Keeping Baby Warm While Swimming

I believe that babies just cannot regulate their own body temps quite yet. Since there isn't much there in the way of fat to keep her warm, I would just ditch the swim classes until she gets a little bigger!

Put the neoprene right next to her skin. The bathing suit is probably diminishing its effect. It needs to create a layer of warm water between her skin and the wetsuit surface, but if you have a bathing suit next to her skin, she's have to heat that as well. If that doesn't work, then alas, you need a thicker wetsuit.

By the way, is she cold and miserable, or just cold? I used to swim happily with purple lips.

I thought about taking my son for swimming lessons when he was that young and everyone including the doctors said that I needed to wait until he was at least 6 months. Babies can't retain their body heat at that young age. I take my son now and he's 2 and he still gets really cold even with a long sleeve swim shirt on him.

I hate to say it but i connected with your "a little about me" P.S. you never really figure it out, each stage is sooo different. Also, the best you can do about the inlaws is boundries 'cause... they will also ways push to the edge.

As for your low fat baby, the doc said to us... keep them moving as much as possible. when they turn a little blue in the lip, take them out. my son is now 5 with no body fat and still works on it. also, keep up with the wet suits. you might want to go for the real thing (check out an online surf shop). They aren't just for looks or keeping out the sun and yes, there are little ones out there on the big boards!

Good luck.
M

P.S. Surfers tinkle in their wetsuits to warm them up...

Hi there.
As a former swim instructor myself (I did teach "mommy and me" classes), my advise is to keep doing what you're doing. Babies can't regulate their own temps like older kids and adults and once they're cold, they're cold. If your baby is shivering and her lips are starting to turn blue, it's time to get out. Get in the warm shower in the changing room with her to warm her us, wrap her in a towel for a few before stripping her down and putting clothes on her. It's probably something she'll grow out of in time. Especially if you said that she's a small baby. If she stays small, she may always have to get out of the pool a few minutes before everyone else but I used to see it in older kids too. Don't worry. You're doing the right thing. Oh, and by they way, I just noticed her age. Sometimes we would wait until they were 6 months old before starting the class since that is when babies start regualting their body temp a little on their own. Good luck.

We've been in the pool since 6 weeks. Our pool sessions (informal, taught only by me so far) have only gotten longer as he gets older/bigger etc. We get out when he looks cold, or does not appear to be having as much fun. He loves the pool, but I would not keep him in for a full class if he was getting cold. The point is to enjoy it, not to suffer through it. I can't imagine wrestling with a wetsuit for a baby!! You are a warrior :) If you are in a small pool it may also be possible to ask the staff to try to raise the temp a couple of degrees. I'm sure she is not the only little one getting chilly.

C.,

I would suggest giving up the swim lessons until you baby is a little older. She's only 4 1/2 months old. You have plenty of time to take swim lessons with her when she's a little bigger and can stand the water.

It's possible that the pool you are at is just too cold for her. Pools temps should be in the 90's for baby swim lessons, but some pools can't stay that warm in the winter.

You might want to wait until the summer to take lessons.