swim stuff for a 2 year old

Redcedar

My nearly 2 year old has a pair of swimming trunks from TU ( sainburys ) they look like shorts but have a waterproof nappy inside to catch anything. They are about 3/4 pounds a pair.

He swims with arm bands and a rubber ring and both can be borrow from our local pool. He has swum since he was born but did spend a great deal of time just being cuddled as i moved about the pool, so he could get used to the water. He is now a manic and loves the little water slide! The worst bit? trying to get a toddler to stand under a shower afterwards lol

take it his pace and he will enjoy it even if its just for 15 mins!

Curious_George_2

everything i was going to say has been said... except....
dont expect to be in the pool for too long either, my DS (also just turned 2) LOVES going swimming but the longest we have ever been in the water was an hour,
one minute hes having a whale of a time and the next hes shivering and visibly knackered! lol

newcook

Have just flown around primark - nothing at all for little boys for swimwear!! And no arm bands full stop anywhere! Sods law that when I don’t need them or want them they are everywhere!!!!!

Will have to check out shops closer to home - one of them is bound to have something

Hopefully he will love it and his mom can continue to take him!!!

The place I am going to has a dedicated baby pool which is about a meter deep (and lovely and warm!!!) - I remember learning to swim there when I was about 6!!! :eek: !!

bylromarha

Newcook, just want to say :T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T

You aren't a parent, but you're looking after some else's kids (not even kid!) for a few days, and you seem determined to give them a fun time while they're with you.

Before having kids, I wouldn't know where to start looking after 2 under 5s for a few days, and certainly wouldn't venture near a swimming pool with them as I lack that sort of courage!

If it's your first time swimming with a toddler, it'll make life easier if make sure you have a snack and a drink ready for them when you come out. It will help you get yourself dressed with a toddler in the changing room. Makes sure you leave all towels on top of the bag as they need to have the towel around them as soon as they get out of the pool as they get all shivery, then grumpy, making drying can be hard work.

I'd personally avoid arm bands - both mine hated them. If it's the lad's first time in a pool, then having large blown up things on your arms may be quite scary. The pool will probably be happy to lend you a float belt (one of those things you tie round the waist with foam bricks on). A blow up ring may be nice if you can find one, but don't go mad looking for it. To be honest, a cheap plastic small ball (like those in ball pits) may be the way to go as you can chase it round the pool and the littlie will probably want to be carried around the pool as he gets his confidence.

All the best, let us know how you get on.

OrkneyStar

My mum got DS swimming things from mini mode (Boots)- they often have offers on. He has an all in one type thing with a top (and also a set with trunks and top separate)- the all in ones are good as no chance of them falling off in the pool- believe me it happens, especially if the boy is thin/not wearing a nappy! These sort of things can be purchased easily on ebay for not that much money, or Asda etc (my mum got ours for us as we live on an island with not many shops!). I agree he is a bit old for a swim seat but would likely feel secure with armbands on. We rarely stay in for more than 1/2 hour but then our pool is simply the shallow end of the main pool with a few toys (we stay in longer when we are on the mainland and can go to the fun pool!).

newcook

Thanks bylomarha - I wanted to do some fun stuff with them (both together and on their own) so they don’t miss their mom and dad too much!! Me and his sister are going to make some cakes on the Saturday or Sunday while little man is having a kip then we are all off to the social club where they can play with their friends and I can gossip with mine!!! On the other day (Saturday or Sunday depending on the weather) we will all go and feed the ducks!!

newcook

update!!!!

Hi all!! just thought I would update you with the swimming trip! the little mite was very, very wary and didnt seem to like it once the water got to waist height (I guess the swim nappy must have felt very strange!!). I ended up with him sat on my knee with his arms wrapped around my neck (didnt bother with armbands or ring in the end) and we got out after about 5 minutes as he was getting cold due to us not moving!!

on a good note though he was really hungry when we got out - he scoffed 2 quarters of a sandwich while we were getting dried! and ate another 3 on the way to pick up his sister from school!
he's never been a huge eater so this was a big thing for him!
also his mom has said she will keep taking him swimming and hopefully he will start to like it a lot more!!!!

fernliebee

Aw! Sounds like you had a lovely weekend. Yes unless children go regularly they can be very wary of the water, even my DD who has gone fairly regularly from 4 weeks old gets a bit less confident if we don't go for a while. It must be a pretty daunting thing for small people with all the new sights and sounds. It's brilliant that his mum is going to take him now too.

It def does make them hungry glad he ate so well. Unfortunately makes me hungry too, even if I only take DD and don't do any lengths!

money_saving_diva

I am so glad you updated us. I took my ds swimming yesterday and it reminded me to look to see if you had updated this thread.

I am sorry he didn't love it - but getting in to waist depth with someone other than his parents for a 2 year old that has never been swimming before is brave....so well done you for taking him and getting that far! I hope his mum continues to take him. Also, well done for not forcing him in the pool or making him stay longer than he felt comfortable. At least he won't dread another trip to the pool - he will look forward to it. Well done!

money_saving_diva

bylromarha wrote: »

If it's your first time swimming with a toddler, it'll make life easier if make sure you have a snack and a drink ready for them when you come out. It will help you get yourself dressed with a toddler in the changing room. Makes sure you leave all towels on top of the bag as they need to have the towel around them as soon as they get out of the pool as they get all shivery, then grumpy, making drying can be hard work.

Very good point! As soon as DS swimming lessons are over he tells the teacher he has his 'thomas towel' with him (thomas the tank engine mad little boy!) so we have to get that straight away and then the next words out of his mouth are 'SNACK mummy pleaaaaaaasssssseee'! and I forgot this week so he learnt what a vending machine is :eek: :rotfl:Next week i hope he has forgotten about the magic machine that produces chocolate when you put 'pennies' in and eats the banana etc I usually have with me :cool: