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Original poster

Is the baby swimming class a "scam" or is it truly beneficial?

146 replies

happyfishcoco · 09/07/2023 22:01

Is the baby swimming class a "scam" or is it truly beneficial? Can a 6-month-old baby really learn to swim? Some claim that a 6-week-old baby can start joining swimming classes. Moreover, there are a total of seven levels in baby swimming classes, followed by ten levels in toddler swimming classes, amounting to seventeen levels that take around four years to complete. Is it worthwhile to spend £2500 to learn swimming by the age of six? Are the initial seven levels in baby swimming classes of no use? as toddlers can directly join toddler swimming classes.
I'm wondering if anyone has experience with baby swim classes. is it worth anything?

OP posts:
ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 10/07/2023 12:44

I took my baby/ toddler to parent and baby swimming sessions - but they weren't classes as such . I think the first classes started around age 4 pre-school .

Original poster
happyfishcoco · 10/07/2023 14:08

Runnersandtoms · 10/07/2023 08:35

I think there's two different things. The lessons where they literally train babies to turn over and float on their back, and utilise the natural instinct to hold breath under water etc. So they really can swim. I believe you have to do this from very young for it to work and it's probably worth it.

Then there's what we did which was more like playtime in the water, which really just get them used to the water, getting water on their face, blowing bubbles etc. Which realistically you could easily do yourself by taking them regularly so it's more like a social event for the mums.

It depends what you want out of it and whether you're willing to pay.

exactly, I hope my baby really can swim, to use their natural instinct and turn it become a skill.

but from other pps, the baby swim class seems more like playtime in the water. won't be worth it to me for paying £20 just 30mins for that.

OP posts:
Original poster
happyfishcoco · 10/07/2023 14:16

thank you everyone share your experiences and thoughts.
I find it very interesting that most people think baby swimming class is a mum activity more than something for baby to learn.
kinda new point of view to me as well. I never thought of it this way.
Everything I do is just for my DC.

OP posts:
UrsulaIsMyQueen · 10/07/2023 14:20

happyfishcoco · 10/07/2023 14:16

thank you everyone share your experiences and thoughts.
I find it very interesting that most people think baby swimming class is a mum activity more than something for baby to learn.
kinda new point of view to me as well. I never thought of it this way.
Everything I do is just for my DC.

Well you have to think of your own enjoyment and mental health too.

buckingmad · 10/07/2023 14:24

minE has gone since 6 weeks (now 2 years old) and will continue till she can swim confidently/asks to stop which ever comes later.

being a strong swimmer/confident in the water is literally one of the most important lessons we can teach our children so it’s high on our priority list.

Admittedly for the first few months it was probably more about a social thing to do with other mums plus was the only time I’d get a really decent nap out of baby after! But now she loves it and is so confident.

Goldencup · 10/07/2023 14:59

happyfishcoco · 10/07/2023 14:08

exactly, I hope my baby really can swim, to use their natural instinct and turn it become a skill.

but from other pps, the baby swim class seems more like playtime in the water. won't be worth it to me for paying £20 just 30mins for that.

Show quote history

Not sure how soon you can start really. Unless a special pool used just for that, 6 weeks seems young also I think I was advised not to swim for something like that post birth. Personally I felt more confident taking them to a public pool at 4 months which is what most of the " lessons" start from.

Yuja · 10/07/2023 15:03

Very overpriced and lacks value for the baby. My DD cried all the way through every week and ironically is now a highly able swimmer competing at regional level! With DS I just took him for a bob about in the pool when it suited us - was much better and cheaper.

UrsulaIsMyQueen · 10/07/2023 15:05

Yuja · 10/07/2023 15:03

Very overpriced and lacks value for the baby. My DD cried all the way through every week and ironically is now a highly able swimmer competing at regional level! With DS I just took him for a bob about in the pool when it suited us - was much better and cheaper.

It didn’t lack value for my baby, because she absolutely loved it.

