Swimming Lessons - Milford,CT

Hi D.,

I have to agree with the nurse and if you do some research online, you will see most sites do. I have read that children do not really have the muscle control needed until they reach 4. Our local pool will not even offer lessons until they are at least 3. Our local Y is a joke when it comes to swimming lessons so I would go and see what the classes are really like. There are only a few accredited organizations (the Y wasn't one of them) I have seen for lessons with babies and they do not teach them how to swim but instead how to turn themselves over should they fall into a pool. I think it goes back to their abilities being so young. I know our pool even with the youngest class focus mostly on behavior in the pool and not going in without permission, not just jumping in, etc.

What did your doctor say?

L.

http://APerfectMoment.MyArbonne.com

D. -

Check this out! Was just sent around this week!

http://www.childdrowningprevention.com/

Fran

check this out! It is great. teach away!

http://www.childdrowningprevention.com/index.html

http://www.infantswim.com/home.html

You can start them at 6 months. I also signed my now 16 mo. old up for lessons at 6 months at the Y and she loved it! She's always loved her baths so it was an easy transition. The earlier the better! Good luck!

Hi, I think the younger the better. I signed my then 4 1/2 yr old up at safety swim a very reputable company in Long Island where we live. I knew I wanted him to have the same instructed for trust purposes. That didn't happen, my experience was not a good one, for several reasons but the biggest for us I believe is I waited to long to bring him. He feared the water from the short years of me reminding him to stay away from the pool! b/c it could be dangerous However, with that being said I did learn this. children as young as 1 yr old were swimming and clearly felt comfortable in the water. Even going under! children 2 and 3 yrs old were swimming. the parents that I spoke to brought there children at a young age. remember as fetus' they were swimming in fluid. so they should be right at home. good luck

If the YMCA offers it for that age there must be a reason. If you do it it will be a nice way to get out of the house as well as enjoy new experiences with your kids. You may also meet some other moms & form a new friendship.

My kids at 4 and 5 years old will be taking swimming lessons for the first time starting this week. I chose to not involve my 2 year old because I think he is too young for what I want my kids to accomplish. I don't need any more bonding time with him. He gets all my attention. It is my older kids that need me a little more now. My 2 year will certainly take lessons probably when he turns 4 if he wants to.

Have fun!
A.

I have taken my son to our local Y swimming classes since he was 9 months old. It was a great idea. He was scared the first few classes but after that took to it nicely. The water was a little cold but it has definitely changed his opinion of being in the water. Now he knows how to hang on to the edge, blow bubbles, kick and scoop, etc. Plus he learned a lot of songs and met some nice families with kids his age. The people at the Y are very nice and don't force you/your child to do anything that he/she doesn't want to do.
We also take a tumbling tots class that is a lot of fun. It is like a big playgroup but it takes place in the gymnastics room. Now he feels very comfortable at the Y and knows it is time to play whenever we go there, which I think in the long run will hopefully help him choose healthier activities as he gets older. Hope this helps!

Hi D.,
C. here -from New Zealand. I have been doing swimming lessons with my 17 month old since he was about 6 or so months old and he just loves it. He enjoys being with the other kids and he loves the water. I would highly recommend you taking your twins. The only concern is ear problems (some children have problems if too much water in ears) but you can get ear drops over the counter, which you pop into their ears just before and after swimming which prevents ear hassles.
Hope this helps:)
C.

Take them swimming they will probably love it! make sure they are warm and dry before you leave when the weather is cold. Always bring food as they will think they are hungrey and ofcourse they will be tired after. Do they get sick alot? This is the only reason I would imagine the nurse would be hesitant about them swimming? Hope this helps

I found this article;

The American Academy of Pediatrics has warned against swimming lessons for infants for several reasons. For one thing, babies do not really learn to swim and are not water safe, and lessons give parents a false sense of security. For another, when babies are submerged under water in those lessons, they instinctively hold their breath. They also instinctively gulp water, and excessive amounts of swallowed water may dilute the sodium in their blood, leading to seizures.
Despite these concerns, many parents still enroll their babies in swim classes. Now doctors at the Catholic University in Brussels, Belgium, have uncovered another possible argument against lessons for this age group.

