Swim classes w/multiples

MagPie08

My kids are water-obsessed and would really enjoy a swim class. That being said, it's hard to coordinate for two adults to always attend w/them. Does anybody do a toddler swim class w/their multiples alone? (and how?) or do you alternate which kids you bring? 

UsedToBeGoldie

i haven't started my twins yet- but DS1 started when he was 3.5 and goes to a priavte class... so it's just him and the teacher.  They will allow 2 kids of the same age/ability so I'm going to do that with the twins when they are about 3.5, too... so they get the classes, and I don't have to go in the water - and deal with 2 kids, which most places will not allow for parent/child classes bc of liability.

bhardesty

I haven't started a swim class with my kids yet but I signed them up for a music class a few months ago and paid one of my neighbor's teenage daughter's to come with me.  It worked out great and i couldn't have done it without her.  I'll probably do the same with a swim class or go in the evening when DH can go.

caden

When I did a class over the summer I did it at the same time as another friend who had an older kid in an older swim class. My class and the older class were about the same time. Her kid didn't need a parent in the water so she took my 2nd kid. Next time I think I'll do an evening class and get DH to come.

caden

Also the instructor would have taken a kid herself if I didn't have a friend with me. She wouldn't have done it every class, but if you can find a 2nd adult for MOST classes, then maybe the instructor will help you for the rest. I would never take 2 kids in the water myself at their age (16mo).

erinruns

I'm a single mom.  I picked a night a girlfriend could go with us.  I bought dinner after each lesson as a thank you.  I really don't know how you'd do it alone.  When the girls were 18 months, if they melted down and both wanted me, we just left.  

cauli001

We did it last year when they were 8 months old.  It required 1 adult per kid. There was only one instructor and she would have never been able to take one of my kids, nor would they or I have felt comfortable with that.  I knew MH would be gone at work a lot.  He was the 2nd adult and if he was gone then i called my mom to come up. If she couldn't, I had a close female friend on the backburner. My last option was a mothers helper, but I would have paid her a bit to come.  You have to remember that you have to get them out, dry them both off and get them dressed in a cold locker room that probably has slippery tile floors.  Most pools do not let you change in and out of a swim diaper on the deck either. No chance I could do it alone.

macchiatto

We did a WaterBabies class. It's 1:1 parent/child ratio so we did it on Saturday mornings so we could both go. If that weren't an option I'd either try to line up a sitter and do one full session (i.e. series of lessons) w/one multiple and then one with the other or wait till they're 3 and don't need a parent in with them.

emsumm

We did 1:1 classes.  Swimming is one of the few things I will absolutely not do alone.  Not at this age.  What if one slips out of your arms?  You need two adults.

jennyfur211

My twins are currently taking swim class now and it definitely requires an another adult b/c most of the time you need both hands for one child.  I rotate between my mother and my 14 year old cousin (i pay her for help) for help and it works out perfectly.  It also makes getting them in & out of their bathing suits easier, this way I don't have to try to change one twin while chasing another in the locker room. 

nikinikinine

We go on Saturday mornings with the kids. It's nice to do as a family and it keeps my husband's job/schedule from getting in the way (aside from the occasional business trip). There is no way I'd be able to go alone. I can't even imagine how that would be possible.

blondek8

I'd like to do swimming classes with the boys but all the classes are 1:1 right now and it's just not do-able right now b/c both of us work shift work and couldn't be there together every week. I'm just going to wait until they're a bit older and can go in without me or H.

cookiemonster03

We are going to do a Sat am class. I can't imagine how one person could take two.