[KyleS1]

Originally Posted by richardb70

We took our daughter to the baby swimming classes at the Royal Berks in Reading when she was very young. Not a great success at all. It was expensive, the water was too hot (constant apologies for this but it was the same every week) and the worst thing was the instructor insisting on the children being dunked.

Now reading the above comments shows this to be somewhat controversial and I know a lot of babies enjoy being submerged but ours certainly didn't. The instructor was of the "keep doing it until she likes it" mindset and opting out wasn't an option. Ended up shelving the lessons after 5 weeks as the poor lass bunched up with fear every time we got near the pool.

Even now - over a year later - she's uncomfortable with water on her head and I'm inclined to believe that these lessons did more harm than good. She does love "swimming" in the bath though, and we've started taking her to a public pool weekly which she enjoys. No dunking though, she paddles around and loves a bit of a splash. There's no point in paying for lessons until she gets more confident in the water.

Clothing-wise, the swimming nappies are a must, and we've got a neoprene vest with velcro straps, that's all.

I think you got unlucky with the teacher there. The teacher at ours seems very good, and if you don't want to do something you don't have to. It's a shame the teacher has given your child a fear of water in that sense, but it sounds like you are on the right track with the bath and going to the pool yourselves. Our daughter loves her lessons, and she is coming along in leaps and bounds.

[Dony]

Originally Posted by SBT

Don't they teach kids swimming at school these days?

My son went once a week for 2 yrs with his school. My daughter starts her school swimming lessons next year.

[richard plumb]

Originally Posted by SBT

Don't they teach kids swimming at school these days?

6 weeks a year for a couple of years - so 12 lessons total. They weren't bad but not fantastic either. We did some private lessons too but they haven't really helped.

[neilios]

I wonder who teaches kids to swim with their heads poked out of the water,moving it from side to side,always found that quite amusing,a waste of energy,and slow...
The hardest part is teaching the kids to dive in,very frustrating process..

[Wildkarrde]

I'm all ready for our first trip to the swimming baths at the end of the month but it will be tinged with a little sadness. Why, i hear you ask?
Well, because of all the paranoia about pedophilia i won't be able to take any photo's. The first time my son goes swimming and i can't document it, goddam nanny state that we're in now

[richardb70]

I was a pretty good swimmer by the age of 9, but diving had been a complete no-no until then. Finally got round to doing it on my own.

I reckon if a child is scared of diving, then don't force it. It'll happen in time if they enjoy swimming, and they won't miss out on anything by waiting until they're ready.

[neilios]

Originally Posted by richardb70

I was a pretty good swimmer by the age of 9, but diving had been a complete no-no until then. Finally got round to doing it on my own.

I reckon if a child is scared of diving, then don't force it. It'll happen in time if they enjoy swimming, and they won't miss out on anything by waiting until they're ready.

I agree,we enrolled ella in some diving lessons in the end...
Got to admit the best ever experience with my eldest was snorkling in the red sea,when she first entered the water with the snorkle on she cried her heart out,its quite an unusual feeling looking under the water watching all those beautiful fish and corals,and the sheer depth of the water takes your breath away,but a couple of hrs later she loved it and we spent the rest of the 2 weeks snorkling...

[Wildkarrde]

Well, good to report that the swimming experience went well .
Took him on the Friday and was in about 1/2hr before it looked like he was going to fall asleep in the little swimming aid .
I'm glad he enjoyed it and by the looks of it will become a fortnightly experience(my day off is once a fortnight).

One tip i read that didn't work too well was the wearing of a normal nappy under the swim nappy. Obviously the water got in and had the heaviest nappy ever!!!
Will ditch the normal one the next time i think

[KyleS1]

Cool, glad it went well. Why would you put a normal nappy under the swimming one? What was that to achieve?

We just take Lola in on her own and hold her. You should try that too. You can then move them through the water and it encourages them to kick and splash.

[Wildkarrde]

Originally Posted by KyleS1

Cool, glad it went well. Why would you put a normal nappy under the swimming one? What was that to achieve?

We just take Lola in on her own and hold her. You should try that too. You can then move them through the water and it encourages them to kick and splash.

I read that it was like a double layer incase of an accident. Tried and failed, will stick to the swimming ones next time!

We did have him out the inflatable ring so he could kick and splash too. It was a worth while experience and one that will be repeated

[KyleS1]

Ah right. Not had any issues (touch wood) with just swimming nappies yet.

It is great fun. So lovely to see them kicking and splashing.