They studied more than 300 children age 10 to13 and compared the respiratory health of those who had been given swim lessons as infants in an indoor pool with those who had not been given these lessons at all. They found that the children who had these lessons indoors were significantly more prone to asthma and chronic bronchitis than those who had not. There was evidence of damage to the cells that line the airways that can be caused by chloramines, chemicals that are released by the chlorine in pools. (Pediatrics, vol. 119, no. 6 [June 2007]: 1095-1103)

I have had wonderful experiences swimming with infants/toddlers at the YMCA. At the youngest ages, you just hold them in your arms and get them used to the water. Some time in each class is spent doing the lesson (blowing bubbles, scooping, kicking) and the rest is free water time. The parent/child lessons progress with age up to age 3, at which point the kids transition to regular classes and mom and dad get to sit and watch.

We did infant classes with both of my daughters (now 6 and 9) and they are both still swimming at the YMCA.

I am a mom of two girls, one who will be four next month and the other who will be two the month after. I started swim lessons with my first daughter at 8 months and we both enjoyed every minute. My pediatrician was a bit apprehensive, however I moved forward and it was the best decision I have every made for my little one. My second daughter I started a little later but again it has bee a wonder experience for all of us. As a parent, I felt it was a great opportunity for them to get adjusted to the whole idea and vacations with the girls are fun around the pool. It also teaches them how to have fun but be safe.
Good luck with the twins and watch their faces enjoy splashing in the water.

My son took swimming lessons last year when he was 2 1/2. They really aren't swimming lessons. Their not taught to swim. Mostly it is just to teach them not to be afraid of the water. And when they are my son's age they teach them that if they fall into a pool how to get themselves to the wall and call for help. Or get them the ladder. It really is more like play time then lessons. But it was fun for him. But I don't know how you would do it by yourself with twins.

Since I love to swim, it was important to me to introduce my 9 month old son to the water while he was young. We found an infant swim class in our neighborhood. They said as long as he had good neck control, he was old enough to attend. We've been attending class for a few weeks. At first he was very nervous, now he loves it. The instructors demonstrate the best ways to get in and out of the pool with the babies. They also show how to make the water "fun". We sing songs and play games. I think if I would have waited until he was older, it would have been harder for him to acclimate to the new environment. I'm so glad we signed up when we did!

We started our son at 5 months. I do not regret it for a minute-they have fun (most of them do) and the water is soothing-it's like being back in the womb (unless the water is too cold, which it isn't at our facility). It's not like they're going to learn to swim independently at 8 months, rather they are going to learn how the pool feels in the safety of Mom and an instructor. My son is now 18 months and loves loves LOVES the water so much-he's the star of his class. This past weekend, when he was submerged, he dog-paddled up to Daddy and surfaced with a huge grin on his face, beaming with pride. He has learned breath control and the dog-paddle swim movements BECAUSE he started 13 months ago.

P.S.-My son has never had an ear infection of any sort and while some babies do swallow water, it's not usually during the submerge, though some do sputter a bit-if you're not comfortable with your child being submerged, then don't do it. Just my observations.

Hi D., it's me again... I agree that you should introduce them to the water. i have a pool so it was important to me to get them used to it so they were not afraid. i dont know where you live but here in staten island i took my kids to the Y (although they were older than yours)and they learned how to swim. they have been swimming on their own for 11/2 years.
btw, i am a special ed teacher teacher also!!! i work for an agency with autistic kids and as a SEIT...

Go for it and enjoy the class. My little one and I took classes at the Y when he was 6 mos old. He hadn't yet developed a fear of the water and we had a great time.

Have fun!

My son began swim lessons at 7 months at New York Sports Club. It was a mommy (or Daddy) and me class so we went into the pool with him and the instructor showed us what to do. He absolutely loves it.

