First time to the swimmers

seatzie

I want to take our DS to the swimmers for the first time (I'm his dad btw), he's almost 2 and a half, not quite toilet trained so I'm guessing something like Little Swimmers should cover him that way, but what else do I need for him? Armbands? floats, nothing???? I've no idea lol!! I loved the swimmers as a kid and he loves the bath so I've no worries about him fearing the water, infact he's taken to stretching out in the bath and making swimming motions without any prompting, but I don't want to get it wrong first time and have him not wanting to go back. All advice appreciated!!

vixarooni

I started lessons a bit later as a child so i didnt use anything apart from a float occasionaly. The teacher at the time was really good and wanted you to learn un aided. At 2 and a half id reccomend some sort of flotation device, perhaps not arm bands because they restrict movement in your arms a bit. Have a look to see whats out there. He probably wont need it long anyway, sounds like he loves it already!

dad-of-4

my youngest son went to baths at about the same age, like yours loves splashing in the bath at home, fearless in the water, just like his dad.;)

he wasnt keen on the arm bands but was happy bobbing and splashing about

i would sugest the arm bands for starters and see how you get on, as much as he loves the water, he hasnt experienced being out of his depth and the near weightlessness of being in deeper water. once he get his head around where he is and the depth of water, maybee get the armbands off and hold him so his arms are freeer and he paractice the strokes. i do this with my kids by just supporting them with 1 hand under the stomach and just let them go for it, i dont hold them back so there not moving and i dont help them along, its just support.

we had little swimmers for the youngest, and also got him an all in 1 lycra swim suit, he did get cold in the end but it helped having that on.

water is a very good conductor of heat, and removes the heat from your body 20x faster than air.

little bodies cool quicker. at the first sign of shivering get out of the water, please bare it in mind, its likely that hes not going to complain of being cold if hes having fun.

fairygirl06

Swimming is such a vaulable skill which u never know when u may need. I had lessons at the age of four and I am still doing it on a weekly basis 16 years later!

Have u thought about what kind of pool ur going to really u want one with a special 'baby' pool, as the water is likely to be at a slightly higher temperature, and u dont want ur little one getting cold.

As vixarooni, personally i think that if u let ur child become too dependent on arm bands and they start to move their arms about in a stroke motion then they will have to learn all over again when u take them off! I have done so teaching in the past and have found that the best way to introduce them to the water is through games as a way of building up their confidence, as its a new experience. Woogles seem to be quite popular, they are foam tubbing that the children can hold onto or have to support their tummies and back, the pool may have these to borrow.

There are loads of different toys that u can get designed for the water like:_
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.200-0688.aspx, but ur loacal pool may have these. I would not get any goggles to start off with, I always had them and are now dependent on them!

Enjoy ur swim and blowing bubbles and washing faces are good places to start to get them used to the water!

pavlovs_dog

fairygirl06 wrote: »

Woogles seem to be quite popular, they are foam tubbing that the children can hold onto or have to support their tummies and back, the pool may have these to borrow.

these are also known as pool noodles, in case anyone looks at you blankly at the mention of a woggle

jackomdj

I know what a woggle is but I think I would look oddly if you mentioned a pool noodle!!!

Both our girls go to lessons (they are 3years & 10 months) & we have just invested in some delphin discs for them (see link)
http://www.swimstop.co.uk/delphins.html
basically you use uo to 3 discs on each arm to start & reduce down as necessary. Both my girls only use 2 discs & I don't intend using more than 2 on the baby. Also during their lesson they spend some time using floats & woggles amd also some time with no bands with me supporting them or them holding onto the bar at the side.

One of the things we have always been taught is to try & emphasise that the side is "safe" & for them to turn & hold onto it themselves.

Good luck, I think swimming is one of the best things you can teach little ones!

Nicky

code-a-holic

My 3 yr old just started weekly lessons. First time in a pool too. By the end of the half an hour he was swimming with a float! I was amazed. My eldest started lessons at 5 yrs old, 9 months on his feet are still on the floor!
We now go on the weekends with our 3 children. 2,3 and 5. We just take arm bands. Floats and woggles are provided where we go. Our youngest has a swim nappy as she isnt toilet trained. The forst time we took out daughter in, 2 years old, it was all around bouncing around and get the children to splash each other to make them confident in the water. A few weeks on and they are like fish! Have fun!

chicken_pie_2

Our 18 month old uses a polly otter suit which i can't recommend highly enough, he has been using it for about 8 months now with no arm bands and he can swim unaided no problem. these suits put the user in the correct position in the water to help them to quickly learn to swim.

sticher

All three of my boys have been like water babies - no fear at all (in fact one of mine had to be regularly pulled out of the water and stopped so he would take a breath, lol).

One thing to consider is that being at home in the bath is VERY different to being in a huge swimming pool, so don't rush in thinking your little one will immediately love it - take things slowly and be guided by your son. Usually now, the baby pools are quite warm (at least where I live), but I would still take a towel to the pool side so that immediately you get out you can wrap your son up.

I would concentrate on just having fun in the water rather than trying to learn to swim, until he is confident. All of mine had armbands as this gives them a bit of independence when they are ready (youngest had a floatie he could sit in as a tiny baby, but he kept leaning forward to drink the water, lol). I also tried the floatie jacket type things, but found they would push up to the face when in the water unless the strap between the legs was quite tight. Still quite useful though.

Lastly, I was told once that usually a child does not have the strength to be able to swim without aid until at least the age of 5. (Does anyone know any different?)

code-a-holic

sticher wrote: »

Lastly, I was told once that usually a child does not have the strength to be able to swim without aid until at least the age of 5. (Does anyone know any different?)

Whoever said that hasnt been to my sons swimming class! lol.
They are all between 2 and 4 and can do widths without floats or arm bands. And all have done less that 5 lessons. Im amazed!

heppy23

Our son (two and a half) has been going to swimming classes on and off since he was 6 months old so he loves it. We've not been swimming recently as the toddler swimming clashes with his playgroup.
He did a lot of swimming when we were in Dubai last November. He just has swim nappies on with trunks or an all in one suit on top. Swim nappies can be dried out and re-used if they aren't soiled.
We tried him with armbands ages ago but they were too big for him - they took up his whole arm.
On holiday he had a flotation vest and he was doing fine on his own in the little pool where he could stand up. We reckon with another week he'd have been swimming on his own.