Yuja · 10/07/2023 15:11

Sure I'm just giving my opinion, based on the ops question.

IncomingTraffic · 10/07/2023 15:49

happyfishcoco · 10/07/2023 14:16

thank you everyone share your experiences and thoughts.
I find it very interesting that most people think baby swimming class is a mum activity more than something for baby to learn.
kinda new point of view to me as well. I never thought of it this way.
Everything I do is just for my DC.

It’s not just for the mum though - a nice activity where you spend time 1:1 with your baby doing all sorts of things that promote various aspects of development is for both of you.

It’s not necessary for children to learn to swim. But it not some value-less activity selfish mums are imposing on their children to suit themselves.

ContractQuestion · 10/07/2023 15:58

You can do that just as easily in a cheap toddler fun class though rather than pay the insert name here babyswim for expensive prices because you think youre teaching your child to swim.

ContractQuestion · 10/07/2023 16:00

And that's exactly the point - it really isn't necessary to do baby swimming in order for your child to be able to learn to swim! The false association that "this is what you do if you want your child to learn to swim" is what is being countered by this thread.

If you value a child swimming young I'd heavily recommend 1-1 sessions around 4, 4.5 and then put into a class when they can swim 10m front/back with ease. And a lot of fun in the pool before that. No need to spend 100s on baby swimming

UrsulaIsMyQueen · 10/07/2023 16:02

ContractQuestion · 10/07/2023 16:00

And that's exactly the point - it really isn't necessary to do baby swimming in order for your child to be able to learn to swim! The false association that "this is what you do if you want your child to learn to swim" is what is being countered by this thread.

If you value a child swimming young I'd heavily recommend 1-1 sessions around 4, 4.5 and then put into a class when they can swim 10m front/back with ease. And a lot of fun in the pool before that. No need to spend 100s on baby swimming

I don’t know anyone who thinks it’s necessary for your child to be able to swim though. Everyone I know who did baby swimming classes just did it because they and their baby enjoyed it.

ContractQuestion · 10/07/2023 16:33

Have a read of this thread then. Plenty do. Including the post above mine who said "It’s not necessary for children to learn to swim. But it not some value-less activity selfish mums are imposing on their children to suit themselves." completely equating baby spashing as "learning to swim".

Which is how they market themselves and get away with charging fortunes with the squillions of levels and how advanced your child is.... Then as we see people on here as in rl think its what enabled their children to be good swimmers.

It really isn't necessary to spend 20 quid a week for 4 years (4000?!) if you "want your child to swim/value swimming" And there's many cheaper options. (I went to a super fun one for a term with one of mine that was so much fun - but not "Pushing" them to swim.

UrsulaIsMyQueen · 10/07/2023 16:42

ContractQuestion · 10/07/2023 16:33

Have a read of this thread then. Plenty do. Including the post above mine who said "It’s not necessary for children to learn to swim. But it not some value-less activity selfish mums are imposing on their children to suit themselves." completely equating baby spashing as "learning to swim".

Which is how they market themselves and get away with charging fortunes with the squillions of levels and how advanced your child is.... Then as we see people on here as in rl think its what enabled their children to be good swimmers.

It really isn't necessary to spend 20 quid a week for 4 years (4000?!) if you "want your child to swim/value swimming" And there's many cheaper options. (I went to a super fun one for a term with one of mine that was so much fun - but not "Pushing" them to swim.

The poster you are quoting is saying exactly what I said, surely? It’s not necessary for them to learn to swim, but it isn’t a value less activity… because many babies enjoy it? The poster didn’t say that the ‘value’ was the baby learning to swim. They said the opposite.
Mine wasn’t £20 a week and we certainly didn’t do ‘baby’ lessons for 4 years. At 3 she was in the pool on her own for lessons.

ContractQuestion · 10/07/2023 16:44

The £20 a week ones are the ones I have real issue is as like OP - people pay it thinking they are getting "lessons" in return and that this will help the baby learn to swim.