I would definately start swimming now! I started my son @ 8 months and I would've started @ 6 (that's the earilies the Y lets them swim) but we didn't get around to it. The sooner the better to get them used to it and not being afraid of the water or to go under water. You will also learn safety skills, which is good to know. I am so glad we did it and still are. Have fun!

The younger you start them the easier it is. I was a swim instructor for 9yrs. You can always start with a Mommy and Me class to get more comfortable with the idea.

Hello- The Y is right- it is a very gentle approach-to get them ready to (eventually) learn to swim, but they have to be comfortable in the water first- so this is a great opportunity for just that & another activity for them to explore. :)

When my daughter was 1 1/2 years old I brought her to swimming lessons. My parents and friends thought this was semi-abusive, however, they did not attend the lessons. My child was very gently introduced to the water. Little by little her head was submerged and she laughed while learning. Eventually she doggie-paddled to the side. It was fun for her and it was important to me because we had just moved into a house on a canal. Even though I took all precautions that she did not fall into the water, I had that extra edge of safety knowing that if she did, she would be able to get to the side of the water or by a ladder. Twins are harder to watch and that extra ounce of safety may save one of their lives one day. Good Luck!

I taught swimming many years ago, and I have seen the Y's program with in the last 6 months. They would love it. It is a gentle ease into the water and the kids really loved it. The youngest there, at the Y, was prob. about 6 months. It is always good to get them used to the water, so they don't have a fear of it when they are older. Good luck.

D.,
My husband and I took our twins for swim lessons at 7 or 8 months. It was just an opportunity to get them used to the water. They loved it. For us, it was a good opportunity to get ideas at how to play with them in the water at such a young age, especially b/c they were not the kind of babies who loved bath time. Some people thought I was crazy for bringing them so young b/c the swim teachers will make you put them under water. My response: no one will make me do anything I don't want to do. The last 2 classes my husband and I held them and brought them under the water and they were fine with it. more than half of the parents did, the others did not and it wasn't a big deal. If I had it to do over again, I would have done the class at the same age, but repeated it again when they were about 2. Just because they are a little fearful when it comes to water (esp one of my twins). Only problem with this class, you need a grownup for each child. Not like the gym classes where I could manage by myself. Good luck!

All my kids were natural swimmers. My yougest was swimming and fine in the water at that age. My son had ear issues. B/G twins and a younger sister. I would just watch the ears.....

Since my child was 6 months old, I have taken her to swim lessons at the YMCA. I think it is a great opportunity! She has gained muscles in her legs and was able to become more independent. With her having some developmental delays, she didn't start walking until she was 20 months old, but she was doing a lot with help that wouldn't have been possible thanks to the swim lessons. I highly recommend them!

Hi D.
At 8 months, swimming really isn't swimming. This is more for them to get accustomed to the water so they won't be afraid when the time comes to really learn how to swim. It's kinda like a mommy & me activity more than anything. With twins, you'd have to take someone with you because it's 1 adult per baby.

Go for it! Our Y (i believe most) has baby classes that start at 6 months. We started when our son was 8 months and it's great (he's almost 2 now)! He loves being in the water. He is learning safety in the water; but also how to blow bubbles, reach & pull his arms, and kick his legs. I see other kids a little older who have taken the same path who are great swimmers.
The Y is aware of the risks of ingesting too much clorinated water and they really watch that (mine does, at least). Also, they aren't "teaching" them to hold their breath under water - they teach them to blow bubbles, and not until they are in the 3+ classes do they start to go under water. Talk to your local Y and get more specifics on safety if you are concerned.
I am sure that you will have a great experience.

I took my 6 month old - and she loved it! She even went under the water. Go for it!

