Quick question about young babies and swimming pools

[monkeygirl]

We are taking our 3.5 months ds swimming for the first time next week. Knowing his propensity for explosive poo are swim nappies 'safe' enough or should I buy one of those that you tie over their normal nappies (and do they actually work - doesn't water seep in?)?

swim nappies should hold it all in, but do be prepared for a very messy aftermath in the changing rooms, best peel the thing off all in one piece and bin it

I am going swimming with my 5 month old dd for the first time tomorrow - I asked at the pool if she would be all right in just a disposable swim nappy and they said yes. I have seen babies in disposable swim nappies and reusable swim nappies, with or without costumes over the top. I've never seen anyone use a normal nappy underneath though?

Put a normal nappy in the bath.... check it out.... it's so heavy it's like mafia style killing.... rock tied to your foot to guarantee sinking

Of course you put a swim nappy under one of those things - doh! < at own stupidity>

Thanks all - SW, surely it can't be worse than when they do one of their specials propped at an angle in a car seat??

Monkeygirl, speaking as a mother of two explosive bottoms I think that where babies' poo is concerned Worse Is Always Possible.

Oh yes something to look forward to at the beginning of each day

the pampers swimming nappies have a perforated strip down the side so you can just rip and bin it as theyre quite tight to get off over the legs when wet. although my ds has been swimming since 12 weeks old and hasn't ever done a poo (just cursed it now tho haven't i!!)
i have got a pair of little trunks that i used to put over the top of the simming nappy as even the smallest nappy was too big for him in the beginning.

Used several types and Huggies Little Swimmers are the best for us.

Our local baby swimming company recommends "double wrapping" with a diposable swim nappy underneath one of the reusable ones.

BTW, all the disposable swim nappies that I've used rip down the sides for easy removal.

Can I ask silly questions - apart from the nappy thing how do you actually go swimming with a 12 week old? Do you just hold onto them in the baby pool or do you use floats etc (still holding onto them) and how long do you stay in for and do they like it?

You can just hold them, or you can use one of those yellow floaty seats. It's best to go when it's not too busy (or when there's a suitable class). At our local pools there is a small learner pool which is warmer than the main pool. Stay in for as long as the baby seems to like it (but not too long obviously, as they might get overtired!). I've heard it's a good idea to take a favourite bath toy if they have one (it makes it all seem a bit more familiar).

another vote for huggies swim nappies... you can hold the babe in the water or you can buy a float seat... our dd loved the seat when she was smaller - gave her room ro kick etc but she was fully supported. Boots sell the seats - I htink I paid about 10 pounds for one. WHen she grew out of that one we bought her a larger one - but she has moved onto water wings....

Not sure how to long to stay in - we usually stayed until until dd started moaning....

Why bother with the expense of disposable swim nappies? Unless your ds is a particularly frequent pooer, you m ight as well use the washables. We have for our two, and never had any problems with poo leaking out. I think ours are Bambino Mio.

We didn't use a float seat for ds at all, and for dd only after she'd been swimming with us several times and was used to the pool. They feel far more secure in your arms at first. Something both of oours have always liked is being held under the armpits and swished to and fro sideways through the water, facing either towards or away from you.

If the baby starts shaking, or their lips get tinged blueish, then they're too cold and it's time to get out of the pool pronto.

Have fun - it's really lovely to swim with your babbas.

thanks for the advice - as usual my mother thinks i'm crazy

we have a re-usable swim nappy, but put a cossie on top to keep it all sort of in one place iykwim, and not mix it too much with the water,if the worst does happen.

I've used both, you can reuse "disposables", just handwash them (assuming they're accident free). I can really recommend underwater baby swimming - our class has one 3 mth old and three 4 mth old babies and they all love it. Also they only do classes in hydrotherapy pools, so the temp is suitably warm. You should be able to find a class on \forparentsbyparents{http://www.forparentsbyparents.com/info_entain_swimming.html}

for parents by parents

sorry useless at links!

Huggies swim nappies are brilliant for little ones, as they fit quite snugly round the waist. I would really advise against the Aquatot pull up washable ones. We used to use one, and the only time it was put to the test it failed miserably - and I mean MISERABLY!!! Poo leaked out everywhere into the swimming pool, getting it off ds was a nightmare - with a disposable one you can rip down the sides, with this one I had to pull the grim mixture of poo and water down over his legs. It was NOT good! If you want to use a washable swim nappy, the Kooshies ones that are flat and tie up at the front are more secure I think.