infant swim lessons
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Topic: infant swim lessons
Posted By: Emmi_
Subject: infant swim lessons
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 8:47am
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Hey all!
I am looking at starting swimming lessons with DD, just wondering who has done them and and what age? Was it worth the $? DD loves the water, is it worth just taking her to the pool instead? (although I doubt I would go as much as if I was paying for it!) If they are worth it, does anyone know any good ones in Wellington? TIA! ------------- 
+1 May 09 Angel 
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Replies:
Posted By: Whateversville
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 8:54am
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I'm in a different area but baby lessons here are $80 a term so I decided not to do it. I decided to wait until he's older and can learn all the swimming strokes etc. My DS looooves the water too, so we just go swimming together when we get the chance or hangout in the paddling pool.
I know at lessons they teach you how to put your baby under the water. And DS has done that himself on accident and saved me $80  lol
I've known a few people who DID do lessons and loved them! Sorry, I'm really no help haha. |
Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 9:28am
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Yeah im not a huge help either as we get free lessons with DH work. But, I actually dont think we would do them at this age if we did have to pay.
We basically just Dunk them now and again and sing songs, I think just playing with baby in the pool yourself is all you really need, at this she it is all about building foundations for water confidence. Perhaps built it into a routine or something, for instance every Wed morning you take her to the pool. -------------  
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Posted By: Redbedrock
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 9:50am
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We did water baby lessons at Aquatic centre in Kilbirnie for a couple of terms just before Fay's 1st biorthday. It was all about fun and splashing, blowing bubbles and getting water confident. We only did a couple of terms and since have really just got her confidence up by tajkin her and splashing in the water. There is also little makos swim school at Berhampore School, we are starting there with Fay for proper swim lessons now, but I have heard good things about them too. Just google Little Makos swim school - thing to consider with them is it's a heated outdoor pool, if you have early mornign lessons it can be freezing ------------- http://www.babysfirstsite.com"> 
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Posted By: 1st_Time_Preggies
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 10:21am
| We took my DS when he was 6 months old for one lot of lessons, just to do the whole dunking thing. But to be honest, I think just taking them to the pool heaps is good enough at this age. I think I may take him for lessons when he is 2/3 and can understand more. |
Posted By: Nutella
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 10:43am
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We have just started going to swim lessons and enjoy them so far. But I am not the most confident swimmer so am determined that my kids will be more confident than I am.
Plus it is one of few organised activites for babies here...expensive tho, $10 for less than 30minutes! ------------- 
Oct 11
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Posted By: Danda08
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 10:53am
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I've just enrolled my girls in lessons starting in Feb in the Hutt. Huia pool charges $12/lesson. They are 25 mins and run for 10 weeks.
I'm a bit like you, wondering if it's worth it but a friend has been taking her 2 year old since he was a baby and said it's really good cos the early lessons which just seem like playing set the foundations for the proper swimming stuff he is starting to learn now. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Emmi_
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 11:20am
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Great thanks guys!! Will have a wee looksie into some classes, we might do one term and then wait till shes a little older. I just know that I wont go as often if I dont have a class to commit to (Im terrible like that!) but maybe once I get into the routine then I will be able to keep it going once classes stop.
Nutella, Im the same, I cant swim (well I can doggy paddle for a couple of minutes but thats it!) so really want her to love the water and be confident -------------
+1 May 09 Angel
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 11:31am
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Keith Spry Pool do them at 10mo and it's $120 for 10 lessons.
One of the mums in my AN group did them and she didn't find it worth it at all so has advised me not to go, she basically said it just getting them confident with the water which you can do yourself. Lily loves the water here too, bath time, just playing with the taps, in a tub, in her paddling pool or actually at the pool with us in the deep end or in the shallow baby pool. We got a swim seat for her and she loves to sit in that and we drag her round (at the pool) or she loves crawling in the shallow end but I have found Porirua pool (Te Rauparaha Arena) better because it's more shallow that J'ville. Lily has dunked her head under in the shallow end a couple of times whilst crawling but I think she is slowly working it out iygwim! Apparently teaching them to blow bubbles with the water is a good one. I was/am a definite water baby too but didn't have lessons until I was about 4 or 5. I probably won't get lessons for Lily until she is at least 3 or 4. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: AngieBabe
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 11:38am
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Emma - I can let you know how things go in a couple of weeks. Josh is enrolled in Tiny Turtles down here ($66 dollars, term is 31st Jan - 11 April so that's 11weeks I think).