Swimming lessons ASAP are the best idea ever. The younger you get them, the less fear they have. I have a 9 year old who still can't swim, because Daddy thought he should wait until he's 13. Now, the fear of the water is too great. I took him to professional swimming lessons by a coach and even she had to take it very slow and he still can't swim! I can't swim either, so that doesn't help. My parents didn't let me take lessons until I was at camp and was 9 also. Guess what? I never learned how to swim, because I just can't seem to get used to water on my face. My niece learned to swim when she was a baby, and she swims like a fish! Please view this link to see babies learning to swim. It's amazing! http://www.childdrowningprevention.com/

I am getting ready to take my almost 1 year old to swim "lessons". I would have taken her earlier, but the schedule didn't work. For me, my daughter will be around water a lot, and I want her to begin being comfortable at an early age. For me, this is absolutely about my comfort as well as hers. It is also for the bonding time. I could bring her to a "gym" type place for classes, but I feel this will be more beneficial.
Do what you feel is right. The classes by my house begin at 6 months for mom and tot programs.

Hi D.,

Infant swim lessons don't really teach babies how to swim or to be safe in the water at this young age. The "lessons" are typically a parent and baby activity (so you may need another adult to go along with you, an adult is usually required for each baby at lessons) that gets babies accustomed to the water. Medical professionals and instructors will always caution that these lessons don't mean that your baby/ies can swim or should ever be out of your arms in the water.

You and your babies will probably enjoy these classes, but they aren't really ready to swim til preschool age.

D.:

My daughter is 14 months old and I have been taking her for swimming lessons, is not actually swimming is more water survival skills in case she accidentally falls in a pool. Me an my hubby love the water and always at the pool or beach so we wanted to keep her safe. I am very pleased with the results and I enjoy it very much. Here is the website of the program my daughter is in http://www.infantswim.com . They actually take them as early as 6 mo, I waited b/c of scheduling reasons and my pediatrician was very supportive of it. But I guess like everything depending on who you ask you will definitely get different opinions. Good luck with your twins and I would say go for it. It so exciting to see and cheer them on as they learn a new skill.

O.

Hi D. - I work for a local YMCA and their approach is very gentle and inviting. They get the children acclimated to being in the water, they splash around, and play little games. As they get older, they transition into more of the educational classes. It is a great way to start getting your child used to being in the water - takes away all fear. :)
Go for it!

I took my now 3 1/2 year old son to the YMCA when he was 8 months old. He loved it. I think it's safe for your twins.

I have taken both my boys to the Y for swim lessons and it is a great approach. They really aren't teaching them to swim at 8 months but rather how to get to the side of a pool and to feel comfortable in the water. I recommend it.

Hi D.,
I also have b/g twins! They're 3 1/2 now. We also tried swimming lessons at our Y when they were 10 months old. Our babies were fine but my husband & I hated it. The changing area was cold, the showers were cold, the pool was cold. Lessons were conducted in one area of a very large pool w/several other classes going on at the same time, so it was very noisy & felt chaotic. At that age, the real emphasis is on getting the kids comfortable in the water; there was very little (if any) actual swimming. A few weeks ago we enrolled our kids in lessons at a different place (much smaller pool, different atmosphere, etc.). The kids absolutely love it & I'm much happier. All the negatives was just our experience at our Y; yours may be very different. If you can, see if you can observe a class before you register & you may get a lot of your questions answered that way. Good luck & enjoy!
D

I'm pretty sure the Y by me (Met/Edison) has "swim lessons" for infants and toddlers. It's not really swim lessons but more of a mommy (or daddy) and me class in water to get babies familiar with water and kicking and getting them to hold their breath under water.

Hi D.-

I have had my son in weekly swimming since he was 6 months old. He is currently almost 8 months old. He is really enjoying it. It is very gentle. We play little games and they chase toys around a lazy river. We practice climbing in and out of the pool and gently get their face wet. Of course all of this is with parent support. Our doctor didn't say anything negative about it. He just suggested that we give him a bath afterwards and load him up with lotion. Our main reason for doing this is because we have a house on the lake and we want him to be comfortable around water. I would recommend it. It's a great thing to do as a family.

i had mixed feelings on that one and finally for myself I resolved that if I wanted to pay for swimmming lessons for my son before he was 2 or 3, that really the lessons were more for my sake, so i would have support being with my son in the water at that age, and for socialization. i ended up just deciding to swim alot with him, and it got more comfortable each time. It helped that I had one set of friends with a child same age and we would go together alot and bounce ideas of each other, it's more about getting them use to it and doing it regularly than about ' learning' at this age. I was tempted just because I thought it would be fun and they may have some cool "baby" ideas that i could later do on my own. But my son just turned 2 in Dec, and we are gonna do lessons for the first time this months. Good Luck. Whatever you decide as long as it's right for you, it's the right thing to do.

