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Slowtwitch Forums: The Womens:
How early can baby swim?

trailbait

Nov 20, 09 13:41

Post #1 of 20 (1387 views)

How early can baby swim?	Can't Post

Does anyone have experience getting their child to swim for the first time? Our 5 week old loves bath time and I think it would be a blast to get him in the pool at an early age. Any advice would be appreciated!

Erika
http://tribabe.com

AndyPants

Nov 20, 09 13:44

Post #2 of 20 (1385 views)

Re: How early can baby swim? [trailbait] [In reply to]	Can't Post

First time I took Kate to the pool she was 5mo. She LOVED it. I probably could have taken her sooner, but she wore a pavlik harness from 0 to 3mo, so it was a major PITA. Just remember that pools are germ bags, and some babies skin don't like chlorine... I'd say go with 3mo.

AP
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"How bad can it be?" - SimpleS

Elsa

Nov 20, 09 16:17

Post #3 of 20 (1358 views)

Re: How early can baby swim? [AndyPants] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I second this - I wouldn't take them earlier than 3 mos due to the germ factor.

That said, our friends from Austria told me that in Europe, they take babies to the pool right away (?? not exactly sure how early 'right away' is, but very early)

SpicedRum

Nov 20, 09 16:20

Post #4 of 20 (1356 views)

Re: How early can baby swim? [trailbait] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I was born in March, and before the end of summer, my mom would take me to the pool. She'd drop me off the diving board and jump in after me. I wouldn't suggest you try that now, you'll likely get arrested, but I was under 6 months at the time.

triLA

Nov 20, 09 20:45

Post #5 of 20 (1325 views)

Re: How early can baby swim? [trailbait] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I dont have kids, but I used to teach a Parents and Tots class...so fun. Age was 8 months -2 years. A lot of splashing, songs, etc. The earlier they are exposed to it, the better I think. No real 'swimming' but fun for everyone.

Giant Steps

Nov 20, 09 21:35

Post #6 of 20 (1317 views)

Re: How early can baby swim? [trailbait] [In reply to]	Can't Post

My parents taught me to swim around the same time I learned to walk. I've never had any fear of the water.

"When you're at a biker party and they start playing Steppenwolf, it's time to leave the party. " - an ancient Ocean Beach proverb

tigerchik

Nov 21, 09 9:29

Post #7 of 20 (1268 views)

Re: How early can baby swim? [trailbait] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I was 6 mo when I started baby swim lessons - "mommy and me" class.
_____________
mmm, pi!

slink

Nov 21, 09 9:54

Post #8 of 20 (1264 views)

Re: How early can baby swim? [trailbait] [In reply to]	Can't Post

My friend is a swimming coach and does baby swimming lessons. Not mommy and me classes, BABY swimming lessons for kids as young as 5 weeks old. By using pressure points she can teach a baby to turn over on their backs in the water and even hold onto the side of the pool. In general, the kids that she teaches in this program end up walking around 9 months and have excellent co-ordination and agility at a young age.

She had her 4 week old neice in the pool on the weekend.

Cannondale

Nov 22, 09 7:23

Post #9 of 20 (1191 views)

Re: How early can baby swim? [trailbait] [In reply to]	Can't Post

It was a long time ago for us but we took our kids to those Mommy and Tot classes and felt they were very good. I would call your local pool and inquire they have such a class and what the youngest age would be. The neatest trick I remember doing it blowing gently into the baby's face and then sliding them underwater. When you blow into their face they automatically hold their breath. The girls loved it and it was a fun hour or so each weekend. Our oldest went on to swim Varsity in university and was an Olympic hopeful. Did the baby swim classes do that? Hard to say.

mistressk

Nov 23, 09 7:23

Post #10 of 20 (1137 views)

Re: How early can baby swim? [trailbait] [In reply to]	Can't Post

my folks started me in classes at 3mos. it took until i was 10 years old or so before i started hating them, but continued with them until i was 14 anyway ;)

cheers!

-mistress k
________________________________________________
"i don't have a best event, just a best feature: grim determination"

swimmergirl7

Nov 24, 09 9:15

Post #11 of 20 (1091 views)

Re: How early can baby swim? [trailbait] [In reply to]	Can't Post

as a swim instructor- as soon as you want. I've taught "formal" classes to babies as young as three months--- babies love the water and as long as you take them to a nice heated indoor pool (and they will still get cold after about 10 minutes hahaha) they should love it! :)

Im-a-miler

Dec 10, 09 13:57

Post #12 of 20 (903 views)

Re: How early can baby swim? [swimmergirl7] [In reply to]	Can't Post

9 months before they are born.... Sorry I had to!

After a race, someone was amazed by my run leg.

torrey

Dec 10, 09 15:31

Post #13 of 20 (891 views)

Re: How early can baby swim? [trailbait] [In reply to]	Can't Post

One thing to know is the proper attire for baby. When I thought the "Mommy and Me" class we required a plastic or rubber short with elastics around the legs and waist. They would catch most of any thing solid that came out of the back end. Diapers are a big no no since they absorb half the pool, but for some reason a lot of parents didn't think of that.

triFP

Dec 11, 09 6:14

Post #14 of 20 (853 views)

Re: How early can baby swim? [torrey] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Would suggest waiting until they've had their first set of shots, so 2 months.

jayhawker

Jan 4, 10 19:47

Post #15 of 20 (619 views)

Re: How early can baby swim? [trailbait] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Check this out. I'd be surprised if you haven't seen it, but if you haven't I can promise you'll be BLOWN away. You can get them started very young AND actually teach them something that will actually save their life. It's amazing stuff.

http://infantswim.com/

________________________________________________
In a year from now, you'll wish you would've started today.

trailbait

Jan 5, 10 13:32

Post #16 of 20 (579 views)

Re: How early can baby swim? [jayhawker] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have seen those amazing videos! Really cool stuff.

Erika
http://tribabe.com

instigator

Jan 5, 10 14:17

Post #17 of 20 (573 views)

Re: How early can baby swim? [trailbait] [In reply to]	Can't Post

A friend from college sent her twins to ISR classes as they have a lake house. I am pretty sure they were just about a year old when they finished.

LabRat625

Jan 8, 10 21:18

Post #18 of 20 (510 views)

Re: How early can baby swim? [Cannondale] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I took my daughters to "Mommy and Me" swim classes at 10 months. I was the only daddy in the group (mom worked the dayshift, I worked night shifts).

My 7 and 9 yer old daughters are fishes.

I learned how to swim 8 months ago at 47.

IMV

Jan 10, 10 8:26

Post #19 of 20 (471 views)

Re: How early can baby swim? [trailbait] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Brought my daughter when she was 3 1/2 months, and is now almost 1.5 y.o. She was freezing after 5minutes the 1st times, even if it was at 86F. Now we can stay almost 30min. I learned how to dive her head in the water when she was less than 5 m.o. It amazing!

M~

Jan 11, 10 8:47

Post #20 of 20 (420 views)

Re: How early can baby swim? [trailbait] [In reply to]	Can't Post

No to rain on the parade but just something to consider would be this study:

http://www.irishtimes.com/...7/1224244902389.html
*****----------------------------------------*****
Interviewer: What's your prediction for the fight?
Clubber Lang: My prediction?
Interviewer: Yes, your prediction.
Clubber Lang: Pain!