Let's talk "Swim classes"

[babycaps]

LO LOVES his baths.  He plays and plays and plays.  I thought he was going to LOVE swimming and he cried for a LARGE part of the 30min class yesterday.  It was our first lesson, there were two other kids a little bit older than him (still under age 2) and they LOVED it.  I was that mom with the crying child!
The water is a bit colder than I was expecting.  I don't think LO appreciated the cold water.

What he really didn't like was facing away from me.  He was fine in the water as long as he was hold on to me "chest to chest", I think really just because it was cold.

A warmer water pool isn't really an option unless we travel to the north side of the city, which would not be feasible given my full time work schedule.
The curriculum at this pool is EXCELLENT.  They have a REALLY cute class but still focus on safety first and teaching the kids how to turn on to their back and float if they were to fall into a body of water. 
One of the reasons the water is colder (84F) is also because if a child learns how to swim in a warm water pool and then falls into a lake or cold water pool they would go into shock rather than use their skills to float and cry for help!  So I appreciate the cold water.

Ok, long story short, any mamas have babies who start out not loving the pool and get better in time??
Any tips?

ETA: One of the reasons I want him to learn water safety is because I saved my sister from drowning BADLY when she was 5yrs old.  I was 10. It was fucking mortifying. Just thinking about it makes me want to cry BIG tears.

[babycaps]

Right before class! He was having a blast on deck!!

[zandeela]

We are signed up in July. It will be the first time she is in a pool that is over a foot deep. Should be interesting.

[fish8412]

Throughout high school and college I taught swim lessons and coached swim team. Where I worked we did not offer swim lessons until kids were age 2. I honestly think it is pointless for kids under 2 to have swim lessons. The first lessons are just water exploration/getting comfortable/water safety. Kids under 2 would rather be with their parents than strangers in the water. I recommend playing with your LO in the water just you and your husband. Encourage splashing, kicking, getting face near the water, being on back and belly. Don't push anything if he/she isn't ready. If you really want your LO to take lessons, then look for mommy and me swim lessons where you get in the water.

[bebeski]

I actually think that swim lessons under two are important. I too taught lessons/lifeguarded for 10 years and competitively swam for most of my childhood through high school. Two year olds can really not swim any better than a one year old and adjustment to water is important I'm my opinion to start as early as possible

[lakecountrygal]

DS is in swim lessons and we have issues once in a while. I do cheek to cheek and talk to him quietly and he calms down. He usually wraps the closest arm around my head as well like he's holding on. We have 4 more lessons so hopefully those go better. When he insisted upon being chest to chest I just laid back on my back in the water so he was still belly down and he was ok with that.

[ellabee]

Omg lol that pic is great! What a cutie!

We did 7 weeks of swim lessons (7, 30 minute classes each saturday) when E was 11 months. We wanted to start early since my parents have a pool and we intend to use it a lot this summer. It was more for exposure/experience than anything else.

E was not thrilled when we first started. She didn't cry really, but wouldn't move at all from her "perch" position on my hip when we were in the water.

On the 3rd session she was a lot more comfortable, it just took a bit of time.

Distractions like pool toys helped her forget that she was in the water I think. They also had us put our LOs on the edge of the pool and then lift them up high to "jump" into the water. E loved that part the most.

Out pool was a little chilly too. I found the more we kept moving around the better and warmer she was.

Good luck!

[zandeela]

Jun 19, 2015 10:57:24 GMT -5 fish8412 said:

Throughout high school and college I taught swim lessons and coached swim team. Where I worked we did not offer swim lessons until kids were age 2. I honestly think it is pointless for kids under 2 to have swim lessons. The first lessons are just water exploration/getting comfortable/water safety. Kids under 2 would rather be with their parents than strangers in the water. I recommend playing with your LO in the water just you and your husband. Encourage splashing, kicking, getting face near the water, being on back and belly. Don't push anything if he/she isn't ready. If you really want your LO to take lessons, then look for mommy and me swim lessons where you get in the water.

my city only offers swim lessons with a parent until 3.

[katka512]

We did swim lessons when LO turned six months. She never cried but was hesitant at first. By the end she was kicking and splashing and trying to swim around.
I haven't signed up for them again because it was mostly just playing in and getting used to the water. I can do that with her myself, so we go to the pool at least once a month to keep her used to it.
But I do think that once your LO gets more comfortable, he'll be happier.

[babycaps]

fish8412, I am in the water with him the entire time! The class is all about songs and splashing and son on, with it being activities that will teach him how to float. I respectfully disagree on the age thing!
But yeah, I'm in the water with him!! He was never not in my arms during the entire class!

