Asking Advice from Experienced TWIN MOMS

One way that I solved part of my problem(children 1,3,4,5)was to provide swimminmg lessons for all, including the baby. The baby actually swam like a fish. I then set rules about where you can swim for the older 3 and I stayed in the baby, baby pool with the little one. We spent many great summers at the pool until the boys were old enough for base ball and then some of our swimming had to be cut back.Lots of sun screen, a few rules and regulare rest periods helped to make it successful.

I used the lifejacket type swimsuits. I knew it would keep them up if I had to have my hands busy on the other kids.

I plan to take my twin boys (1.5) to the pool by myself this year too and am also looking for safe ways to do this.

I've heard from other Moms to stay in the baby pool.

I've also purchase two Coast Guard approved flotation devices for children 30 - 50 lbs ( a bit big for us ). They are swimmies (arm bands) attached to a waist band and can be used on the boat. It doesn't keep head up, but after they become accustomed to it, works great. My boys can flip back and forth and rarely get stuck with their head down. You always have to be within arm reach though. If anythng works great for you, please let us know!

I don't have twins, but I do have 3 young children that I've taken to the pool and beach numerous times by myself. I strongly urge you to get a lifeguard approved PFD (personal floatation device aka life jacket). They make them for infants and toddlers and certainly have them in your twins' size. Go to a boat/marine place (the store in Castleton has a decent selection) and have the kids try them on. The different brands fit a little different and fit is crucial.

My youngest LOVES the water. I put a PFD on her and she kicks away. I stay close to her while the other play but I don't have to have my hand on her constantly. I still put my 3 year old (well, she'll be 4 next month) in a PFD as well because she can't swim.

Do NOT rely on the arm wings/floaties or the 'boats'. They are fun but are NOT designed to keep kids' heads above water. Many kids drown or come close to it while wearing/sitting in these because it's too tempting to look away for minute to deal with older kids. Also be carefull of the swimsuits with build-in floatation aids. They are not meant for life saving and you still need to have your hands on them because many of the designs can force a young child to lay face down in the water. :-( They are not designed to keep the heads above water... they are designed to be used to aid while learning to swim - with an adult right there.

A suggestion for the PFD... the infant kind (usually in sizes up to 30lbs or 50lbs) have a pillow thingy behind the head. This forces the child to lay on her/his back in the water with head above the water. It is very safe but pretty uncomfortable for the toddler if they like to kick and play. My 1 year old (she'll be 2 in August) is wearing the 30-50lbs child size PFD which looks like a normal adult PFD. It keeps her pretty vertical in the water so she can kick, 'swim' and play around. I also suggest a PFD for your 3 year until she/he can swim.

We have a neighborhood pool and we also spend summers at our lakehouse and in our boats (kayaks, row boats, ski boats, rafts, etc) so we're around water ALOT. You can never be too safe when it comes to kids and water. Having coast guard approved PFD will do wonders to ease your stress level and let you enjoy the time with your children... even if they fall in (or jump in while you turn your back) they'll be OK.

Do you have a teen neighbor or relative that could help you?
I would never take 18 month old twins by myself with 3 other kids!
If you could work out some kind of trade with a helper it would be good.
Even if you have 2 floats of some kind, you are not going to have enough hands to manage it.
You are right, the addition of the water to the equation makes it a whole different thing than just going to the park or the playground.

I have twins and two daughters that are 3 and 5 years older. We go to the pool almost every day. The twins just liked to sit in the shallow end of the baby pool and play with water toys. If we were going in the large pool they always had on life jackets or sat in the float rings with the seat in them. We started swim lessons very early and they could all swim by the time they were 2. It gets much easier...my girls are 15, 13, 10, and 10 now. :)

I don't have twins, but my neighbor does. She has a membership a the YMCA, and so does my other neighbor who watches my daughters. They schedule play dates at the YMCA pool, and at Sahm's park. Maybe you could team up with some other mom's in the neighborhood to have outings to the pool.

My sister has a pool too. And it's an "unwritten law" that at least one adult (it's better if there are more depending on the ages of the kids) is outside with the kids at all times helping watch whoever is out there.

We have a 5 and a 2 year old (will be 6 and 3 respectively this fall). They still use floaties. (We tried to enroll the older child in swim lessons, then everybody's been sick for the last few months.) Make sure the kids know to always be where they can see you (if they can see you, you can probably see them), and not to get so far away they can't hear you. Have a plan when you get there...get there at 10:00, then swim until 11:30 - have lunch, then more swimming until 12:30, then home. Whatever plan works for you, but make them aware of it so they know what to expect too. (Some of this I remember from when I was a kid and my mother would take the "4 of us kids" to the pool).

For what it's worth...and good luck!