taking 18 month old swimming alone?

starangel27 · Mar 29th, 2012, 10:18 AM

Hi

Im considering taking my 18 month old swimming tomorrow just the 2 of us im not sure how much of a handful this is going to be he loves the water but i havnt took him swimming since he was much easier to handle at 9 months old.
Would you reccomend it or is it quite difficult?

brunette&bubs · Mar 29th, 2012, 10:20 AM

I'll be watching this thread.
Last time my son swam was 9 months as well.
We have another month til the weather is fine to go swimming and i'm nervous what will happen lol

starangel27 · Mar 29th, 2012, 10:36 AM

yeah me too our son is wild haha and i just cant imagine trying to get changed & keep him under control. Let alone actually taking him in the pool

MrsMurphy2Be · Mar 29th, 2012, 10:51 AM

I took Paige for the first time a couple of weeks ago, so she was 13 months. She definitely wasnt too much of a handful, and generally enjoyed me swirling her about etc. She was kinda tired though, so I dont know if she would have been any different if she was energised! Going from my experience though, Id say you should be alright!

sweetcheeks78 · Mar 29th, 2012, 10:57 AM

I take LO for swimming lessons every week on my own and I've never had a problem. Some tips though - some places won't let you take the pushchair into the changing area so worth checking. I used to take the buggy and get him ready first then park him in it so he couldn't wander off, and the same with when we come out. I get him dressed first then sit him down with a snack and a drink while I get changed. I don't bother with the buggy now as he's quite content to sit there and chat to me while he eats his raisins and waits for me to sort myself out.

Our pool has a playpen in the changing rooms too, some people put their kids in there while they get changed.

pandacub · Mar 29th, 2012, 12:25 PM

I took jacob alone last week, hes nearly 16 months. At the swimming pool here, they have baby changing/shower rooms (not communal) with a play pen in, so getting him & me changed was ok. Theres only 6 of these rooms though, so i was lucky to get one.
The only bit that was a little difficult was waiting for the baby pool to open as there were kids having swimming lessons before us, and jacob didnt want to be held. Next time ill time it so im not
waiting

**Vickie** · Mar 29th, 2012, 12:34 PM

Hannah and I had parent and tot swim lessons when she was 18 months and she did well with it. She was more cautious with the water though so she wasn't trying to run away from me or anything when we were in the water

smelly07 · Mar 29th, 2012, 12:34 PM

I never thought much of it, i took my girls alone whatever age, my husband works alot so i do alot alone with my girls.... its never been a problem, my youngest swims about freely with arm bands on. I guess the more you go the easier it is. x

eddjanuary10 · Mar 29th, 2012, 12:37 PM

I have been taking Ihsan almost every week since he was 9weeks old. I did find him a bit more stressful around 16-18months just because he was off like a shot the minute the cubicle door was open so I had to take him back & forth to the locker a few times to put all our things in which was a pain but otherwise its always been fine.

3011busyyear · Mar 29th, 2012, 13:40 PM

It's not too bad you just need to think ahead and make things as easy as you can. If you are going from home and straight home again afterwards just take easy to get in and off clothes for you and LO.
I tend to get LO sorted in her swim stuff first that way if she crawls off she won't get her clothes wet. After we get out I get myself dressed whilst she is wrapped in her towel either with milk or a snack. Swimming us tiring for them so they'll appreciate a drink at least.

I can usually dry and dress before she's done and if she's having a bottle I can dress her whilst she's drinking(she's a slow drinker!)

Poolside it is important that he can sit on the side and wait while you slide in, then turn on his tummy and slide in. Unless your pool has sloping steps he can easy walk up this is the safest way to get in and out.
Have fun!!!

Mar 29th, 2012, 10:18 AM	#1
starangel27 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Durham Posts: 1,356	taking 18 month old swimming alone? Hi Im considering taking my 18 month old swimming tomorrow just the 2 of us im not sure how much of a handful this is going to be he loves the water but i havnt took him swimming since he was much easier to handle at 9 months old. Would you reccomend it or is it quite difficult?

