Baby swimming classes

[i.love]

Hello ladies, I'm looking for some opinions on the subj. I can't decide if I should sign up or not.

The main thing that worries me is that at the moment I find it very difficult to accurately predict when my lo will be not eating, awake and in a good mood. How can I guarantee this for half an hour (plus changing time) once a week? I also don't know if he would like it (somehow I doubt it). The classes are also expensive and will probably be full of ill kids.

At the same time, such classes seem to be very popular, must be for a reason?

What are your thoughts/experiences?

 

[MrsW84]

I HAVE TAKEN MY LO TO SWIMMING CLASS SINCE HE WAS 10 WEEKS OLD
he is now in swimming classes without us in the pool with him at 2.5
he is really confident in the water and can kick and use his arms to get to the side of the pool (with armbands on) so i hope he has some level of safety when we are around water
i think its a really important life skill and the earlier they start the more confident in the water they are when starting 'proper' swimming lessons
plus its good fun!

 

[i.love]

Thanks for sharing Mrs! Did you also find it a good fun from beginning? I have this image in my mind of my lo screaming his head off when I try to make him dive. And starting to ask for food 5 minutes after the class starts. Or even 1 minute before it starts - and us completely missing it!

 

[El1en]

I haven't had my little one yet but I'm super keen to do baby swimming once I have, I think they will be fab. Have you thought about taking him on your own on a different day from the class to see how he is in the water?

We have a hotel local with a little pool and hope to go there a few times just the to of us and then look into classes. I'm sure he will love it I've never heard of them not enjoying swimming, as for feeding maybe if you went on a different day but same time as the class (ie class is 10am wed so try 10am thurs) and you can see how hungry he is?

 

[Cjj]

I took Jessica from 10 weeks and we gave up after 8 weeks. First few weeks were fine but then she got grumpy and cried solidly through last three. It was at 10am which was normally bottle time so that didn't help although I tried tweaking things to make sure she had it etc...
But we've since taken her swimming and she loves it, no fear, water over head etc. I just think she wants to play more than have the structure....
That said I know many have loved it.
Maybe go on a trial/taster session?

 

[Mayflower85]

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[Bellarina]

I started swimming classes with jake when he was about 3 months old....he's now almost 21 months and we are still going, he loves it.
He can do so much in the water now and is very confident in water. I also found what we learnt helped hos development out of the water too! I'd highly recommend it xx

 

[i.love]

Thanks ladies x

 

[Maud]

We had a couple of lessons at 4 months and she hated it with a passion (literally screamed the whole session). Then they broke up for summer and we took her by ourselves a couple of times and she started lessons again at 6 months and was much better. Now she's 13 momths and she (mostly) enjoys it. We've just started taking her underwater but she isn't enthusiastic about it. I would have loved to take her swimming when she was younger but she was a very frequent feeder and it just wouldn't have worked for us. I don't think it's done her any harm to start later though.

 

[Jojo84]

I first took Luke when he was about 3 months I think - we went every week until he was 8 months and I went back to work - it became harder to find the time - but I took him today and it was great- he really enjoyed it again.

Soon your baby will fall into a routine and you will figure it all out but I really give it's good to take hem early before hey get scared of water and things. Our class is 12:15 which is right on his lunch but I give him
A snack at 110 before we leave then take him for his lunch afterwards then he usually naps on the way home, so the routine sorts itself out.

You'll only know if you try.

 

[MrsT2011]

We took B from 4 weeks and he still goes now at 33 months and can swim short distances completely unaided so I can't recommend it enough! Our local pool did baby hour which is what we started with as water confidence then from 18 months started proper lessons. It's good if you do a set time as you get in a routine of meals, naps etc - there's always going to be days it doesn't quite go to plan and they get irritable but it's worth it for all the other days that they love it!