Splish... Splash.... Swimming!

Swimming with your child can be a fun and rewarding time for both parent and child - use our handy guide, sponsored by Spanchops, to make sure you get the most out of your swimming experience!

Where to Swim?

There are plenty of pools around the region, the majority maintaining a high standard. Look for clean pools, with well maintained changing rooms. When swimming with babies, warmth is more important, and to help parents, Huggies Little Swimmers have compiled a directory of their baby-friendly pools, which in the North east include Splash in Stockton, Ponteland Leisure Centre in Newcastle and Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre in Co. Durham. To search for a baby-friendly pool, click here.

Why Swim?

Teaching your child to swim has many benefits. It teaches them confidence and safety around water, is a brilliant source of exercise, is a fun pass-time and can encourage bonding and trust between parent and child. Swimming will help a child's physical development, amd can even be a social event, helping them make friends and develop social skills.

When to Swim?

You shouldn't take your child swimming within an hour of having food, but at the same time don't go when they are hungry, as they simply wont enjoy the experience. Avoid going when you know they will be tired.

For babies, the advice used to be to wait until they had received their 2, 3 and 4 month immunisations but this is no longer the case at many pools - check with the pool and your health visitor.

What to take to Swim?

What you need will vary on the age of the child. For all ages, you will need:

• Suitable swim wear - either a swim nappy, or a bathing suit, or an all in one suit with floats
• Suitable floatation aids - for children under one, an inflatable ring-seat is ideal, for older children a bathing suit with built in floats, arm-bands, a woggle, or a rubber ring can all help, but ensure they are suitable for your child's age, weight and ability.
• A towel - Hooded towels are great for younger children, helping keep the heat in.

For babies and younger children, taking a favourite bath toy is a good idea, allowing them a sense of familiarity. Also, for babies, if they are bottle fed, have a bottle ready to give them when they come out of the pool. Children will appreciate a snack too.

Swim nappies are not a requirement at all pools - check before you go - but they give you peace of mind in case of an accident. You can either use disposable swim nappies, or you can buy reusable ones with a built in liner.