How did you get your toddler to like swimming?

[hymen]

Isaiah just turned 2 a few weeks ago. We cannot get this kid near a pool for the life of us. He loves water: looking at it, pointing at it, even playing in it to an extent, but he won't go IN it. Our family is a big boating family and he loves going on the boat, but as soon as someone jumps in to swim he freaks out. We just spent a week in Florida and the house we rented had a nice private pool and he wouldn't go anywhere near it! Even with a life jacket, floatables, those baby tubes that the kids sit in, etc. He won't even put his feet in!

My in-laws have a pool that we could theoretically be swimming in every day. I want to take him swimming but don't want to traumatize him. Any suggestions for getting him used to swimming? It's hot out and I'm ready to cool off!

[EloiseWeenie]

Just keep trying, but don't push it. If he doesn't want to go in, don't make a big deal about it. The more he sees people having fun, the more interest he'll show. Eventually he'll get curious enough to try it out.

[lintscreen]

What about a baby/mom swim class? You go in with him which helps him get used to the water easier.

[mommytutu]

Swim lessons. The first 2-3 times she screamed the whole time. Now she loves going.

[luckyval]

Swim lessons and letting him play in a kiddie pool in the back yard on his own

[lilybug]

My 3.5 y.o. started the summer clinging to my neck and whining every time we got in the pool. Now he bops around by himself and even dunks himself underwater and comes up laughing!

I just indulged him, let him cling, and after 30-45 minutes in the water I could feel him start to relax. The real turnaround was when we played with friends - he wanted to keep up with the other kids, so he ventured out on his own.

I've found he does MUCH better when I'm not in the water with him. My dad was the one who got him going underwater, I was stunned. He never would have done that with me. I've heard other parents say similar things about swim lessons. Good luck!

[kellykapowski]

Swim lessons. N hated life for a few weeks, but she loves the pool now. We started her at age 2.

[hymen]

Jun 25, 2013 10:18:04 GMT -5 Que? said:

What do you do when he doesn't like it? Do you immediately pluck him out? My kid was sort of indifferent at first, but I kind of made her tough it out. Keep going, and keep putting him in the water.

Is he more of an observer? Maybe take him somewhere where he'll see how much fun other kids are having, and just let him watch and soak it in, then maybe next time he'll want some part of it?

We try to keep him in for a few minutes but he screams and screams, clutching onto us. We try to keep him in for a little, with a very positive, happy attitude, but to no avail.

He is definitely more cautious (gets that from me) so I wonder if it is just a matter of time. I guess I was looking for some sort of magic tip, lol. We will keep trying though.

[muffin0]

ISR swim lessons were huge for us.

Both kids (DD1 took them at 3 yrs old DD2 took them at 12 months and again the last month at 18 months)

Both kids LOVE to swim and are really good at it.

Before DD1 would play on the steps but that was it. DD2 obviously was little so she didn't get to do much but sit in a float.

[hymen]

Our YMCA has swim lessons in the winter. I wish I had signed him up then. I think I'll take him over to my in-laws on Thursday and see how it goes. We have an inflatable wading pool my siter bought him last year but he didn't like it much then. We haven't tried it yet this summer. Maybe I wll get it out this afternoon.

I want him in the water too, Quesera! Ha!

[mrs.jacinthe]

Some kids don't do well as toddlers in the pool in general, some don't do well with their parents, specifically. I'd look into group or private lessons at the local pool. And honestly, truly ... drop him off with the instructor and WALK AWAY. If you stick around within his visual range, there will be tears and screaming. If you aren't around, usually there's very little screaming.

At least in my experience.