Swimming

[babycoolz]

Hi everyone,

I hope I've posted this in the right place - BellyBelly has had a re-vamp since the last time I hopped on!

Anyway, I just wanted to hear of anyone's suggestions/experiences in regards to swimming with a 1 year old. I am hoping to take my son to the beach and/or local pool, but I am not sure whether he needs to wear a regular nappy, wear a special nappy for swimming, to wear a swim suite, or to just go butt naked?!

I would also appreciate any suggestions/experiences on how you had introduced your little one to the water. My son loves his baths and showers, and he's at an age where he wants to explore, but is not able to walk yet.

Thanks everyone in advance))

[C~Q]

Well, for me at the swimming pool I always had the kids in swimmer nappies but at the beach I wasn't so strict. If we they were regular "poo-ers" and I knew they had already done them that day then I would let them be naked on the beach (a bit of wee in the sand can't hurt) and put little trunks on to go in the water.

I wouldn't bother with swimmer nappy AND swim suit unless it's hot in which case the all-in-one one's are good to protect their little skin.

HTH! Have fun swimming - and don't forget the 5 seperate bags full of everything else that goes with the beach lol...towels, sunscreen, change of clothes, floaties, buckets, spades, rakes etc etc!!!

[Jayney]

Make sure you don't use regular disposables as I have seen one EXPLODE with little micro beads all over the surface of the pool. I imagine this could happen at the beach as well.

[MistyFying]

Yep regular disposals and pool filters definatley don't agree... and they cause bubs to be much heavier in the water.

I always used a disposable swim nappy which I reused quite a few times in the pool, and sun suit on the beach. 1 yr old skin is very, very sensitive, so I always covered them up as much as I could outside. (swim hats, suit, sunscreen etc)

[krisp]

Our DS wears a swimming nappy and a pair of bordies for the indoor heated pool and an additional sun shirt for outside swimming.

[all girls]

I like the washable/reuseable nappies.

I have had bad experiences with kids being naked at the beach, the sand sticks to their bits and pieces and when you try to get it off it is like wiping sandpaper over their skin. Even in the bath it doesn't wash off or brushing it off hurts too. Its just easier and more comfortable for them to have some type of swimmers or nappy.

Also watch he doesn't eat any sand as when it comes out the other end ouch!!! seen that happen too.

He will love it. Have fun!!

[aussienic]

I bought those little swimmer nappies and then I found these little pants. They work the same but you reuse them.. Kmart has them. I don't think I have seen them anywhere else. And they also wore a rash shirt and a hat and sunscreen

Oh and the pants are around $16 and I bought them for my 2nd son when he was 10 months old and my 3rd son is now 2 and ghey are just coming to end of thier life, great value if yoiu ask me if you look at the price of the dipoasbles ones

[shar]

Hi , I'm a swimming teacher and agree with the advise given so far. Definetly not naked at the swimming pool - a poo results in everyone being moved, a long time scooping and then a longer time adding more chemicals to the pool Huggies Little Swimmers are a good choice and what we used to hand out to parents.

If you want any advise with the actual "swimming" stuff let me know

[Phteven]

I usually put them in a nappy at the pool and at busy beaches and nude at quieter beaches.
I don't take them out much in the hotter part of the day and we use lots of sunscreen and a hat.

[*Ali*]

I have bought a reusable swim nappy, I alwas put my DD in an all in one or boardies and rashie fo swimming because she is so fair.

[ShootingStar]

We've started going swimming with Jesse and he wears Little Swimmer nappies (theyre with all the disposible nappies) and either a 1 piece swimsuit or swim pants and a rashie.

[babycoolz]

Thanks everyone for your advice... I will probably start off in the pool before heading to the beach I think. I can just imagine DS eating sand and I'm very worried about the sand as I find them annoying - how much more for a baby!

Thanks again everyone... I feel confident in taking baby to the water

*GROUP HUGZZ!*

[babycoolz]

Taking up on your offer and asking a question to Shar:

Apart from holding baby in the water, what activities can I do with my 12 month old in the pool? I want him to get comfortable with me holding him in the water before taking swim lessons.

He's never been in a pool before, so I'm not sure how he'll react.

Thanks Shar!!

[shar]

Taking up on your offer and asking a question to Shar:

Apart from holding baby in the water, what activities can I do with my 12 month old in the pool? I want him to get comfortable with me holding him in the water before taking swim lessons.

He's never been in a pool before, so I'm not sure how he'll react.

Thanks Shar!!

Sorry I only just saw this!

I would suggest doing this such as floating on their back with their head on your shoulder, cheek to cheek. Bubble blowing (a good one is to say "bubbles" and then blow on their hand and then in the water so they get the idea).

If you hold him with a side hold (tummy down with your hands under their armpits, thumbs on top, fingers on chest) you can do kicking. Also manipulating his hands in a doggy paddle motion (underwater) whilst sitting with your back against the wall and child on your raised knee.

A lot of it is hard to explain without demonstrating I have just discovered! The other major thing we do is submerging but you could do cup pours though (which you can also do at home in the bath), use your cue "*name* are you ready 1,2,3" and then pour a small amount of water over the face from back to front. You are looking for signs such as eyes closed, mouth closed, shaking head etc. to show aquatic readiness.

Another thing you can do if they are walking is let them fall down in the shallows. Too often parents snatch up children when they fall in the water and this instills a fear of water. Give them a few seconds (and I know it feels like hours!) to find their feet and if you still have to help one hand under the chest and one under the bottom is best.

As suggested there are plenty of songs you can do as well. Oh and swimming with aids on is good just dont do it all the time and watch for their mouth dropping into the water a lot.

Hope that helps a bit and isnt too late

[Lucy]

My three are regular little fish......a reusable swim nappy and an all in one rash suit for them all......

In terms of what to do, (and Shar will be able to add to this in more detail, I am sure!)

~ Songs that get them used to moving around in the water
~ Monkeying around the side of the pool edge (to help build their upper body strength to ultimately enable them to pull themselves out of the water, as well as for them to gain the understanding that the pool edge is the safe spot, IYKWIM?)
~ Songs that give them the idea of kicking in the water
~ Blowing bubbles at the water level
~ Getting their hair and face wet & wiping the water away from their faces

(My 3 have been in lessons for ages......I could run the class I know it so well, LOL!)

At 12 months, I think it is all about building confidence?