Can you tell me about your experience with baby swimming lessons?

[LeslieR]

I just found out the local YMCA offers swimming lessons starting at 6mos. I only took lessons for one year myself as an older child and can barely swim to save my life. Because of this I would love for DS to learn to swim at an early age and be comfortable with the water. I'm just wondering what everyone's experiences have been like to get an idea if now would be a good time to start. TIA!

[tinkerbelljenny]

My son is two and we have had swim lessons the past two summers at the local pool. Our lessons lasted 2 weeks each session and we really enjoyed them. They are a mommy and me class. At the end of the session, he got this little certificate. At our lessons they have the little ones sing songs (hokey pokey, wheels on the bus etc), play with small swim toys blowing them, making bubbles (I don't usually let son do this because I am a germ freak), play a game called motor boat, have them float on their back while mom or dad holds them...etc. I am a HORRBILE swimmer but I was fine both sessions because they didn't put us in the deep part of the pool. It was fun. We will probably sign up again his summer but if I become pregnant I am going to get my Dh to go to them with son.

[ajlanden]

We did them at the YMCA when DD was 6 months. She LOVED them. It was mostly just singing and moving around in the water. They did have some water "toys", but at 6 months, she wasn't as interested in those as she was in being in the water.

I think it is a great time to start. The earlier they get used to it, the less scared they will be of the water.

[BTB]

I used to teach those swimming lessons. :) It's not about swimming skills at this age, just about the experience of being in the water, having fun, associating it with having a good time, etc. IMHO, it's never too early to start - except before six months, when chlorinated water can be a bit too harsh.

[catmom]

Great thread! I was thinking about doing this in the spring, when DD is one. I think DH might take her on the weekend, since DH was an avid swimmer up until college and has been looking forward to teaching DD to swim since before she was born.

[AlisonCO]

Totally agree with BTB! I started with my son at 12 months and he had a blast - the pool we went to was really warm so it would have been fine for a younger kiddo. By the end of the 2nd 8 week session, he was putting his mouth in the water and blowing bubbles! Plus you might meet another mom that you could hang out with after.

[DisneyGirl]

I too was thinking about joining my DS in swimming lessons but since hes only 2 I would need to go in the water with him and that would be almost impossible since i have another child. Maybe My YMCA has something on the weekends so DH will be home to watch DD.

I think swimming lesson are a great thing for a child to learn.

[LeslieR]

Thanks for the replies, ladies! It sounds like this could be a good thing for both of us. Now I'm really excited!:D

I saw in the description of the class that they require rubber pants over the swim diaper. Do they make the swim diapers in small sizes like that? DS is in size 3 diapers now, but could take a size 4, too. Would I also need to get him some trunks? And one more question-for the Y classes, does mom get in the water with baby? I'm assuming yes, which means I'm going to need to find a suit for myself. ugh.:(

[sunni76]

We had a great experience with our first round of swim lessons as well. DD was 6 months last fall when we did them, I'm looking forward to doing them again this spring (she'll be 11 months when they start). Our classes were very much like the ones tinkerbelljenny described.
They do make swim diapers that small! I think they go from 16-26 pounds or something like that, but they worked fine for us. Huggies makes them I believe. I'm not sure about the rubber pants, we just did a swim diaper and a swim suit over it for DD.
Have fun!:)

[emschwar]

Swim diapers (huggies swimmers) should fit if he's in a size 3. THe minimum weight on the package is 16 lbs, but I put Noah in them when he was about 14 lbs and in a size 2 and they fit fine. You can buy cloth swim diapers smaller.

[BTB]

Yes, they make swim diapers in small sizes - I think they start at size 3. DS doesn't have to wear trunks over the diaper, just the diaper will do. (unless you find some cute little trunks, then by all means) :)

You will definitely need a suit for yourself. At that age it's a 'mom and me' (dads are welcome) class, you'll be in the pool doing everything with DS, and hold him the entire time. Not to worry though - there'll be lots of other new moms there too feeling your pain. :)

[Brady]

I actually just started swimming lessons with my son yesterday at our local Y. He's 10 months and had a blast. Like others have said, the water is so warm it's like being in the tub. The class we were in were kids (6-18 months) and their Moms (I would guess your Y would be similar). It was mostly just going back and forth trying to kick and splash, then the hokey pokey, some other games and playing with water toys. I'm already looking forward to next week!