He's following in the footsteps of his two cousins who loved the class. Plus, I am a very firm believer that all kiwi kids should know how to swim confidently so starting earlier the better. Six months is the youngest they'll take for the Council run classes and as others have said, at this age it's about building water confidence and the foundations for future, more formal, swimming lessons. Edited to add: Josh appears to already love the water, as did I as a baby/child. I was in swimming lessons from age 2 and became a very strong swimmer, even belonged to swim club and competed  Not that I'm getting him into it this young in the hope of producing an Olympic champion, just so he's a good swimmer  ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  
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Posted By: bebebaby
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 12:02pm
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We attened a swimming lesson as part of SPACE (playcentre) which was led by http://www.bubblybub.co.nz/ - bubbly bubs
She is wellington based. Friends attended her workshop and then the swimming lesson. Which is all about getting confident in the water. Could email her about it. I liked it, as gave us tips on water games etc. So happy to do it with son every now and then, but don't think I will do swimming lessons till he is older. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: tiptoes
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 12:50pm
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I just started taking DS at 11 months as an extra activity and I got a special deal for the last half of the term. I'd been to the pools with him myself a few times and hoped for some ideas but I think I chose the wrong place as it was more full on about learning kicking, laying on back and dunking and no songs and fun stuff really.
Some places do free trials, so might be worth ringing around and trying it a few times first and see if it's worth it for the money. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">  
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Posted By: Paulsmum
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 1:30pm
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We are on too our second term of swimming lessons and DS loves it.. ours are $15 a lesson (but thats sydney prices for you!!) We did it because we thought we just wouldnt get him to the pool once a week otherwise!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Birdie
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 5:46pm
Good question Emmi as I have been wondering whether its worth starting swimming lessons with DD this early as its just so expensive plus I am not that keen on putting her sensitive skin in all that chlorine 
------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  
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Posted By: MrsEmma
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 5:59pm
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I took DS at 6 months to The Swim School on the Shore, I wanted to introduce him to water at a young age but I wasn't sure what to do with him if I took him myself (sounds stupid I know). We got a voucher for half price lessons for a term so it ended up being $59 and it was great and DS had an absolute ball.
I wasn't sure whether to carry on when they finished, but ended up deciding against it just because he is still so young and now I know what to do with him in the water, I'd just take him to the pools myself (though I haven't yet). I wouldn't hesitate to do it with the next baby at the same age, DS was dunked and got really used to the water and because it was a small pool with a small class it wasn't intimidating (for either of us!!) ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Emmi_
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 7:16pm
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birdie, the pead/eczema nurse said chlorine can go either way in terms of skin, so try the pool once before you sign up. which reminds me i need to test it out too -------------
+1 May 09 Angel
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Posted By: Paulsmum
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 7:23pm
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My DS has not had a problem at all with the chlorine we just make sure we shower him straight after it...
I would reccommend to take them its been wonderful for us! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Birdie
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 7:25pm
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Thanks Emmi. I got eczma from swimming in the heated pool when I was at school so wonder if DD will be the same ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 7:35pm
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Da had ezcema and his skin always looked the best after swimming, weird I know -------------
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Posted By: shadowfeet
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 7:42pm
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We took DD at around 8 months for lessons. She was scared of water on her head before the lessons but is fine now so I know they helped with something as well as being lots of fun. Also helps with knowing how to hold them safely in the water. ------------- 
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Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 8:02pm
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I have taken DD since 6 months old. TBH thinking back now it was a complete waste of money, although it was fun for both her and I at the time, I wont be introducing this next one at that age.
