Swimming is one of my favourite things to do with Pumpkin – and she seems to really enjoy the trips to the pool as well. Ever since she was old enough to go (the policy at our local leisure centre is after the first round of vaccinations), I’ve tried to take her swimming at least once a week – and we sometimes manage twice.
I was never really nervous about going swimming with the baby – I absolutely love the water and was more excited to share the experience with her than anything else. However, getting ready to go to the pool and all the showering and changing afterwards did give me a bit of anxiety at first. After a couple of trips, though, we got into a good routine and the trips became a breeze.
Getting ready
The most difficult part of preparation these days is choosing which swimming costume Pumpkin will wear. At the beginning of the summer, I was overwhelmed with all the adorable designs that were available and bought two (to go along with the third that one of my aunts had sent).
Rookie mistake! What I really should have done was to buy the swimming costumes in different sizes, so that we could just use one at a time as she grew. These days, they’re all getting snug and the shops are stocking winter outfits. I’ve learned my lesson for next time though.
Once that difficult decision is made, I move on to making sure we have everything we need.
Towel for baby, baby swimming costume, bottle, money, keys, hand sanitiser, swimming pass, plastic bag nappy changing kit, gym bag, baby soap, baby moisturiser, swim nappy, towel for mummy
Oh, something’s missing…
Also needed: baby with dummy
That’s better.
Here’s a closer look at the items that I bring.
The baby towel is a hooded one with a nice soft texture. I chose the baby tankini and there’s also a swim nappy, which is required by the leisure centre (even though the tankini has a built-in swim nappy).
50p for the lockers, my keys (including the key for the bike lock that I use to secure the pram at the leisure centre), hand sanitiser, a dummy, extra change in case I want snacks or a drink and my swimming pass (in my dapper crab Oyster Card holder).
The mini nappy changing kit includes wipes, a clean nappy, a small container of nappy cream and an extra plastic bag – because you never know when you might need a plastic bag.
Soap and moisturiser for baby, a towel for mummy and a hairbrush and conditioner for mummy – because I can always hope I’ll actually get to deal with my hair.
Once I’m sure I have everything I need, I pack it all up, leaving the bottle, keys and baby out of the bag. (I usually stick the dummy in with the bottle if it’s not in the baby).
All packed up and ready to go
Then I get myself ready – I always wear my swimming costume under my normal clothes so that I have one less thing to worry about when I get to the pool (clean underwear gets packed in the gym bag with everything else). Oh, I also put my hair up in a ponytail with a scrunchy. I know they’re not very stylish, but they’re less likely to get caught in my long hair than a standard rubber band.
Once that’s all done, I give baby a quick snuggle and transfer her to the pram.
Six months old and she’s already mastered the art of the selfie.
Since I walk to the leisure centre and have to leave the pram parked in a public area, I do a couple of things to get it ready too. I strip it of all toys, cloths and feral socks (it’s always good to have a clean-out anyway) and I make sure that the bicycle lock is attached.
I don’t usually dress my baby to match her pram, but when I do she camouflages nicely.
The bike lock usually lives on the pram, attached to one of the wheel supports.
At the leisure centre
When we get to the leisure centre, I park the pram and lock it up. Since shoes aren’t allowed in the pool area, I usually take mine off and put them in the basket under the pram (one less thing to worry about). Then I remove the gym bag and baby and head to the changing room.
I always try to use one of the family cubicles, as these have changing tables – but there are only two of these at our leisure centre.
If those aren’t available, I use a normal cubicle by putting a towel down on the bench, putting the baby on the towel and then standing with my legs against the bench to block her from falling off. This is hard on my back though and a bit more stressful, so depending on how I feel it’s sometimes worth waiting for a changing table.
First I get baby ready to go, then myself. Then I pack everything else back up in the gym bag, making sure to keep the items I’ll be needing next at the top (ie, the towel and the shower supplies).
In the pool
Then it’s off to the pool we go (I’m not allowed to take pictures there though – boo!) – with a quick stop at the showers to rinse off first.
On our first few trips, Pumpkin didn’t do much other than look around. I’d splash the water for her, move her around on her belly, float her on her back and drizzle water on her head. Now that she’s a bit older, she loves playing with the pool toys, pulling on the lane ropes, splashing and kicking. We also do lots of spinning around and teeny-tiny throws up in the air.
In addition, she thinks it’s great fun to try to drink the water and occasionally face-plants into the pool. Obviously, I have to watch her constantly! She deals pretty well with a face full of water though – it’s strange how it really doesn’t seem to faze her!
Done swimming
Once we’re done swimming, we go back to the locker for the soap and take a shower. This is usually just a quick wash to get rid of the chlorine – swimming costumes stay on since a wet baby is too hard to hold onto otherwise!
When the shower is done, we grab everything else out of the locker and head back to one of the changing rooms. I find it works best to strip baby down and wrap her in the towel. Then I dry myself off and get dressed (this means that I’m not dripping on a dry baby and I’m able to pick her up for cuddles if she needs them without getting her all wet.)
Finally, nappy, moisturiser and clothes go on, the bag gets packed up and we head out of the changing room.
We find a nice, quiet place to sit down and I offer her the bottle. She usually guzzles it down – and often falls asleep before she’s done.
Then we pack up and go home. If she hasn’t fallen asleep while eating, I make sure to lean the pram back and pull up the hood – she’s usually snoozing out before we leave the car park.
I’ve never made it home from the pool with an awake baby.
Top tips for taking your baby swimming for the first time
- If you’re not familiar with the pool facilities, pay a visit before hand and ask a staff member for a tour. This will help you know what to expect and you’ll glean useful information like whether the lockers take pound coins or 50p coins and where the changing tables are located.
- Check the pool’s schedule to ensure that no classes or other events will be going on when you arrive.
- If you have a very young baby, find out how old she must be before using the pool.
- Pack your bag so that the things you’ll need first are on top.
- Wear your own swimming costume under your clothes – it saves a step in the locker room – and don’t forget to pack underwear!
- Bring someone else with you if possible – an extra set of hands can be useful on your first trip out.
- If you’ll need to park the pram in a public area, use a bicycle lock to secure it.
- Don’t bother with swimming aids – they’re just something else to deal with and your baby will prefer being close to you if she gets nervous. I’ve seen plenty of parents struggling to get a baby in and out of those floating rings. It’s just not worth the hassle.
- Use the showers before and after – the water is usually warmer than the pool and it’s good to get used to the splashing water sooner than later.
- Try singing to baby if she looks nervous or uninterested.
- Don’t stay in the pool too long – especially with a very young baby. Ten minutes for the first trip out is probably plenty. You can work your way up to longer swims.
- Always offer a warm bottle or breast milk once you’re done. Swimming makes everyone hungry and it will also help warm baby up if she got chilled at all.
- Bring a snack or bottle of water for yourself too (or money for the cafe).
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Have you taken your baby swimming? Tell me about your little one’s first trip to the pool, or share any secrets for making the outing a little bit easier!
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