But, yep.. I got in the water with him, wore a bathing suit that was a Glamour Fashion DON'T (considering I last wore it about 15lbs ago), and we had a great time! :p

C. didn't wear rubber pants over his swim diaper. His bathing suit had the little built in type undies... they weren't checking. But, I know they do make them in tiny sizes as he did have one last summer.

Good luck and have fun! I did just see the women's bathing suits out at Target today. I really need to get one myself. :rolleyes:

[Cali_Katy]

That is too funny -- I came here to post this thread myself! A new pool is opening up in our town that has the super warm water (92 degrees) that is supposed to make it really comfortable for infants. Glad to hear so many people had good experiences -- think I'll sign us up!

[Leia]

I'm not a mom, but I just wanted to chime in that my mother took me to a YMCA swim class when I was about 6 months old. Interestingly, my mother doesn't like to swim. Of course, I have no recollection of the class, but today I am a scuba diver, so it must have worked! :D

[BridalLace]

do you have to be a member of the Y? i would really hate a requirement that i be a member and pay $45 a month (or more) when all i want is a couple of lessons.

i took my daughter swimming on our last hotel visit over fall vacation. she really liked it. i would love to sign her up for lessons somewhere...

[bamboo]

I love our swim lessons and so does DD- she's a little fish! We went to a couple of public swims when she was about 5 months to see how she liked it and the second she hits the water she starts doing swimming motions with her arms and kicking her legs- she can't get enough :D So we started swim lessons at 6 months and she loved it. Mostly involved a few songs, a few exercises (like dipping their ears in, passing from instructor to me, dunking underwater, etc) and then just playing and being comfy in the water. She splashes like crazy and has a blast.

[BTB]

Heather - I taught at the YW, but I think the YM's rules are similar. You don't have to be a member, but the enrollment fee for the class is a bit more if you're not.

[Brady]

[QUOTE=BridalLace]do you have to be a member of the Y? i would really hate a requirement that i be a member and pay $45 a month (or more) when all i want is a couple of lessons.
[QUOTE]

Nope, not required. I believe here, for example, it was $50 for the session if you were a member and $90 if you were not.

[LeslieR]

BridalLace, we're not members either. It ends up being pretty expensive because you have to pay a non-member annual fee (here it's $105 for a family) and then you also have to pay the non-member fee for the class ($105). I think you would have to take several classes to get your money's worth out of that $105 annual fee, KWIM?

[bea_mama]

We started swim lessons at the Y with my DD starting at 12 months. Now at 2.5 years, she is a total fish and adores the water - jumps in from the edge, swims under water, has a great time. I'm really happy we started taking her in the pool early b/c knowing how to swim is one of my "have to know life skill" kind of things!

It's been great for me and DH as well - we belong to our Y (which has 5 pools) and have transitioned into getting our exercise through swimming - we take turns in the big family pool playing with DD while the other goes swimming in the lap pool.

You can just pay for an individual class at the Y, but it is more expensive than the member fee. One tip - a mom in one of our swimming classes told me that you can just sign your child up as a member and then pay the member fee (rather than having a family membership). This might be worth it if you are going to do a couple of classes - ask at your local Y if you can do that.

Have fun!

[cocopop]

Swimming lessons have been so fun for us! We started DD at 6 months and she absolutely loves it. I highly recommend it, and the earlier the better.

[j*east]

Bumping...I'm thinking of signing DD and myself up for swim classes, but I'm dragging my feet...anyone else have experiences to share? Any hot tips on finding a bathing suit for a 6mo baby? Do most pools allow cloth swim diapers? Thanks!