Personally I think its best to start them at around 3 years old, the past 6 months she has come ahead in leaps and bounds and it is totally worth the money. Each week she improves and is very very confident in the water. I am a very confident swimmer and used to compete for years and I would love my children to be just as strong swimmers as myself, although they dont have to take it to the competing level should they choose not to  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 8:03pm
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Oh and with regards to skin conditions, DD has shocking eczema, I just make sure I shower her well afterwards and cream her up with her special moisturiser from the specialist. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Emmi_
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 8:33pm
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Yeah the Pead said (in terms of us (well Lilla) with severe eczema) that some it helps, and some it doesnt, so its all totally an individual thing. Weve just started with the wet wrapping so would have to give her her bath straight after swimming so I can wrap her again...
Thanks heaps for everyones replies, its great to know what yall think! -------------
+1 May 09 Angel
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 10:53pm
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With the water on the head, Lily was really scared and would panic and sorta 'gag' but I've found counting 1... 2... 3... BEEP! (and pouring) has helped her heaps! Oh and getting like mini watering cans and showing them or letting them play with the taps. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 18 January 2011 at 11:35pm
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Jackson loves his swimming lessons. We started a bit late than what I wanted (15 months old). But that was cos it was almost winter when we could have started and I didnt want him swimming during winter with bugs and colds etc at that age. Now I wouldnt change it.
We did a lot of 'unders' and water safety at home (I was a swim teacher) in the bath and our own pool before he started lessons. ------------- Our Angel July 08 Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived 
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Posted By: Mum_mum
Date Posted: 19 January 2011 at 3:37pm
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We go to swimming lessons which Maddi absolutly loves. Shes learnt how to blow bubbles, cue for her to go under water and just build a lot of confidence. Its also great when she sees other babies doing the same and she copies them.
Its been great for me just to learn the songs etc so when we do go to the pools on our own I can sing with her and make it enjoyable. Today we went on the hydroslide
We started when she was 7 months old but it was winter and I ended up pulling her out cos she kept getting sick so we started again at 1 when it was a bit warmer! (also another tip if bubs get cold in the water is to put a thermal or woolen singlet underneath their togs, seems to make the a wee bit warmer and last that wee bit extra in he pool for a lesson) ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
Angel baby - May 2008
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Posted By: Emmecat
Date Posted: 19 January 2011 at 8:23pm
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Hey Emmi Sorry I can't remember if we've talked about this IRL so apologies if I'm repeating myself lol but just something to consider when making your decision..... are you comfortable letting Lilla in a public pool when she's still quite little and not vaxxed? I only ask cos I wasn't with Clodagh, and, knowing how filthy some pool areas can be I just wasn't gonna take the risk Only now she's older and her immune system is stronger would I be ok with her going so we'll start popping along to plat in the local pool hehe -------------   http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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I'd put her in the sea earlier if we lived nearby, but like nnic I won't be bothering with formal lessons for another couple of years. Posted By: bebebaby
Date Posted: 19 January 2011 at 9:01pm
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Just wanted to add, I'm not sure where abouts you are in Welly Emmi, but in Upper Hutt there is Tog Zone, which uses UV light to clean the water, with a small amount of chlorine. If your close, then I would definately look into going there. That is the only pool I would take my boy to, esp due to concerns that Emmecat states. (its not as popular and a whole lot cleaner) ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">
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Posted By: Emmi_
Date Posted: 19 January 2011 at 10:42pm
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Yeah I had thought of that, but figured shes nearly 8 months old, has been as fit as a fiddle (apart from the eczema) so figured we would be pretty safe.
Ohh thats exciting Janini! I will have to check it out! Ive never heard of Tog Zone before Thanks!-------------
+1 May 09 Angel
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Posted By: Zaylah
Date Posted: 19 January 2011 at 11:11pm
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If you do decide not to do the lessons for now - do you think there would be mums in Wellington who would want to meet up at a pool each week? That would help keep you motivated to go!
You could even take turns at what pool in wellington you go to... just an idea! I'd go if I didn't have 3! lol Emmecat has a point too about not being vaxxed (I didn't know she wasn't - you learn something new every day!). I don't know much about it (my girls are vaxxed) but we were told at NICU that if you have a child on oxygen or particular other issues, to keep them away from the pool until they are 2 years because of the germs. However, as you said, Lilla is healthy bub, and so it's probably different. :) I had to stop swimming for a couple of years because of eczema - will be hoping like crazy it's different for Lilla! xx ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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