Any value in swimming class for toddlers?

[Anonymous]

My 18 month old completed waterbabies (6 sessions) this past fall and we are wondering if we should sign him up for more classes. He enjoyed the class as he loves splashing water. Should we sign him up again or just wait until he's older?

[Anonymous]

If you can afford it and he likes it, why not?

[Anonymous]

Do it. It's not about them learning how to do the freestyle. They learn to be comfortable with their head getting wet, some water in their ears etc. I started this young with my second and wish I'd started younger with my first.

Also, we loved having swimming lessons during the winter last year because it gave us a regular reason to get out of the house even in crappy weather.

[Anonymous]

I think it really depends on the kid. We tried water classes for our son at that age and he cried and did not like it at all...he became comfortable with the water later, around age 4, and we started more classes then. On the other hand, our nephew is 18 months and goes underwater and does all kind of stuff in his swim class. If your kid likes it, then go for it! You can always stop for a bit if you need to.

[Anonymous]

IDK, I personally felt like those early classes weren't doing anything I couldn't do myself. If this gets you into the water every week with him then yeah, but if you'd take him to the pool anyway then I don't think it's worth the cost.

At 3 my daughter started in a class where I didn't have to get in the water with her and I think that's when they started being really valuable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do it. It's not about them learning how to do the freestyle. They learn to be comfortable with their head getting wet, some water in their ears etc. I started this young with my second and wish I'd started younger with my first.

Also, we loved having swimming lessons during the winter last year because it gave us a regular reason to get out of the house even in crappy weather.

+ 1 - I wish we did with our DD. she still doesn't like getting her face wet (7.5). we've spent a fortune on swimming lessons over the last 3 years. she refuses to go under or get more than a splash onto her face.

[Anonymous]

Here is what I would do. Find a friend with a kid similar age and commit to going swimming with your kids once a week. You do not need to pay for a lesson to get your kid comfortable. It was gonna cost me about $17 for a 30 min lesson when DD was a baby vs $6 entry fee for me to take her myself.
I started swimming lessons when she was 3.5 and comfortable in the water. She started actually swimming then and I was paying for that skill to be learned, not just to splash around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is what I would do. Find a friend with a kid similar age and commit to going swimming with your kids once a week. You do not need to pay for a lesson to get your kid comfortable. It was gonna cost me about $17 for a 30 min lesson when DD was a baby vs $6 entry fee for me to take her myself.
I started swimming lessons when she was 3.5 and comfortable in the water. She started actually swimming then and I was paying for that skill to be learned, not just to splash around.

This. Regular pool visits are more important than “lessons” unless you’re doing ISR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is what I would do. Find a friend with a kid similar age and commit to going swimming with your kids once a week. You do not need to pay for a lesson to get your kid comfortable. It was gonna cost me about $17 for a 30 min lesson when DD was a baby vs $6 entry fee for me to take her myself.
I started swimming lessons when she was 3.5 and comfortable in the water. She started actually swimming then and I was paying for that skill to be learned, not just to splash around.

This. Regular pool visits are more important than “lessons” unless you’re doing ISR.

True! But if you find it hard to motivate yourself, you can continue with classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is what I would do. Find a friend with a kid similar age and commit to going swimming with your kids once a week. You do not need to pay for a lesson to get your kid comfortable. It was gonna cost me about $17 for a 30 min lesson when DD was a baby vs $6 entry fee for me to take her myself.
I started swimming lessons when she was 3.5 and comfortable in the water. She started actually swimming then and I was paying for that skill to be learned, not just to splash around.

This. Regular pool visits are more important than “lessons” unless you’re doing ISR.

True! But if you find it hard to motivate yourself, you can continue with classes.

Thats why you go with a friend

[Anonymous]

What I learned after kid 1, is that I now wait until the kid is 3, PT and doesn’t need a parent to get in and do the lessons.
If you want to do it to make friends, etc. that’s another story - go for it. But don’t do it for swimming reasons IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IDK, I personally felt like those early classes weren't doing anything I couldn't do myself. If this gets you into the water every week with him then yeah, but if you'd take him to the pool anyway then I don't think it's worth the cost.

At 3 my daughter started in a class where I didn't have to get in the water with her and I think that's when they started being really valuable.

This. We did waterbabies when DD was younger, but stopped for a little while (though she went swimming during the summer). Now she's just over 3 and we plan on signing her up for swim lessons when a swim school opens up near us in the spring. Hoping she'll start to learn how to actually swim now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do it. It's not about them learning how to do the freestyle. They learn to be comfortable with their head getting wet, some water in their ears etc. I started this young with my second and wish I'd started younger with my first.

Also, we loved having swimming lessons during the winter last year because it gave us a regular reason to get out of the house even in crappy weather.

+ 1 - I wish we did with our DD. she still doesn't like getting her face wet (7.5). we've spent a fortune on swimming lessons over the last 3 years. she refuses to go under or get more than a splash onto her face.

OP here. I don’t think starting early makes a difference for DD. Mine started classes as a baby and now at almost 4, she detests getting her face wet and will not go under the water for sure. Washing her hair is a nightmare. It was so different with my younger son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is what I would do. Find a friend with a kid similar age and commit to going swimming with your kids once a week. You do not need to pay for a lesson to get your kid comfortable. It was gonna cost me about $17 for a 30 min lesson when DD was a baby vs $6 entry fee for me to take her myself.
I started swimming lessons when she was 3.5 and comfortable in the water. She started actually swimming then and I was paying for that skill to be learned, not just to splash around.

OP here. Unfortunately, I don’t have a friend I can go with. I also realized that these county or city pools are typically closed in the morning for lessons and they are only available in the afternoon which is nap time.

[Anonymous]

We did ISR lessons when my kids were 3. Not cheap, but by the end, they can swim. They were not happy, cry, fight - but love the water now and swim like fishes (with no memory of how they were taught).

https://www.infantswim.com/lessons/isr-lessons.html