[Pine Tree]

Try Target - they have some great 2 piece swimsuits (rashguard shirt and cloth swim diaper bottom) that are in a package. I think each piece was about $6. I have a yellow one with pink flowers. One thing I learned the hard way - swim diapers are not absorbing (duh!). I was trying to be all organized and put DD in her bathing suit at home and then couldn't figure out why the car seat was soaked when I got to the pool! I've never had a problem with a pool rejecting a cloth swim diaper.

[KristieW]

For a different perspective, maybe especially for those of you living around lots of water... http://www.infantswim.com/

I'm a swimmer and I want DD to enjoy the water as much as I do (we're going to start splashing at our local warm water pool next week after she's had the okay from the ped), but I also want her to have a healthy fear and respect for it, so I'm going to be putting her in the ISR classes when she's old enough (not easy, given that there's only one instructor in my whole state).

[Twylla]

For a different perspective, maybe especially for those of you living around lots of water... http://www.infantswim.com/

I'm a swimmer and I want DD to enjoy the water as much as I do (we're going to start splashing at our local warm water pool next week after she's had the okay from the ped), but I also want her to have a healthy fear and respect for it, so I'm going to be putting her in the ISR classes when she's old enough (not easy, given that there's only one instructor in my whole state).

OMG, the video on this website is remarkable. I wish we had this in Canada... and this is coming from a former lifeguard and swimming instructor. Remarkable video. Wow.

[Kopper]

I have a friend IRL and on here that does Infantswim. Her DS has done amazing!

We did swim lessons for DS when he was around 15 months or so but the place we went to starts at 6 months. DS LOVED it and did really well. By 2 he could swim underwater for 10-15 seconds at a time and could almost pull himself out of the pool. He had lessons for a year until we moved. The only place here for lessons is the Y and a local gym and neither did lessons for kids under 3 except during the summer.

I have a question for those of you going to the Y, do they let kids under 3 go under water? I was told they don't.

[j*east]

Kopper, I don't know, but if we do take lessons, they'll be at the Y, so I'll report back.

[Ellyn]

I have a question for those of you going to the Y, do they let kids under 3 go under water? I was told they don't.


I don't go to the Y, but as a former swim lesson instructor and lifeguard, I sure would hope so! I know some people don't agree, but I dunk my 1yo and have dunked both kids since about 9mo. I think it is good for them...I don't do it a lot (maybe once or twice when we're swimming), but I hated the nose plugging, goggle wearing kids that freaked when they had water get in their eyes or nose and spent 10 min crying about it. :D Now, DS loves going under on his own and is our little fish.

I agree that those infantswim.com videos are amazing!

For those without swim lessons available for the little ones (under 3 or 4yo), just getting your child in the water on a regular basis is great! I could always tell kids that had gone swimming regularly vs. the parents that didn't go with their kids - HUGE difference!

[Kopper]

In our lessons I guess we "dunked" the kids but it was more guided and we counted to 3 before we did it. We didn't push them underwater we slowly guided them if that makes sense. They knew we were going to do it and came to expect it. They also had one of those Little Tykes slide that they would slide down and then swim a few feet to us.

Right after DS turned two we were staying at the Embassy Suites and went to their indoor pool. So many people were amazed that he could swim underwater so young. DS's instructor said the earlier you start them the less afraid of the water and swimming they are.

[Ellyn]

In our lessons I guess we "dunked" the kids but it was more guided and we counted to 3 before we did it. We didn't push them underwater we slowly guided them if that makes sense. They knew we were going to do it and came to expect it.

Yeah, that's what I meant...we definitely count to 3 and blow in their faces so they take a breath...a quick under and back up. I would never push them underwater. Also, my kids have never minded it - if they hated it, I would do it - it would only make the fear worse. Although, I do recall having permission from a few parents that didn't have the guts themselves to dunk their child that was just being stubborn. I'd tell the child we were going to go under when we'd play ring around the roses...and I'd sit the child on my knee and do it - I don't remember a time where the kids had a bigger fear because of it - they usually realized it wasn't so bad and learned to blink the water out of their eyes. :)