Essential Items For Family Swimming

You have decided to take your little one swimming but what do you need to take to the pool? Swimming with your child can be a relatively inexpensive activity especially when using council facilities and those run by Fusion Lifestyle. I took one of Fusion’s water confidence lessons with my then four-month-old daughter which you can read about in this post. I have since joined a class and I am thoroughly enjoying seeing my daughter, Cheeky, gain in confidence week after week. Here are some of the items we take  when we go to the pool and also what our older daughter needs for her swim lessons too.

Swimwear for baby

Not all swimming pools are very warm so baby needs to have appropriate swimwear. Most of the children in my class wear the Splash About baby wrap. I was sent the ‘Apple blossom’ wrap to trial by SimplySwim, an online store selling everything swim-related, and I can see why it is so popular.

The wrap has velcro fasteners which means you can adjust it as baby grows and it is super easy to take off afterwards. It is also SPF 50+ so great for outdoor swimming and pool activity. Made with neoprene it keeps them warmer for longer in the water and it feels as though it has extra buoyancy as well. I use it with the Splash About Happy Nappy.

Swimming nappy

I use a disposable nappy (available from most supermarkets or pharmacies) with the Splash About Happy Nappy, a re-usable nappy which can be used on its own. It’s thick, snug and is a favourite with UK swim schools. It also has SPF 50+ protection and it goes really well with the Splash About wrap. Splash About also do re-usable nappies.

Swimwear for mum

Don’t forget about you! With baby swimming it is advised that you wear a swimming outfit which baby can grab onto if necessary. Now the last time I wore a swimsuit was circa 1996. I am definitely more of a bikini gal but going to the local swimming pools in a brightly coloured bikini isn’t really the done thing – and a bit unnecessary choice of outfit weeks after giving birth. So I found a compromise – a tankini! My Zoggs ‘Zen Resort’ tankini from SimplySwim was funky enough to satisfy my style criteria while keeping my tummy hidden. It has a great shape with padded cups, an adjustable halter neck tie and contouring bottoms which really seem to work. I love it. Great for the beach too!

Towel

If your leisure centre doesn’t provide a towel, take one along for you and baby, preferably one with a hood.

Toys

Baby swimming classes learn through play and will provide everything you need but if you want to take your child on your own then take some fun toys. Brightly coloured ones that they can ‘swim’ to and grab are ideal (and can be used as bath toys) while flip over seal toys are great – encourage your child to blow onto them and flip them over – Cheeky was very intrigued by them. Zoggs dive sticks are good for older children who have conquered the swimming unaided.

Food

Swimming seems to makes children ravenous (and sleepy). Take bottles if bottle-feeding and food/snacks.

Hat and goggles

My eldest daughter started swimming lessons aged three and needed to wear a hat and goggles. I was convinced she would kick off at the prospect but she didn’t! As everyone else in the class had to wear them, she followed suit (as they do). There are a large selection of swim hats and goggles on the market from plain ones to Peppa pig and Finding Dory ones (which definitely help convince children to wear them)!

Armbands

If your child is having lessons, the swim school will provide flotation discs. If you are going as a family, use floatations aids such as armbands or for infants a flotation vest.

*SimplySwim very kindly gave me the tankini and baby wrap for the purpose of this post. All opinions are my own. SimplySwim is an online store which sells everything swim-related for adults and children from brands such as Zoggs and Speedo. They have a great range of maternity swim wear too (which can be tough to find)

**Photos courtesy of Wander Mum and SimplySwim

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