First time to the swimmers

seatzie

thanks everyone for the advice some good tips there, initially its just to get him used to the swimmers and something else fun for us to do but we'll see how he gets on with whatever they have there, very useful thanks again

Surfbabe

don;t use a costume that has floats inserted around it - they put the child in the wrong position and never ever use one of those stupid inflatable seats for a baby / toddler - they are unsafe - I had to save a child who was sitting in one when they rocked so much they upended and the child was floating face down in the water. I was sitting on the side with my two children and the child's parents were sitting at the bar !!!!!!!!!!.

Whatever though - do have fun - don;t try to teach him to swim leave that to the professionals - but get him used to water (its completely different to a bath) He needs to be able to submerge with out holding his nose (blow bubbles through it!) and be confident about regaining his feet.


By the way I am a quailified swimming teach and lifeguard.

squashy

I would try and find a shallow pool to begin with, a few near here have beach type areas where you can "paddle in", brilliant for getting them used to it. I've always used armbands with my kids BTW when in anything deeper than chest/shoulder height

Janepig

My local pool is quite deep (even the learners pool) in which case I did feel safer with DD wearing arm bands because she can't touch the floor. I then took her to swimming lessons and I was amazed that of all the children there (there were about 10) she was the only one really happy to jump in, get her head and face underwater, etc... She's 4 btw and went in a pool for the first time last August and has been a real water baby ever since - so much for everyone pouring scorn on me for not taking her before then!

Jxx