D.,

I have taken my 2 children to the YMCA swim classes, but I was referred by another mom to the swimming program at Post University at the Drubner Center (Exit 17 off of 84 in Middlebury/Naugatuck). The instruction for my kids (now 5 and 7) is much better than what they offer at the Y, the pool is smaller, the class sizes are smaller (this helps when they get older) and the instructors were more "mature" for lack of a better term. There is a mommy & me class there and I see mom's with babies younger than 8 mos. It should be fine and you definitely want your children to know about water safety, etc.

Good Luck!

D.,

I am a mother to a 16 month old girl. I was also a state swimmer and I am a coach now. All the children in my family have grown up around the pool, indoors or outdoors. All the babies in my family have been introduced to the pool as infants, I think the youngest might have been 5 months. Most children in my family were swimming on their own by 2-3 years of age. The Y does not offer "lessons" so to say for infants. Like everyone says, they are more for getting used to the water and being comfortable. Make sure your children are warm going in, keep juice and snacks nearby. Make sure a warm towel is close by and make sure to stay relaxed. For if you panic, they will too. Even if they swallow some water. You have to stay in control. If you can't, I suggest you let someone else take them in. We teach the kids in our family to swim....our secret....we use a special swim suit that you can pick up from pooltoy.com It's called the 1-2-3 Learn to swim suit. My daughter blows bubbles, puts her face in quickly, splashes, and even likes to be held in swim position (she dog paddles a little). She can not swim yet, she's still really little, but she is ready to start the swim suit. I agree with what someone else said in that if your child is prone to being sick or ear infections, you should be very cautious about taking them in the pool. You can probably still take them in, just do not submerge him or her. Let them stand on the step and splash, or just hold him in the water while you swirl him around. Even being so involved in swimming, I have not submerged my daughter more than three times. She didn't react well to it, so we're going step by step instead. Definitely, GO FOR IT!!!! The longer you wait, the sorrier you'll be.

J.

I started my two daughters (12 months apart in age) with swimming lessons when they were each 4 months old. We went to the local pool for Mommy & Me lessons. Of course, I took someone with me to watch one while I was in the pool with the other. They learned to swim, even under water, before they could walk! Turned out to be a good thing too because when the oldest one was just a year old, she fell into a pool where her father & friends were swimming. She just swam around & popped up spitting a little water & laughing (probably because I was terrified)! She is now 28 & still loves the water! And, she made sure her children learned to swim early as well. Just make sure you do stretching exercises with them prior to swimming, have a warm area to go to after being in the pool, lotion them up well after while giving them a nice soothing massage, just relax & have fun! You get to do this only once, each day is a new day to enjoy...so enjoy!

Hi. My daughter is now 2 1/2 and we have been doing swimming since she was six months. She loves it. I'm glad we did the swimming lessons because we know other children her age that are afraid of the water. She can now go under water and is almost swimming all by her self. If you do have reservations about it you can always go to observe a class before signing up.

Just in case it is not already obvious, you would need 2 adults to take your twins to swimming lessons at their age. I do not think it is possibly to safely manage twin babies in the water without one-on-one supervision. I did take my twins (now 5 1/2 years) to the Y for swim classees when they were 11 months old and my sister came with me to manage one baby. We had fun with it, but we were pretty cold. I think the babies loved it. I bought them little wetsuits and they splashed away. It really wasn't designed to teach them to swim, but to get them comfortable around water. I knew that and never developed a false sense of security. (I'm still very nervous with them around water and they both swim quite well now.) If you're up for it, I'm sure the babies will have a ball!

