bubs and pool/beach

[jembelina]

I need some advice about bubs and swimming.....
- 'lessons' or just splashing around with mum & dad?
- baby pool or big pool? - don't want him to freak out, then have trouble getting him back in
- beach ok?
- he will be 9/10 months when the hot weather hits, but I have heard you should steer clear of public pools till after 12mnths??
-has anyone used one of those rings they can sit in? worth it?

Also, I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a sunscreen that they have found good for bubs??

Sorry for all the questions, thanks in advance

[LucyE]

This is just my opinon based on our experiences. Others may feel differently, just go with what works for you :)

'lessons' or just splashing around with mum & dad?
I've found 'Mum and Bubs' lessons to be really worthwhile. Make sure you go to an Austswim (?) accredited school and feel comfortable with the instructor. Basically, what we do each week is some simple actions to nursey rhymes. Because it's so repetitive, babies seem to remember it. I've heard some horror stories about instructors forcing babies to put their heads under water etc. We've never experienced that and our instructor has always been about doing it at your own pace (usually more for the parent's sake than the child's :) ). We've been going since DS was 8mths old and he just loves it. He squeals when we get to the pool and if we're early, can't wait to get into the pool.

baby pool or big pool? - don't want him to freak out, then have trouble getting him back in
Our swim school has the 'Mums and Bubs' lessons in the hydro therapy pool which is heated to 34C. It's about 1/4 of the size of a normal pool and only as deep as waist-mid chest (depending on your height). All the bubs I've seen love getting into it because it's so warm and they feel secure being held by mum or dad.

beach ok? he will be 9/10 months when the hot weather hits, but I have heard you should steer clear of public pools till after 12mnths??
The beach is fine but you should limit it to about 20minutes because babies can't regulate their body temperature as well. Also the salt may be an issue if they swallow some water. I was told after their 6mths vaccinations before going into a public pool.

has anyone used one of those rings they can sit in? worth it?
My nephew has and no I don't think it's worth it. It's difficult to balance (even with Dad there holding onto it) and our swim instructor said it's best not to use any sort of swim aid until they are older. It's important to teach them the basics of getting to the edge so if they ever fell in, they can get themselves out of trouble.

I've also taken him into private swimming pools recently and have found him to be very comfortable in the water. My DH was very surprised just how good a swimmer DS is because he didn't realise just how good those song actions were teaching the basics (like kicking and holding his breath underwater). I would probably say that DS is more capable a swimmer than his cousin who is a year older but hasn't been to any formal lessons (my SIL teaches him herself).

As for sunscreens, I like using a natural one designed specifically for babies. I got it from Nature's Child (www.natureschild.com.au)

[jembelina]

Wow... thanks LucyE!! All that info is a huge help :D I had my heart set on 'lessons' but thought they might be a bit of a waste - I will now definately be looking into them. I like the look of that sunscreen too, so thanks for the link.

[cwsmum]

Hi
I can't help much with all your questions...but I'll try and help :)
I never took DS to swimming lessons so I can't really comment on whether they are a waste of time or not...
We swim in a 'big pool' at my parents, and also have a baby pool for when we are at home and have not had any problems with DS not wanting to go in either of them. We still haven't taken him to the beach, he's 2.5yrs old, we just haven't had time :rolleyes: And I really hate public pools and wont swim there myself so we don't take DS there either. I know not all public pools are bad, but the ones where I live seem to be horrible.
DS has been using a ZOGGS brand swim seat since he was around 8/9mths old. It is a ring with straps under for bub to sit in. He loves it and has not had any problems balancing in it. At first he would sit and look around and watch everyone else, then he learnt how to kick to move around and would chase us around the pool. I think it cost me around $15, but it has lasted 2 summers coz I got the bigger of the 2 sizes as he was only about 1kg or 2kg under the weight recomended for it, but taller than the height.
We use AuScreen brand sunscreen, the kids one for DS and the adults one for us. We have never had a problem with that brand. I have been putting it on DS since he was about 6mths old. I buy it from woolies, I can't remember how much, but it's not too expensive and does the job...DS hasn't gotten even minor sunburn ever, even when he plays in his pool at home for 3 hours :eek:

[Ky]

Neither of my kids are very confident near the water (won't get out of the bath though - lol) and our finances have stopped us from being able to go to swimming lessons.

