Who would have thought that taking a little person swimming could be so complicated?
We’re half way through our latest term of Puddle Ducks baby swimming lessons and it turns out there are all sorts of things to consider, from what to wear and what to pack to the logistics of getting them changed afterwards.
Forget slinging your costume and towel into a bag and heading out the door, like most things now you’re a parent going swimming requires planning in advance.
Here’s what I’ve learnt so far:
10 top tips for taking your baby swimming
1. It might sound obvious, but use a swimming nappy! Normal disposable nappies aren’t designed for water and blow up immediately, and can actually be quite dangerous. We use Huggies Little Swimmers which are lightweight but super absorbent, with a reusable over-nappy on top to make sure there are no unwanted spillages.
2. Plan your swimming session around naptimes and mealtimes. A hungry or tired baby isn’t going to enjoy the experience as much as a happy and well-rested one, plus you want to make sure their last meal has been properly digested before taking them in the water.
3. Put them in clothes it’s easy to get in and out of. An all-in-one if they’re small, trousers and a loose top if they’re older. There’s nothing like trying to wrestle them back into a pair of super-elastic leggings or an intricately buttoned top to bring you out in a sweat. The same goes for you – it makes life so much easier.
4. Take towels with you to the poolside. Babies can get really cold really quickly after being in the water.
5. Persevere. If you take them swimming and they don’t enjoy it, don’t write the experience off completely. They might just be having an off-day. After two swimming lessons in a row which Little B really didn’t seem to enjoy I thought it might be time to throw in the towel, but during the third lesson he totally changed his tune and loved every minute.
6. Make sure you have a towel or robe you can throw on in the changing room while you get them dry and dressed first, so you don’t get cold too.
7. Buy a chlorine-removing shampoo to get rid of the chemical nasties. We use Vosene Kids Afterswim hair and body wash (rrp £2.49), an all-in-one shampoo and soap which is pediatrician-approved and removes chlorine and other impurities from hair and skin after swimming. It’s melon scented and smells delicious, leaving no traces of that chlorine/swimming pool smell at all.
8. Pack an extra set of baby clothes, in case you drop the ones they were wearing in a puddle on the wet floor. (Trust me, I learnt this through bitter experience).
9. Take something to occupy them while you’re getting changed. I find raisins work a treat – Little B happily sits on the bench eating a little box of raisins while I’m getting myself sorted out. Puddle Ducks also helpfully put a travel cot in the changing room which you can use as a play pen if needed.
10. Take a snack and drink to offer them afterwards. You’ll be surprised how hungry and thirsty half an hour of activity can make them.
Do you take your little one swimming? Do you have any other useful advice?
Puddle Ducks West Kent & East Sussex is offering Crummy Mummy readers 10% off the price of swimming lessons at the Hilton Hotel in Brighton for the autumn term. The offer is valid until Christmas 2016 – just quote ‘Crummy Mummy Hilton’ when booking. The offer is not valid in conjunction with any other offer, and is only valid for the autumn 2016 term.
We have been given a half-term of Puddle Ducks swimming lessons in exchange for this post. As always all opinions are my own and based on my own honest experience. We were also sent the Vosene Kids Afterswim hair and body wash free of charge for the purpose of review. Once again, I would never recommend a product I don’t love and use myself – and this stuff is great!
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These are lovely tips. I’ve only taken LP swimming a couple of times, I always seem to get tripped up on the fitting in between naps, milk, solids etc! But she did love it, so I must get around to going again, you have inspired me! x
I remember taking my kids swimming when they were babies. They all really loved the water #Picknmix
We used to do weekly swimming lessons, they were really great and the little one really benefited. I found having a neoprene change mat was really useful, especially if you’re somewhere that doesn’t have change tables to use. Great tip about the snacks too. Mine was ravenous after each session! #TheList
Your blog is gorge!! Did you design it all yourself? Re swimming, I totally agree, there is absolutely no point if the kid is hungry/tired, we actually searched for swimming lessons in our area based purely on when best suited our nap timing. My one tip would be to remove any pressure yo put on yourself and the babe to achieve any actual swimming – we have entire lessons when my babe prefers to sit on the side of the pool and pour water with the watering can, but the teacher is VERY keen to point out that it really doesn’t matter, and that he should just enjoy himself. Gives me some time to chill out too! Found you on #willynilly and LOVE your blog x
Miss H has been going swimming lessons since 6 months old but it’s always been a team effort taking her unless on the odd ocassion one of us was busy on the morning; I always found the pram a tough one – we left it in the car in the end. It’s so much easier now she’s 2 and a half and out of nappies!! Good advice. #TheList x
great tips, we’re starting swimming lessons soon 🙂 this post really helped #TheList
I”m just getting back into swimming with my almost 2 year old, but am starting again with my 5 month old. I’d say the key thing is to keep it up to build their confidence (and yours). I got out of the habit of doing it with my 2 year old when I went back to work full-time when she was a year old. We only just started it up again since being on mat leave. All I can say is it’s so much easier with her now I don’t have to worry about nap times and battling with her to get in and out of her swimming stuff. When she was 9-12 months it was pretty painful. Like everything, it’s just a phase. #TheList
Brilliant advise !! I cant wait to take my little one swimming #TheList
I can so relate to this post, its like my bible for swimming survival! I would be lost with the raisins box to get changed and yes on the loose easy to wear clothes, I’m dreading the winter wrap up…and why are the changing rooms so HOT! thanks for sharing #TheList
I think the main thing is to be brave and give it a go!
I used to love taking my eldest swimming when he was a baby, he has always loved the water. With only 19 months between them, it was rare I could take my youngest unfortunately due to the adult to child ratio.
Thanks for linking up to #PicknMix
Stevie x