I took my son when he was 6 months. He loved it, it was more like a mommy and me class in the pool. there was singing, and splashing, and most importantly introduction to the pool. I personally thik this is a great age to start, since they don't have fear yet. If you keep it up, you won't have to worry about easing them into it later. Though I suggest taking another adult with you to help with the twins. My husband always came along to help with the dressing up after the lessons, and that was a huge help, I think you'll probably need an adult to also come in the pool with you since there are two babies. good luck.

Go for it - but bring another adult because each baby will need to be held (and feel safe!). The Y lessons are great, more like an intro to water than swimming lessons. Good for connecting with other mommies and getting out with your babies! :)

I took my son to swimming at the YWCA from about 6 months. There are special programs for 6 mo-1 yr and 1-2 years. He absolutely loves it. they play with water toys, sing songs, do different movements in the water, etc. He is now 2 and asks to go every weekend. He has learned to blow bubbles, move his arms (like the crawl stroke), will consistantly kick his legs...he even likes to go under water occassionally!

Check with the Y and see what kinds of programs they have!

when bothof my boys were born it was during the summer months. i had both in the water at an early age( about 3-4 weeks). I used to dunk them under the water to get them used to the feel. to this day i never had any problems with water over the face, like during bath or shower time, and both are big swimmers, they love the water. i think lessons are too soon, but to put them in and get used to it--go for it.

I have two children now 5 and 8, both were swimming before walking. Children are natural in water and getting them in the water early is wonderful. Children don't need "confidence" because they don't have fear when they are very young. Waiting to long causes fear... Go for it with your twins.
Don't be afraid to get their head wet, blow in their face and dunk them in the water. There is a natural reaction to holding your breath when you blow in their face. Talk to a infant swndim instructor, there should be classes avaialbe to you. Enjoy the water with your twin. It will be a life long skill for them

Hi D.,
We started our son at 6 months in the Water Babies program. He was a fish from the beginning. At 8 years old, he saved his cousin from drowning. At 10 he saved his brother from a rip tide. He is now in the Coast Guard saving more lives.
He is more comfortable in the water than out and swims like a fish. (so does his brother)
Other than concerns about water cleanliness, chlorine exposure, or ear infections, I cannot imagine why you wouldn't start this important experience. It could be the start of something wonderful.
Good luck,
P.

My daughter took swim "lessons" last summer when she was 8/9 mos old and loved the water and the other children. I say go for it. It was fun for me too!
J.- mom to now almost 17 mon. old Mary Caroline

D.,

I worked full-time for the YMCA for 9 years and I participated in the swim lessons with both of my children at a young age (before their first birthday). The wonderful thing about the YMCA program is that it is a fun introduction to water for the children that has a gradual progression as they get older and more comfortable in the water. I loved that time with my each of my children.

Blessings,
C.

Hi D.,

I take my 11 month old to swimming lessons and it is just an introduction to the water. I figured, I am big on pools in the summer and I want him to be able to enjoy them too. If the twins are prone to ear infections, I would say ask the pediatrician, if not, Go for it. It is a blast. I wish I would have done it sooner. He is like a fish in the water. Most places start classes at 6 months.

Dear D.,

We took our daughter to swimming lessons when she was 8 months and she had a ball. She is now very comfortable in the water. But, I can't say that all the kids were as happy. Some loved it, but some howled the whole time.

Swimming lessons at this age are not so they will learn how to actually swim, but if your reason for lessons is to instill comfort, it's a great idea, but there are no guarantees that they will love it. Mine did, and maybe yours will too!

Good luck, Trae

The Y is great for children's swimming lessons.I did it with my 3 older children and they started as infants! As long as you are there to monitor also(just for your own peace of mind) it is a good experience for the children.I have 7 children and 7 grandchildren.I would not entrust my kids or my grands to anything unsafe.

I don't know where you live, but the West Side Y has a class for "Shrimps" level. The pool was really warm and you're with the baby the entire time. My son was 8 months when we started and he absolutely loved it.

Good luck!
K.

Definitely take the lessons! You cannot introduce them to water too early. I think it is a great idea. We also took the lessons at the Y with my daughter, and she loved it. I plan on doing it with my son as well.