Hi all!! My son is six months old we haven't been swimming yet though im planning on going next week. Im a bit nervous about letting his head go under water will he be alright? He loves having a bath and has just started to try and swim in it but it isn't big enough!! and he's ok about water splashing in his face but how do i go about letting him put his head under? Also whats the easiest way to get us both dry and dressed afterwards? thanks for any advice Amy and Lee 6 months

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Does his head have to go under the water? i took my boy whos nearly 5months last week and we got him a baby swimming ring £10 from boots its really good you just sit them in it and swim with them you can also go in the big pool with them!!! id recommend them to anyone also i got a wetsuit off ebay (brandnew) and its perfect for him xx

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hi. I take my 5 month old to swimming lessons and what we do is call babys name, when they look at us, blow in there face so they take a deep breath. My little 1shakes alot after but it does him no harm. As for gettin dressed there aint an easy way. Sorry. Hope this has helped. Sarah and baby leon

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hi amy, my little one is 2 now and he loves swimming, i took him since he was 8 mths... i go to the parent & toddler classes where you have a swim teacher on hand to guide you through baby swimming. To put little ones head under water, its more easier for them if you go under with them too. So i always say 1, 2, 3 and go under with him and then we both come bak up laughing. He loves going under because he knows that I go under with him! As for the swimming ring, i bought one for my son as well, but the teacher doesnt recommend rings, because she sed that they dont learn to swim with a ring, instead they become dependant on the ring, so she didnt let me use it and i'm glad, because now my little boy wears armbands and swims freely kicking his legs! So dont worry, and take your baby swimming! They'll pick it up naturally. Also in terms of getting them dry, i give my little one a bottle of water so while hes lying down on the change mat, hes drinking his water and i quickly dry him as hes busy drinkin his water anyway. Then once hes done, i leave him down to walk around in the change room (or give him crisps or sommat to munch on) while i get dry! Gud luck x

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HI THERE AMY. I WAS JUST AS YOU ARE, I REALLY DIDINT WANT TO PUT MY CHILD UNDER THE WATER. MY LITTLE BOY JOSHUA IS 17 MONTHS AND WE HAVE BEEN GOING SWIMMING SINCE HE WAS FIVE MONTHS. AND I CAN SAY HE LOVES IT, AND MANY TIMES CRIES WHEN WE GET OUT. THE BEST THING TO DO IS START OF JUST PADDLING, PLAYING WITH FLOATS, AND KICKING LEGS. JOSHUA NOW ON HIS OWN PUTS HIS HEAD IN THE WATER, AND DOES NOT MIND AT ALL ABOUT HAVING WATER IN HIS EYES OR ON HIS FACE. THE THING I FOUND WAS WHEN PUTTING HIM UNDER WATER - GOING UNDER WITH HIM, AS I THINK SOMEONE HAS ALREADY SUGGESTED. THIS WAY YOU CAN LAUGH TOGETHER ETC. AS FOR THE GETTING DREE THING, THAT CAN BE REALLY HARD - I ALWAYS DRY AND CHANGE JOSHUA FIRST - THEN GIVE HIM A DRINK OR SOMETHING WHY I CHANGE MYSELF. SOME SWIMMING BATHS HAVE SEATS AND PENS YOU CAN PUT THE CHILD INTO. WE WENT SWIMMING TODAY IN BRADFORD ON AVON AND THEY HAVE EXCELLENT FACILITIES (A CHAIR) WHICH CAN BE VERY HANDY.HOPE THIS HELPS. EMMA AND JOSHUA.

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