Infant Swim Class

I didn't know they could go at 3 months. I signed my son up right after he turned 6 months. He loved it and is a little fish in the water. I think it helped to start him so young so he wouldn't be afraid of the water. I know some people who didn't do it until their kids were older, and their kids were afraid and still are afraid. As far as getting sick, my son was fine with it. I would just check with your pediatrician to make sure they feel it is o.k.

Hi C.~ I'm a swim coach and a mother of a 8 month old. I actually also tot parent tot swim classes and all of our kids had to be over 6 months old at our rec center. I still haven't put my daughter in the pool because she is currently healing her hemangioma but I personally would wait until 6 months. Maybe ask your pediatrician and see what they think. I have had all kids in my class from 6 months and up. A lot of the problem in pools is the actual ph not the chlorine. The ph is what makes your eyes sting etc.

Good luck! I hope this helps.

Hi C., I was thinking of signing up my 4.5 month old for swimming but the dr. said the chlorine is very bad for their respiratory system until they reach 1 yrs old. So we are going to gymboree classes. She loves them! You may see if you have that or anything similar in your area. http://www.gymboreeclasses.com/b2c/customer/home.jsp

Good luck by the way, whatever you decide, new mommyhood is so fun, you'll find lots to do, I can't believe I've been doing this for 5 years now! :)

C.,
Thanks for asking this question for me too! I was going to wait until this summer because my park district classes suggest 6 months as a minimum age. In fact, I keep debating if I should get a pool pass this year or just a small backyard one since my daughter is 5.5 months now. Comments about the chlorine raises a good issue, though. For other parents responding, does it matter if the lessons take place in an indoor or outdoor pool? What can you do to protect your child's skin or eyes from chlorine?

I waited til after a year but you are holding the baby all the time. It is just good mom/child bonding time. Make sure you get a good shampoo/ body shampoo to bath you and the baby after to get the chlorine of the skin and hair. I use either Malibu 2000 or Ultra Swim. I use both on hair and skin and both a kids friendly.

Have Fun

We started our daughter in a parent/infant swim at 6 months. She absolutely loved it and so did we. 6 months was the earliest our park district allowed it and I think my doctor said not before 6 months. I had read somewhere that before that if they swallow too much water they can throw off their electrolite balance. I don't know how true that is....

Hello C.! I am C.. I am the proud mother of 3 boys. Ages 11/8/15 months. Both of my older boys took their swimming lessons later. Luis was 6 and Erik was almost 7 before he started. It was a lot harder for them to start later. I think that you are doing it right by starting Charlie so early. Get him used to it now!! I do agree with you that it will just be a lot of fun. I can not see Charlie loosing points for not doing the back stroke properly!! LOL! I think that you are an amazing mother, and that you are doing good by your son! Keep in mind, you are only getting started, expect to have at least half of your hair pulled out by his 10th birthday!!! (Make sure you only pull the gray ones!!)

Hi C.,

I am a swim instructor (now that I am a SAHM). Here's my advice:

- have fun with your child. If he's tired one day, don't stress about not going or if he's fussy, it's all part of babyhood.
- do shower BEFORE getting in the pool. Dry skin absorbs more chlorine and pool water.
- do shower off afterwards to get off all the chemicals
- this is a great time to encourage "sharing toys" in the pool and going to the teacher (teaching him that you trust someone else to take care of him)
- do bring a snack for afterwards and expect him to CRASH after all his hard work
- at dinner, we've always talked about what we did during the day (that Daddy missed). We started when they were babies and now my girls LOVE telling Dad themselves

Good luck and have lots of fun. Let me know if you have any other swimming questions. I teach kids lessons and adult water classes too.

Sara