swimming
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12006
Printed Date: 10 October 2025 at 6:58pm
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Topic: swimming
Posted By: Mum2ET
Subject: swimming
Date Posted: 04 November 2007 at 1:05pm
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Have taken Ella 'swimming' to the pool a couple of times and she seems to really enjoy it. I am thinking about taking her to lessons when she is 6 months old, but was wondering if it is really worth the money or if I should just continue taking her myself?
Who has (is) taking their babies to swimming lessons and do you think it is worth while at this age? also what sort of things do you do at the lessons? thanks  ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Replies:
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 04 November 2007 at 1:26pm
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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
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 04 November 2007 at 2:41pm
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If you want to do go for it but it does get pricey. At the moment swimsation is about $95 for 10 lessons. All they do at that age is teach you about the correct way to hold baby in the water. Letting baby experience the water with games and activities. I took Andrew to the pool at least once a week from a young age (3 months) and didn't enrol him into lessons until he was 18 months old when he could learn about floating and going under by himself. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Mama2two
Date Posted: 04 November 2007 at 5:20pm
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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 
------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 04 November 2007 at 7:06pm
I take Jack to the same place as Sam and I love going with him. He puts his head under and we are working towards a 2 second submersion, and blowing bubbles. They continue to keep teaching skills, and in the under 3's they have some that actually do freestyle by the time they move to the over 3 classes (where mum doesn't get in the pool with him  ). A lot of the early stuff is water confidnece though, whiche Jack didn't have hence I wanted to start him------------- "> 
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Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 04 November 2007 at 7:16pm
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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!
------------- Mum to two gorgeous girls! |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 04 November 2007 at 9:05pm
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we have a DEEP and huge spa bath and Ella loves kicking and swimming in that so we have kinda held off...she blinks off water in her eyes...even the soapy stuff....and goes under no worries...poss cause i am really relaxed and dont make any fuss over it if it goes up her nose etc....
we will do lessons tho but with her being sick lately the bath has been ideal.... and to be honest the thought of getting in my togs with my fat on show for the public....hmmmm I think NOT!!!!!! |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 04 November 2007 at 9:11pm
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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) ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 05 November 2007 at 6:36pm
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Sounds like it might be worth giving it a go and it sounds like a lot of fun...so this could be it. Also I think it is quite important for her to become confident in the water.
Yeah the first time I took Ella swimming I was worried about getting in togs again as well, but I was so focused on Ella and how much fun she was having that I soon forgot about everyone else in the pool. On a different topic....has anyone tried jumping beans (or a similar programme)? what did you think? ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 05 November 2007 at 7:25pm
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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. ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 05 November 2007 at 7:45pm
| we used to take Jake but don't now because of the cost. But to tell the truth, both our kids have waaaaay too much natural water confidence - i don't know that i want to encourage it. |
Posted By: Mama2two
Date Posted: 05 November 2007 at 9:27pm
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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. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: emmapea
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 10:15pm
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Ollie LOVES the water... and we will probably start lessons next year :) cant wait ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: Tiff
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 11:20am
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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! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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