swimming

Shell (shellis) has been taking Paige for swimming lessons and she's about the same age as Ella so maybe have a chat with her

We started Sam at swimming lessons a few weeks ago and she is absolutely loving it!! She spends the entire time giggling and squealing.
I too was a bit concerned at the cost as our lessons are costing $58 a month, but they are soooo worth it IMO.

Even though they are so little the lessons are ingraining things like how to hold onto the side of the pool and what to do if you fall in. Sam will hopefully be going under at the next lesson but hasn't quite been ready yet. They wait for them to close their eyes and mouth when water is poured over their heads, and my mad daughter opens her mouth and sticks out her tongue
Most of the lesson at our centre are song based and are really enjoyable for both of us.

It obviously depends on how you feel about it, but it was always really important to my DH and I that Sam learn to swim very early as we both love the water. Not only that, but it is an awesome time for the two of you to have some fun together



Edited by Mum2Sam

We have been taking DD to swimming lessons since she was six months old and while they are a bit pricey ($80 per term here) I think it is well worth it. They do a lot of stuff I wouldn't have thought of, like teaching her to turn back to the side if she falls in, how to hang on to the side and blowing bubbles etc. All stuff that is maybe a bit over their head to start with but essential to pool safety. Plus getting them confident in the water, on their backs and singing lots of songs -it's fun for me too!

Ive been taking both my two to lessons this term. Very dear, but we are putting a pool in next year and go down the sounds on boats etc alot, so I think it is very important that they learn. I'm not a strong swimmer at all, so I think its important for us. Jake never really went swimming till around xmas time when I was fat and preg and wasn't that into it, so I wish I had started him earlier (I didn't as I had gone back to work bythe time it was warm enuff to go)

I havent taken Hannah to lessons - mainly cos of the cost. We have been taking her ourselves since she was about 4 months - about 6 months ago started to take her regularly tho, usually weekly. I used to just let her sit in the shallow beach part and just roam around herself so she got used to it, then we started taking her into the toddler pool and doing floating, bubbles etc and now she goes under by herself, is floating around and can bob around the shallow end, hold the rails etc. The lifeguards at the pool couldnt believe she was only just 2 cos there arent many others who are that confident that they see there - I think its partly cos she is really tall so CAN touch the bottom and do stuff. But I guess what I'm trying to say is, you can still do quite a lot without lessons.

We do Jumping Beans as well and love it! Again it is lots of songs etc and is great because it is teaching Sam to socialise with other babies as well at the basic motor skills.
It is loads of fun to get out there with the other Mums and babies of a similar age and just enjoy being with your own baby.

I just went with my two neices and their mum on Wednesday - I looked after the 5 month old while the almost three year old had her lesson. I couldn't get over how fantastic she was in the water, she's been going since 6 months and I hadn't seen her for ages (in the water), I just can't get over how confident etc she was!!! She just loves it. I was talking to her mum and asked if she would do lessons with the new baby but she thinks while she will still start her at 6 months, as she has done the lessons she knows what to do and will start her herself until she is a bit older then put her into formal lessons. But what from what I've seen they are well worth it!