Swimming with twins - need ideas

steidla · March 2014

My twins will be 1 this summer, and I'm looking forward to getting them in the pool. Does anyone have advice on what you've done with yours? Specifically how to take them to the pool by yourself? I looked briefly for a twin float, but the only one I found was out of stock.

ppants · March 2014

I couldn't take them by myself at that age. It takes a one to one ratio at that age IMO.

NDGOIRISH · March 2014

Great question! I've also been wondering this for when I'm with them during the day on my own.

steidla · March 2014

Ok thanks for the tips. I may have to just wait for days my husband is off.

Ylvelill · March 2014

I am hoping I can take them to the pool at that age, we have a low area where the water is about a foot.

whitehousem · March 2014

My twins are not here yet but I took DD and the little boy I watched to the pool by myself all the time last summer. DD turned one in June and the boy was three months older ( I always considered them the same age). I would take them in a double stroller with two floaty/rafts already blown up. I'd find a nice spot for our stuff/stroller fairly close to the stairs and put the rafts on the edge by the stairs. Then take one baby out and stand them up next to me and grab the other out. I'd usually carry one baby and walk holding the other's hand to the edge of the stairs (assuming they can walk somewhat by then). Then I'd put one down on the first step in the water while I put the other in their raft. Then I'd put the second baby in their raft. It was totally doable. We went at least once a week all summer. Sometimes I'd take one out at a time and hold them in the water. When they got a little older toward the end of the summer there were other ways to do it but sometimes one would run off so I had to be careful! Don't let it scare you. You will find what works!

ETA: I applied sunscreen and swim diapers at home before we left so we didn't deal with any of that at the pool. We were usually only there an hour (maybe hour and a half at most). Btw, the pool is a excellent way to wear those kiddos out!

caden · March 2014

My kids are 3.5 yrs old and I still don't take them to the pool by myself! We don't have access to a deep pool that allows those inner tube floaties, just kiddie pools, which you think would be easier but it just means my kids run away in opposite directions.

macchiatto · March 2014

caden said:

My kids are 3.5 yrs old and I still don't take them to the pool by myself! We don't have access to a deep pool that allows those inner tube floaties, just kiddie pools, which you think would be easier but it just means my kids run away in opposite directions.

Yep! It probably would have been OK last summer when they were 4 but I wasn't comfortable with it b/c I have one twin who's a daredevil and one who is terrified/super clingy in the water so it would be difficult to keep them both safe. We also didn't go swimming that often (though they had about 12 swimming lessons total) so there wasn't a lot of time for them or me to get comfortable with it.

Now they are 5, we have a neighborhood pool that we'll be able to use often all summer, and I'm signing them up for swim lessons again starting in April. I have no problem taking them by myself this summer. I know MoMs for sure who have been comfortable with it at a younger age but I think it does depend somewhat on you and your kids.

MissMarnee · March 2014

I just attended a talk by a really fantastic child psychologist at our twin club who said one of the best things you can do for your twins is to split your twins up & just spend 1 on 1 time w/ them at least once a week. Monday was our first try & I took my oldest swimming! It was sooooo easy looking after one baby, was so much fun just getting to focus on her, we both had a great time! At least til I'd tried the water out a few times I'd hold off bringing them in the water at once--even with floaties, etc, if there was an emergency you'd want to be able to spring to the rescue & not also have to keep an eye on your other little one.

bunny731 · March 2014

At that age I was with another adult. But around 3 they can fit into puddle jumpers which was the best purchase of my life. At that point I could take all three by myself. Put the toddlers in puddle jumpers and hold the baby. The only downside was having to get them all out to potty, which is a very frequent occurrence around large bodies of water.

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