I have bought cheap inflatable swimming vests and they are great at keeping the kids upright in the water and giving them the confidence to relax and start to enjoy themselves.

I am going to make sure that we get to the pools regualrly this summer and start teaching my kids how to swim. I was a swimmer from age 2 to 14 and I think I can remember a lot of how to teach. The school my daughter is going to next year has compulsary lessons, so she will get that added advantage too.

I used to put a laundry tub out in the backyard with some water in it and put the kids in in summer. The other thing I did when they were little was put them in the jolly jumper outside and put a basin of water under them to jump and splash in ... they loved it!

[LucyE]

You welcome Jem :) My only other advice for swimming lessons would be to ask if you can just observe at a couple of local places. The best way to see what they are like, is to watch the children's reactions. I tried two of the local pools and was completely unimpressed with one of them. The little one's weren't excited about getting into the pool and were almost afraid of the instructor. It was worlds apart to the atmosphere of the school we go to. The babies who are waiting for their lessons, sit there straining to go in and are waving to their instructors. I found it comforting that when my DS didn't want to float on his back for one of the activities, the instructor told me not to worry and just sing the song and let him play and watch the other babies instead. He is now able to hold his breath and swim several 'strokes' unaided, surface and grab the edge of the pool. He could probably swim further but I get nervous and want to grab him :p

[xkwzit]

Hi
I've had both DDs in swimming classes and I think they're great. Even as babies they learn things like to hold their breath, hold onto the side and how to do a safety slide.

One thing that caught me out was starting DD1 too late. As a little baby she loved the water (up to about a year old), but by the time I started her in lessons (at around 16 months), she hated it! We don't have access to a pool regularly and somewhere she learnt not to like water (even though she was not bothered in the bath :confused: ). I started DD2 at 9 months and she's never been bothered by anything we do at lessons.

And personally, I dislike flotation devices for kids until they are older. It doesn't help kids learn how to float or swim, and you wouldn't not be in the pool with the kids - IMO why bother?

Cheers

[Ky]

The flotation vests that my kids have used have saved thier lives on one occasion ... we were at a friends house having a lunch with several Mums and Grandmothers with kids, when one of the kids ran around the pool pushing all of the kids into it! Both of mine were pushed in (they were 3 and 1 at the time) and as thier flotation devices kept them with thier heads out of the water, we were able to jump in and get the kids that had sunk first. All of the kids were very shaken up and all of the mums were fuming as this kid had come with his grandmother and all she did was say "Don't do that please Dylan" :mad: No apologies, nothing! There were 9 very shaken and upset littlies aged 1 through 4. We were in the pool area and supervising, but sometimes things happen so fast that your child is just out of your reach when you try to get to them!

I am not saying that you should use these devices without being nearby and that they should be used at all times, but I bought mine mainly for the fact that my kids absolutely freak out when they go anywhere near a swimming pool (no idea why, I don't think there has been trauma except for the above mentioned) and the extra flotation allows me to take them in and have them stay in for a few minutes instead of freaking and refusing to stay in more than a few seconds!

I was a real waterbaby as a child ... was in a competitive swimming club from aged 2yo and really enjoyed it ... my dh is also an avid and strong swimmer ... we are at a loss as to why our kids like nothing bigger than thier bath :confused:

By the way, I am not attacking anyone, nor defending my previous post, just explaining why I have these devices!

If I could afford to take my kids to lessons I would be there in a flash! Learning to swim and enjoy the water is so imporatant to thier safety and enjoyment in life. :)