I did a term of fun ones at the local council and have no issues with fun sessions/ cheap water confidence etc.

Tinybrother · 10/07/2023 17:14

ContractQuestion · 10/07/2023 16:44

The £20 a week ones are the ones I have real issue is as like OP - people pay it thinking they are getting "lessons" in return and that this will help the baby learn to swim.

I did a term of fun ones at the local council and have no issues with fun sessions/ cheap water confidence etc.

Are they paying it thinking their baby will get “lessons” though? The evidence of this thread suggests not, who are you thinking of? Actual people you have met?

some people can afford to pay it and feel it’s worth it without any expectation of a truly independent swimming baby

I never paid anything near that amount FWIW and I live in a prime expensive baby class area

Milkand2sugarsplease · 10/07/2023 17:39

A friend who's a swim teacher told me she holds classes for babies because there's a demand but realistically they notice no difference in ability to the children starting at 3/4 and recommended I saved my money and took him myself so he was comfortable in the pool.

IncomingTraffic · 10/07/2023 17:44

ContractQuestion · 10/07/2023 16:33

Have a read of this thread then. Plenty do. Including the post above mine who said "It’s not necessary for children to learn to swim. But it not some value-less activity selfish mums are imposing on their children to suit themselves." completely equating baby spashing as "learning to swim".

Which is how they market themselves and get away with charging fortunes with the squillions of levels and how advanced your child is.... Then as we see people on here as in rl think its what enabled their children to be good swimmers.

It really isn't necessary to spend 20 quid a week for 4 years (4000?!) if you "want your child to swim/value swimming" And there's many cheaper options. (I went to a super fun one for a term with one of mine that was so much fun - but not "Pushing" them to swim.

I don’t think you have read my posts.

just because it won’t teach swimming and isn’t necessary for learning to swim doesn’t mean it’s got no value for the child. There is loads of value that isn’t measured in a 1500m badge or a lovely breaststroke technique.

that doesn’t mean babies need it. But it’s not a scam.

Is it that some people can afford it and will choose to spend £20 on something that upsets so many people? Because that’s just ridiculous.

IncomingTraffic · 10/07/2023 17:59

And I was also partly responding to the OP’s passive aggressive comments that she’d never considered it was valuable for parents because everything she does is about her children.

Saschka · 10/07/2023 18:15

IncomingTraffic · 10/07/2023 17:59

And I was also partly responding to the OP’s passive aggressive comments that she’d never considered it was valuable for parents because everything she does is about her children.

Yes, whilst spending £250 on some photos of her baby underwater. Totally for the baby’s benefit, of course Grin

Original poster
happyfishcoco · 11/07/2023 00:20

Goldencup · 10/07/2023 10:08

Expensive ? Had a Google this is Goswim's website, doesn't seem too extortionate....

Do you aware UK are a very big country?
£20 per 30mins for the baby swim is the basic charge in my city.
some are even £23+

OP posts:
Original poster
happyfishcoco · 11/07/2023 00:28

Holidaytime8 · 10/07/2023 10:13

Do you have any “Better” leisure centres near you? (The group’s name is Better.)

Those tend to be about £4 per lesson. We did those for years. We also did the expensive £20 ones. Same quality, really.

Show quote history

thanks for letting me know.
as my local leisure centers don't have any baby swim classes.
unfortunately, not nearby "Better" and I checked the price is £38 per month here. I think it really depends on the locals.
I really need to relocate....................

Is the baby swimming class a "scam" or is it truly beneficial?
OP posts:
livelaughwine · 11/07/2023 00:31

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
happyfishcoco · 11/07/2023 01:17

Goldencup · 10/07/2023 10:34

At my local leisure centre (Freedom leisure if anyone cares) for £44 a month would get baby swim classes, soft play, use of creche and adult classes for me as well as unlimited swimming and gym use. If I were on maternity leave I would think that was a good deal.

creche for free??? omg

OP posts: