. Same with encouraging him to hold on to the side of the pool. Put his hands on the side of the pool and say, "DS, hold on, hold on". With repetition he will start to get the idea.

Make it as fun as possible, with lots of 'throwing' up in the air & plunging into the water, splashing through the water, etc.

Rindercella- Sounds like go to similiar lessons

I brought my dd to a swimming lesson at around 16 months or so. I thought it was brilliant from the point if view of teaching me things to do with her in the water that I hadn't thought of and also some toddler-
specific water safety.

Unfortunately miss independence didn't enjoy the structured nature of the class, so we haven't been back.

I agree wholeheartedly with just letting him enjoy the water, but a few classes with a good teacher might help you to do that.

Roll on summer and swimming in the sea. That is always fun

You may find local courses in school swimming pools etc. Our leisure centres only do lessons from 4yrs but our 3yr old is at (cheaper!) lessons in a local school pool.

Lots of areas seem to have lessons from as young as 9wks!

These may help:

www.babyswimming.co.uk/

www.waterbabies.co.uk/

Thank you to all who have replied, i have been out and bought a swimming vest thingy and some smaller arm bands today, i previously had bought him 1-3yrs but they were huge so bought him 0-2 yrs which look better.
I will look into the lessons as well as going independantly, thanks again

If you haven't use the arm bands yet I would take them back.

The best floatation aids are back floats and swim fins. Not cheap but worth it in the long run. The swim fin has the novelty factor and can also be used after they have learnt to swim to improve their stroke technique where as the back float isn't as good for that.

Anything else will either affect their body position or arm movement so a waste of time IMO.