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Offline ark

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First time swimming advise
« on: March 10, 2008, 18:32:46 pm »
Hello.  I would like to take my 7 1/2 mo. old DS swimming for the first time sometime soon, but I'm a little scared.  When is a good age?  What "gear" do I need?  Is there anything I should know before doing this?  He loves playing in the bath and I thought it might be kinda fun.
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Offline ryan's mum

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Re: First time swimming advise
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2008, 18:43:57 pm »
We took a bath robe with us to wrap him up after coming out of the pool and a fold away changing mat that I had on the bench to change him on . Some mum's took a bath robe for themselves as it's gets chilly whilst you see to LO . A swimming nappy and shorts for the pool .I would prepare LO by bathing him in slightly colder baths as the pools are a lot colder than they are used to .My DS hated the pool and just screamed !
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Offline Sarah - Enfys' Mum

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Re: First time swimming advise
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2008, 19:54:10 pm »
My dd loves swimming and we've been going every week since she was three months.  We are really lucky and the local pool does baby & toddler swims and there is an instructor in the water with us.  Not that it's lessons or anything but he just gives us ideas of things to do.  It might be worthwhile checking out the changing room at the pool.  Ours just has one changing table and no playpen or anything so one mum takes her own changing mat (her lo doesn't roll over) and I always take in Enfys' car seat so she can sit there while I change.  I bring two towels for Enfys as she is cold when we come out and she's usually hungry afterwards too so I bring a snack for her.  15 minutes was plenty for her in the pool to start but now we're usually there the full hour. 
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Offline Fiver

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Re: First time swimming advise
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2008, 20:04:41 pm »
Things you should know?  Some love it, some hate it...be prepared for whatever reacting LO gives you.  If they don't like it, get out and try again another day.  I'd try to find out in advance the average temperature of the pool too.  If it's below about 30degC, you could think about getting a baby wrap (like a little wetsuit) to keep LO warm.  Otherwise, as PPs have said...
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Re: First time swimming advise
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2008, 20:57:33 pm »
my dd does not like the cold and our pool is cold so she wears, a swim nappy & 2 wet suits(one isnt really a wet suit-its like at thick simsuit tht flattens out and you velcro it on), we started when she was about 5 months and she never loved the bath so we were not sure how she would react, she didnt laugh or smile but she didnt cry. Now at 7 months we went two days ago and she really enjoyed it, she still wears her wetsuits to keep her warm. As pp said bring a changing mat and two towels or bathrobe to keep them warm after.
Just wondering does anyone use something to help them float in the water or do you not use anything like that until they are older?
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Offline linfran

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Re: First time swimming advise
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2008, 21:21:13 pm »
We took ds to the pool when he was 6mo.  The pool staff said it was fine provided he had received all his vaccinations.

We got a inflatable yellow swimseat for him - it looked like a rubber ring but had a seat built into the middle of it so he couldn't slip through.  It came in a couple of sizes according to the baby's weight.
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Offline deb

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Re: First time swimming advise
« Reply #6 on: March 11, 2008, 01:10:47 am »
When Josie started swim classes, the instructor had us put all our LO's in footie pajamas right in the water to help slow heat loss. The indoor pool temp was about 84F, which is frankly too cold for ME, let alone the LO's, but Josie actually prefers a bit of cold. (She did NOT get that from ME! LOL)

Definitely take it slow, but don't be afraid that he's too young. We waited till about a year with Josie, but with Nat (born in May instead of Jan) I have pics of her somewhere floating on her back in our bathtub at 7 weeks! (Wish to heck I could find that pic. :() We took her to the pool her first summer in just a swim diaper and rubber pants (required by our pool) as often as we could get her there awake (not as often as I would have liked LOL), as the outdoor pool water temp was easily 90F unless we'd had recent storms or cleaning/refilling with fresh water. We did keep it later in the day, like after 4 or even 5PM to avoid sunburn on brand-new skin outdoors, but it was SOOOO WARM it was worth the wait, especially since they were open till 9PM and we could stay till the kids were ready to drop! ;D
« Last Edit: March 11, 2008, 01:12:22 am by deb »
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Offline Jaime

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Re: First time swimming advise
« Reply #7 on: March 11, 2008, 01:13:37 am »
just wanted to drop in and say sunscreen!  :)  and a hat.  :)
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Offline Noah's mum

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Re: First time swimming advise
« Reply #8 on: March 11, 2008, 11:52:58 am »
My little boy is ten months old and we've been going to swimming lessons every week since he was five months old. He loves it! The baby pool is very warm - just as warm as the bath - so that's no problem for us. If I were you, I would just go along to a lesson as a spectator first. The pool staff should be happy to let you do that. That way you can feel the water temperature, find out about the changing facilities and get a feel for what's involved. I think swimming lessons are just fantastic. Already Noah is holding himself up at the side of the pool and learning how to turn around and get to the side of the pool, which are obviously very important skills to have. And the best part for me is the looooong sleep he always has after lessons!
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Offline amywiz24

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Re: First time swimming advise
« Reply #9 on: March 11, 2008, 13:27:53 pm »
we did use a floaty thing for sam, but not as a substitute for us, we still have to be right htere with him at all times; we just wanted to get him used to the floating idea. Last summer he was apprehensive about it. DIdn't really like or dislike. We will try agian this year. I'm thinking about lessons?!?!?!
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Offline Sharondp

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Re: First time swimming advise
« Reply #10 on: March 11, 2008, 14:08:39 pm »
Just as PP's have said, but also to add - dress him in something SIMPLE! You too!
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Offline deb

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Re: First time swimming advise
« Reply #11 on: March 11, 2008, 15:43:31 pm »
Neither of my kids liked wearing ANYTHING "floaty": not armbands, no swim rings around the waist, not even the vests with floats in them. Nat is just now tolerating the vests they have at the pool.

One other thing occurred to me a while ago: make sure you have your "happy mommy" face on for when (not if ::)) he goes under. If your first reaction to his surprised face is, "You poor thing, let Mommy rescue you!" then he'll see it very differently than if you go, "Ohh, look at you! Did you get a surprise in the water? And now you're back up, safe and sound!" Even now, Natalie responds quite well to me calling accidental dunks "surprises," and she'll do them again on purpose now! :)
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Offline ark

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Re: First time swimming advise
« Reply #12 on: March 17, 2008, 15:57:29 pm »
Just wanted to let everybody know that we went swimming on Sat. and it went great.  The pool was very warm and DS pretty much just took it all in for awhile, eventually he started smiling and splashing. 

Thanks for all of the tips!
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Andrea

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Offline Fiver

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Re: First time swimming advise
« Reply #13 on: March 17, 2008, 17:52:10 pm »
Glad to hear it went well!  Going again soon? :)
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Offline ark

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Re: First time swimming advise
« Reply #14 on: March 17, 2008, 18:23:27 pm »
I hope to make this a fairly regular event.  We don't want him to be afraid of the water.  Our local indoor pool is VERY kid friendly too.  Unfortunately they don't have any baby swim classes, but we'll do the best we can with him.

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Andrea

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