Baby swimming top tips

It took six months before I enrolled Benjamin in baby swimming classes at our local pool. I guess it was something new and despite me being a strong swimmer I was a little apprehensive about taking him. We love it now though, both the swimming lessons and going swimming as a family at the weekends.

If you are going swimming on your own here are my top tips:

• Buy your baby a washable swim nappy (Mothercare does them among others), this means you don't need to keep buying the disposable swim nappies, so it will save you money,


• It might be worth also buying a full length cozzie for your beloved as pools can be a little chilly (you can find one of these at a car boot sale if you are lucky),


• Get there in plenty of time so you don't feel rushed and so you can bag yourself a changing room with a working pull down changer, (Not one that might dangerously dangle your darling towards the floor!)


• If your baby is weaned take him a snack and drink for afters, another mum friend suggested this and I can vouch that it does sooth a tired whingey baby!


• If you are on your own forget about going to the loo and washing your hair afterwards!


• If you are allowed forget about using the locker, just take your bag onto the side of the pool as faffing with a locker whilst holding baby is a logistical nightmare

(I you have any more top tips please email me and I will add them to the list).

Finally, lessons can be great fun, they include stuff like singing nursery rhymes whilst swishing your baby or toddler round in the pool, teaching them to kick their legs whilst chasing a toy and Humpty Dumpty jumping off the side of the pool :-).

Going swimming as a family is also fab as it really feeling like we are having that quality family time that people talk about :-). I have to admit that Gary was the first to take B into the water as he is less phased by cold water than me, (I designated myself chief photo taker and towel holder on this occasion!).