[fish8412]

Jun 20, 2015 12:31:48 GMT -5 babycaps said:

fish8412, I am in the water with him the entire time! The class is all about songs and splashing and son on, with it being activities that will teach him how to float. I respectfully disagree on the age thing!
But yeah, I'm in the water with him!! He was never not in my arms during the entire class!

Of course you can disagree with me! I'm glad you are in the water with him. You can always inquire about the water temp.

[babycaps]

fish8412, the water temp is not going to change. There are lap swimmers in the pool! It's cool! I was a swimmer in high school and you come to appreciate the colder water. I'm thinking in a few more lessons he will enjoy it.

[fish8412]

Jun 21, 2015 14:38:10 GMT -5 babycaps said:

fish8412, the water temp is not going to change. There are lap swimmers in the pool! It's cool! I was a swimmer in high school and you come to appreciate the colder water. I'm thinking in a few more lessons he will enjoy it.

Hooray for swimmers! I swam competitively for a long time and lap swimmers def need a cooler pool temp. Some pools do have warmer temps than others though. I taught at a Y in college and it was for mostly lessons so they kept it nice and warm.

[human1]

We just started swim lessons. She didn't love it as much as I thought she would. She wasn't a fan of the cool water, and fussed a fair amount. The teacher wasn't phased. I'd say at least half the kids fussed for a good chunk of time, and several freaked right out. I'm sure it'll get better as they become more accustomed.

[angelsnight]

We're starting lessons this winter (I figure we'll need somewhere to go when we're stir crazy). I have no advice, but I hope things get easier. I can swim, but I have never been very comfortable in water. So maybe for your LO, the best goal is to just teach him the basics so he is safe, even if he never loves it.

[newmomma8]

I'm procrastinating on starting them. I want to, but I've gotten different suggestions of places, so I need to get on the ball and check each one out. But I definitely want her in classes this summer. I don't expect her to learn to actually swim, but I want her to be comfortable and understand that she can't just jump in when she sees a pool.

Side note: My child is not scared of anything. Daycare told me the other day when I picked her up that they can't keep her from climbing on the wooden kitchen set. They said she just stands up and starts yelling. Guess I should mention that she is apparently also the class clown. They said "T's very popular, everyone knows T" in a valley girl kinda voice. LOL

[walkek85]

Just an idea on helping with the cold water, but could you put a long sleeve swim shirt on him? Maybe also some knee length swim shorts? Maybe the extra material will help to keep him warmer. Far fetch, but maybe they have a lighter weight body suit (like surfers wear) that will help with the temp? Maybe if you can just get him more comfortable in the water vs. reacting to the temp you can take the extra layers away later.

Either way good luck. Carter loves the pool but like your LO doesn't have as much fun in cooler water.

[babycaps]

Class two today! We have a swim shirt for him this time!

[babycaps]

Not a single tear today!!!!!!!!

[zandeela]

babycaps, yeah, glad it was a better experience today!!

[ellabee]

Yayyy!!!

[zandeela]

So we had our first lesson today. DD did great and enjoyed it. My question, do you wash DD any time you put on sun screen? I feel I should bath her to get the sun screen off but our classes are 4 days in a row for two weeks. I worry about bathing her so often, like I will dry her out. Guess I can make sure I follow her bath with more lotion.

What do y'all do?

[lakecountrygal]

Jul 14, 2015 20:12:56 GMT -5 zandeela said:

So we had our first lesson today. DD did great and enjoyed it. My question, do you wash DD any time you put on sun screen? I feel I should bath her to get the sun screen off but our classes are 4 days in a row for two weeks. I worry about bathing her so often, like I will dry her out. Guess I can make sure I follow her bath with more lotion.

What do y'all do?

After swim lessons we always gave a bath to get the chlorine off his body. With just sunscreen it depends upon how much was put on but I sometimes do every other day.

[babycaps]

Sunscreen, not so much unless we used it all day.
Bath after swim to wash off the chlorine.

[younglove316]

Glad it went better babycaps!

My plan is to start swim lessons in the winter after this next baby is born. For the longest time she hated the pool this summer. She absolutely loves bath time, the splash pad, and her water table but the pool was a no go. Figured it out though, it has to be my husband or I in with her, not grandma and grandpa. I'm hoping if we keep going this summer that lessons will be easier *fingers crossed*

[ellabee]

zandeela, does your swim class facility have a shower? Ours had a bunch of stalls with kiddie-height shower heads and I just gave DD a quick naked rinse off after her classes. She actually liked it because the water was warmer and I felt better that I was getting the chlorine off sooner rather than later.

Re: sunscreen, not really, only if we're out all day and I feel like I'm constantly applying it.

[RandomName]

Re: sunscreen.
We bath every night as part of nighttime routine, but only use soap a few times a week. We do use soap anytime sunscreen was used tho.