Our Mommyhood

Posts Tagged ‘swimming’

By Working Mommy, Contributor, Lessons Learned (@lessonslrndblog)

Water safety is one of the most important things for a parent during the summer – more than at any other time during the year. The kiddos are out of school and have extra energy to burn…so why not take them to your local pool?!

I am all about putting your kids in the water early…I mean, The Babe started swim lessons at 5 months old.  But there are some parents who take their kids to the local pool and let them run amok.

It is one thing to be an active participant in your child’s life and it is quite another to be an observer.  If you know and understand what is going on, then you will be better equipped to handle – and possibly prevent – emergencies.

Here are some simple steps for keeping your children – and their friends who tag along – safe at the pool:

1. NEVER let your child go into the pool area without you. If you volunteer yourself to be the designated parent on duty, then act it! No taking the kiddos to the pool and then sitting on a chair reading a book.  Save your relaxing time for adult swim.

2. ALWAYS take a cell phone with you as part of your swim bag. I know this one might seem like a no-brainer, but forgetting your phone could be the difference between wasting 5 minutes to run across the pool deck to use a land line or immediately getting in touch with 911.

3. NEVER use water wings, floaties or swim vests in lieu of actually being in the water with your child. Do not be fooled by the assumption that your child will be safer just because s/he has inflated plastic rings around his/her arms. I used to be a lifeguard and I can attest to the fact that those little arms can easily slide out.

4. ALWAYS keep your CPR and First Aid certifications up-to-date. I know it seems like a stretch, but being able to act quickly – and actually know what you’re doing – saves lives! You might not want to be a hero, but sometimes it is necessary.

Here is to wishing you and yours safety in the water!!

by Brook, Contributor, Baby & Sofia (@babyandsofia)

I come from a family of swimmers.  My husband comes from a family of swimmers. We have both grown up living on the coast, where swimming at the beach, at the pool, at the lake, and, well, any body of water, really, is the absolute favorite form recreational activity.  Our mothers took us swimming before we could walk.  So, naturally, I have done the same with our baby boy.  And, luckily, Paolo loves the water.  Bath time is his favorite; he splashes and giggles and kicks and squeals in the tub.  He loves the ocean, the pool, and the lake.  Even when the water feels icily cold to me, he loves it.

What he does not love, however, is water on his face. In. Any. Form.  When I wash off his face in the morning with a warm washcloth, the baby behaves as if I am actively torturing him.  When I wash his hair, any droplets from the rinsing action will send him into a tizzy.  Forget the shower.  He screams at the shower, even if it is only a foot that is under the running water.  As a water-lover, you can imagine my concern.

I decided to nip this little problem in the bud by enrolling us in a Mommy & Me swim class at the local pool.  Maybe with the help of a professional, Paolo will learn to “blow motorboats” and quit freaking out over the occasional splash of water in the vicinity of his face.  I was super excited for Paolo’s first “swim lessons.” I mean, I didn’t plan to have him submerge his entire noggin, just learn to tolerate water on his face.

So off we went, to our 9:30am swim lesson.  There were two other mommy and child pairs, both other children were 2 years old.  And they didn’t seem to love the water as much as my little one, who is still only 9 months old.  So I was feeling pretty confident that we were off to a great start.  The instructor was sweet, and she came armed with a basket of water toys and an arsenal of songs to sing that encouraged water play.  Paolo loved it; he splashed and played and laughed.  At least on the first day.  On the second day, we continued on, singing and playing. I was loving it.  (Well, except the freezing pool water.  This hot Midwest summer wasn’t doing much to warm up the pool!)

By the third day, Paolo was a little more apprehensive of the water games, as he had figured out that they all involved a little splashing.  We tried to “motorboat.” Hah!  He hated it.  The fourth and fifth days went about the same, with Paolo resisting the play and just wanting to cuddle me. (I know, I didn’t think it was possible, but you can cuddle your baby while holding him with you in the water.)

The swim lesson was fun for me, as I was introduced to a few other moms. Being new to the area, we haven’t really met anyone yet, so it was nice to meet other women in the community.  Paolo, however, did not really benefit from the class. He still refuses to let water flow anywhere near his face.  I didn’t force the “motorboat-ing,” so he is not afraid of the pool, but he certainly did not gain any new confidence in the water.

While I wish we could have taught him to allow water near his head, I must say that I am okay with a certain amount of fear on his part.  Over-confidence can be very dangerous for babies and toddlers when it comes to water play.  And let’s face it, Paolo is only 9 months old, with plenty of time to learn to be comfortable in the water.  The Mommy & Me class was fun, but, I must say, we would have been just as happy with our regular trips to the pool, splashing around on our own.

Have you taken a Parent/Child swim class? What your experience?