When did you take LOs swimming for 1st time?

tSquared1987

My boys will be about 8 months (approx 6 adj.) when it's June here. We have a community pool so I'd like to take them. How old were your little ones when they went "swimming" for the first time? How did it go?

cauli001

We are in swim lessons right now at the rec. It is not really swimming, but more getting used to being in the water and floating etc. The babies love it! We started in January when they were 7 months old. They can handle about 45 minutes then they are exhausted! The indoor pool is pretty warm, so I think that helps.

babydontforget

We're starting baby swimming classes next month. C&L will be 7 months old. It's not really a "class," as PP said--just being in the water, floating and such. Where we're doing these classes, they set the minimum at 6 months old. 

amanda31H

I hadn't even thought of doing a swim "class" with the girls....what a fun idea.  Thanks!

Did either of you find it hard to do with two? 

tSquared1987

amanda31H:

I hadn't even thought of doing a swim "class" with the girls....what a fun idea.  Thanks!

Did either of you find it hard to do with two? 

This is what I was wondering. DH works all. the. time. in the summer (he's a farmer) so I'll be by myself with the boys a lot. I'm sure sometimes I'll have an extra body to help me, but I know I'll want to go by myself also.

We can go in it 24/7 (everyone in the subdivision has a key), so I was also wondering if I should take them down closer to bedtime so it wears them out? ...maybe they'll sleep longer?

groovygrl

Memorial Day weekend, they were almost 10 months. Iwouldve taken them earlier if the pool were open earlier here.

amanda31H

JaimeLiann1987:

amanda31H:

I hadn't even thought of doing a swim "class" with the girls....what a fun idea.  Thanks!

Did either of you find it hard to do with two? 

This is what I was wondering. DH works all. the. time. in the summer (he's a farmer) so I'll be by myself with the boys a lot. I'm sure sometimes I'll have an extra body to help me, but I know I'll want to go by myself also.

We can go in it 24/7 (everyone in the subdivision has a key), so I was also wondering if I should take them down closer to bedtime so it wears them out? ...maybe they'll sleep longer?

I don't think I would take them by myself when no one is around to the pool...but that's just me.  Logistically... I don't see how to do it.  I'd be too nervous if something happened in the water.

A class would be different- other people there and an instructor of some kind...I'm assuming they "help" you in a way...

dulcinea03

I'd wanted to start sooner, but our local pool was under the never-ending renovation. It finally opened last month, and we started going 2 weeks ago. The girls LOVE it- there's a zero depth splash area they can crawl in, and a lazy river. They adore bouncing around the lazy river in our arms.

I will say that I'll only take them with DH or my mom- I can't see myself being able to handle both of them safely by myself in the water at this point.

benkari

We started around 6 months.  We use the baby seat floats and have never felt uncomfortable having 4 of them and 2 of us.  You can check out pictures of them still using the floats this week on my blog!  www.benandkarisjourneytoparenthood.blogspot.com

 

cauli001

It has been hard with two. You obviously have to have two adults. MH works a lot of weekends so I have a friend on back up, my mom (who lives an hour away) on second back up, and a mothers helper as a third option. My MIL was in town last weekend and got a chance to come which was fun for her. They have 10 classes, it is cheap, and nobody comes every week. We have had to miss a few classes because my kids like to get sick on the weekends, but the ones we have made it to are so fun. I am really glad we signed up!Oh- you REALLY have to think of the logistics of getting everyone dressed at the end. The locker room is cold and packed. And if your babies can't sit too well by themselves and cant stand, you can't lay them on the dirty floor...so getting them and you out of wet clothes is rather interesting. When I had twins I vowed that I wouldnt deprive them of fun stuff like this bc I had two. I will figure things out so they can have some variety and do fun activities!

Haven1

We went right at 7 months. We just went to open swim at a super warm kid pool. I hate getting in a cold pool, so I was willing to spend the money. I took my mom since dh couldn't go. No way I'd have gone alone. I was anxious enough as it was. I have a post in my blog about it. Overall it went well. They didn't like the noise and splashing. The pool was super busy though. I could see them loving it the more we go.

shipoopiisforme

we started swim "lessons" at 6 1/2 months. like pp said it is mainly just getting them acclimated to the water. we recently went away and they spent so much time in the water, playing in the surf and "swimming."

the best part about swim lessons on sunday is they are worn out and usually take a nice long nap! 

2shihtzus

We also did a water babies type class when my boys were about 6 months old, you definitely will need a second person.  We had also taken them in a family members pool when they were only a few months old and kept them in the shade since they couldn't use sunscreen yet.  As far as the class, at least in my case, the instructor was busy getting toys out for different things, going around to all of the kids, etc. so I don't think they would be able to help you too much.  Plus, as people said, getting them undressed and re-dressed is definitely a process that requires two people.  But, I think if you can get a friend or a family member to go with you, it is great to start getting them used to water at a young age.  My boys absolutely loved it, we are planning on maybe doing a class again in the spring when it's warmer and as PP's have said, they get nice and tuckered out usually which is never a bad thing. ":)

LoveTravel

We haven't yet, but they love playing in the tub so I'm guessing they would like swimming? lol

 

jenn&chris2

The first time mine went in a pool they were 3.5 months.  We just put them in the floats that has the canopy over it to block the sun & even though they looked like they were being swallowed up by the float the absolutely loved it & they love going in the pool now. 

regenab

I am not able to put the girls in swim lessons until they turn 3 because that is when it becomes a class and they don't need to have a parent in the pool with them. From 6 months to 36 months it is parent and child classes and you have to have 1 parent to each child. DH is only home 3 days a month and I don't have anyone else that can commit to the class with me and the instructor will not take 1 of the girls.

The first time we had them in the water (DH was on leave) was when they were about 11 months old (they are July babies) and they loved it. My BFF had 2 infant floats from when her girls were younger that she let us use for them and they had so much fun. I would think they would really enjoy the water this summer but I am not sure how you would do it by yourself, they are kind of small to be in a float without having a hand on them and able to get them out right away if they don't like it and then you have the other left in the water.