Swimming

[Annh17]

Has anyone done or know of anyone who took their little babies to swimming lessons?

There’s a place near us, that do it, just wanted to know if they are worth it? It’s expensive for 1/2 hour once a week for 8 weeks.

I know will be good for LG, but I just can’t come to terms with paying so much for it, I feel like maybe when she’s bit older, would be better

[pinkie93]

I don't know if this helps but my mum took me to swimming lessons from 6 weeks, since then I've always been a very strong and confident swimmer. She didn't take either of my older siblings to these lessons and they are weak swimmers, one of them wouldn't even go near a pool until age 12. I've also noticed similar patterns among my friends, so it seems to make a difference.

I know this is just anecdotal, but I definitely think it's worth it to give your child that confidence and swimming ability. That kind of skill can save a life one day.

[Annh17 in reply to pinkie93]

Oh yea I want her to love water, like I did when I was younger. I had lessons from age 5 and loved them. At the moment we have only taken her to a pool once for 10 mins, then she screamed the place down.

So I think once she’s used the surroundings and is able to stay in pool for 1/2 hour without screaming the place down, we will consider looking into it x

[Hidden]

I didn’t bother with swimming lessons as didn’t get round to it but we take her swimming a lot and she loves it. I had swimming lessons when I was older too and I don’t think it disadvantage me. Think it’s just personal preference. Two of my friends have done lessons and wouldn’t say they were any more confident etc.

I personally don’t like having to stick to a routine of lessons or pre paid groups as it’s not always possible and then money gets wasted xx

[kt_11]

I started taking my little boy to swimming classes when he was about 17 weeks.

I did it initially because of how much he seemed to enjoy his bath and he loved it. To be honest I don’t know how much difference it will make to his confidence in the water long-term compared with starting when he’s a bit older but in my case, if nothing else I think it has been worth it to get the advice about how to handle him in the water and how to progress his abilities.

I don’t really feel very confident going swimming myself (I’m a pretty reasonable swimmer, just always been too self-conscious) so I knew I just wouldn’t end up doing it otherwise. My boy also loves interacting with the instructor & other babies in the class which I guess he wouldn’t get as much if I took him alone.

It’s cost me a fortune now though cos he loves it so much I feel like I have to keep taking him (he’s 12 months) 😂

Is she wearing a wetsuit in the pool? I know the one we have lessons at is warmer than your average “baby pool” as it’s a hydrotherapy pool in a special school so maybe worth making sure it’s warm enough for her, particularly when she’s so little xx

[Tiffs]

I take my little girl we started the term when she was 12 weeks and she is just over 4 months now and she loves it. They have just started going under water as well. It is expensive but she loves the bath and so I wanted her to love swimming as well. Also we are just about to go on holiday and I wanted to be sure she would enjoy my husband and I dipping her in the pool.

[Kata89]

I started my LG at 6 months. There’s a really good swim school near me that’s under £10 for their lessons but they can’t start till 6 months. There are others that start earlier but are £15/16 per session. I also had the option of our local swimming pools from 4 months.

I live 5 mins from the sea and so decided that if my daughter has one ‘extra curricular activity’ that it is going to be swimming. She loves her lessons and I think it’s worth every penny, but I’m glad I opted for a cheaper school and waited till 6 months. We’re both learning things, her how to swim and me things to help her learn to swim. She adores being in the water and she likes her teacher (goes to her willingly and happy to chat/babble with her).