Status: Offline

Mar 29th, 2012, 10:20 AM	#2
brunette&bubs Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 4,793	I'll be watching this thread. Last time my son swam was 9 months as well. We have another month til the weather is fine to go swimming and i'm nervous what will happen lol

Status: Offline

Mar 29th, 2012, 10:36 AM	#3
starangel27 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Durham Posts: 1,356	yeah me too our son is wild haha and i just cant imagine trying to get changed & keep him under control. Let alone actually taking him in the pool

Status: Offline

Mar 29th, 2012, 10:51 AM	#4
MrsMurphy2Be Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,968	I took Paige for the first time a couple of weeks ago, so she was 13 months. She definitely wasnt too much of a handful, and generally enjoyed me swirling her about etc. She was kinda tired though, so I dont know if she would have been any different if she was energised! Going from my experience though, Id say you should be alright!

Status: Offline

Mar 29th, 2012, 10:57 AM	#5
sweetcheeks78 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Shropshire Posts: 1,328	I take LO for swimming lessons every week on my own and I've never had a problem. Some tips though - some places won't let you take the pushchair into the changing area so worth checking. I used to take the buggy and get him ready first then park him in it so he couldn't wander off, and the same with when we come out. I get him dressed first then sit him down with a snack and a drink while I get changed. I don't bother with the buggy now as he's quite content to sit there and chat to me while he eats his raisins and waits for me to sort myself out. Our pool has a playpen in the changing rooms too, some people put their kids in there while they get changed.

Status: Offline

Mar 29th, 2012, 12:25 PM	#6
pandacub Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Herefordshire Posts: 857	I took jacob alone last week, hes nearly 16 months. At the swimming pool here, they have baby changing/shower rooms (not communal) with a play pen in, so getting him & me changed was ok. Theres only 6 of these rooms though, so i was lucky to get one. The only bit that was a little difficult was waiting for the baby pool to open as there were kids having swimming lessons before us, and jacob didnt want to be held. Next time ill time it so im not waiting

Status: Offline

Mar 29th, 2012, 12:34 PM	#7
Vickie Mum (Mom) Administrator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 85,248	Hannah and I had parent and tot swim lessons when she was 18 months and she did well with it. She was more cautious with the water though so she wasn't trying to run away from me or anything when we were in the water

Status: Offline

Mar 29th, 2012, 12:34 PM	#8
smelly07 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: England down south Posts: 3,577	I never thought much of it, i took my girls alone whatever age, my husband works alot so i do alot alone with my girls.... its never been a problem, my youngest swims about freely with arm bands on. I guess the more you go the easier it is. x

Status: Offline

Mar 29th, 2012, 12:37 PM	#9
eddjanuary10 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Glasgow Posts: 3,347	I have been taking Ihsan almost every week since he was 9weeks old. I did find him a bit more stressful around 16-18months just because he was off like a shot the minute the cubicle door was open so I had to take him back & forth to the locker a few times to put all our things in which was a pain but otherwise its always been fine.

Status: Offline

Mar 29th, 2012, 13:40 PM	#10
3011busyyear Waiting To Try (WTT) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North England Posts: 2,320	It's not too bad you just need to think ahead and make things as easy as you can. If you are going from home and straight home again afterwards just take easy to get in and off clothes for you and LO. I tend to get LO sorted in her swim stuff first that way if she crawls off she won't get her clothes wet. After we get out I get myself dressed whilst she is wrapped in her towel either with milk or a snack. Swimming us tiring for them so they'll appreciate a drink at least. I can usually dry and dress before she's done and if she's having a bottle I can dress her whilst she's drinking(she's a slow drinker!) Poolside it is important that he can sit on the side and wait while you slide in, then turn on his tummy and slide in. Unless your pool has sloping steps he can easy walk up this is the safest way to get in and out. Have fun!!!

Status: Offline

User Name		Remember Me?
Password