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Swim Classes - Frequently Asked Questions

What ages do you teach?

Our swim classes in Bristol teach children from newborn up to the age of 5. Our aim is to encourage water confidence and safety skills from an early age and then development these skills towards independent swimming.

Does my baby need to be fully immunised?

The current advise from health visitors is that babies do not need to have completed their first immunisations before they go swimming. Please visit www.immunisations.org.uk for more information.

Do parents need to be confident swimmers?

No, although parents need to be in the pool with the babies, the pools are shallow enough for parents to stand up. Our teachers are fully trained and experienced in helping parents to feel confident in the water. We can provide buoyancy aids for floating exercises and can assist with the submersion exercises for your child if you do not want to go underwater, although it is a wonderful experience to share with your child.

Do the classes include submersion?

Submersion is an element of our classes but is not the main focus. The exercises are very gentle, for example such as submerging for a few seconds facing the parent, flopping or jumping in from the side progressing to duckling dives between two adults. Submersion is only undertaken when both parent and child are ready and happy in the water. Enforced submersion when a child is not happy can distress them. We will advise and guide you in the submersion techniques and exercises.

What should we wear?

In our swim classes, We insist on the double swim nappy system for all babies and toddlers until they are toilet-trained. The double nappy system is a disposable swim nappy underneath an outer swim nappy, and this is a common requirement amongst all good swim schools. The top nappy should fit closely enough to form a tight seal around the waist and thighs. This is to prevent the possibility of leaking nappies which can lead to swimming pools having to close to be cleaned.

The Happy Nappy from Splashabout (pictured here) is our recommended outer nappy, and is available from your teacher. They can advise on sizes and fitting. For details visit our stockist, Splish Splash Splosh. Packs of disposable swim nappies can be bought from most supermarkets and chemists.

Although we use heated pools, young babies can get cold and cannot regulate their own temperature. If you are taking your child to a colder pool or if they seem to get cold, this can stop them enjoying the lessons. Baby wraps and child wetsuits may be a good idea to prevent heat loss and again, you can buy these direct from your teacher or our stockist, Splish Splash Splosh. We usually have a few wetsuits available at poolside for any babies who get particularly cold.

Parents will need to be in the pool so bring your swimming costumes and long hair should be tied back.

A change mat and a hooded towel are very useful to have, so you can wrap your child up to keep warm and dry whilst you get dressed. It's also a good idea to bring a hat to keep their ears and heads warm and cosy on the way home.

What changing facilities are there?

There are changing rooms at all our pools but space is limited. A change mat is essential to lay our baby on the floor as this is the safest place to change them. Please be careful around the pool and changing area as the floors can get wet and slippery.

When should I feed my child?

Babies should be fed at least 1 hour before entering the water to allow food to be digested. If the class time does not suit your babies routine, please talk to our teachers to see if you can change classes to a more suitable time.

Babies may be hungrier (and sleepier) after swimming due to all the exercise, so they may need a big feed after the swim!

Please note that food is not allowed in the changing rooms at the pool so please keep snacks hidden until you leave.

What if my child has eczema?

There are various swim costumes that can be used for babies with eczema and other skin complaints, which allow a barrier cream to be applied under the costume. For details of these, please talk to your teacher or visit our stockist, Splish Splash Splosh.

What if my baby cries during a lesson?

There may be a number of reasons why your baby is not happy. It may be down to changes in your babies routine, how relaxed you feel in the classes or just an off-day ! Our teachers will be glad to help and advise you to ensure that you and your child get the most out of the swimming session.

What if my child is unwell?

You should use your discretion as to whether your baby is well enough to swim. If in doubt, please consult a doctor or health visitor. Sickness and diarrhoea need to be clear for 48 hours before returning to lessons.

What can we do at home?

Get your baby used to playing with water in the bath and the feeling of having water on their face. Encourage them to splash and play with toys. If you take baby to another pool to swim, please check that your baby does not get too cold (blue lips or mottled skin are signs that baby is not warm enough). Do not swim your baby for longer than we do in classes.

Will my child get any swimming awards?

Yes, we follow the STA award scheme. Currently this is the STARFISH scheme for babies, followed by the First Steps RubberDubbers awards as children progress. For more details, please visit the Lessons section of our web site.

Can I get a picture of my child swimming?

At least once a year, we aim to get a professional underwater photographer to allow parents to get pictures of their children swimming. The cost of this will be advised during your course.

We can also get a photographer in to take pictures of a normal swim session to capture you and your child enjoying the swim session, dependent on parent interest.

If you would like to take your own pictures during a lesson, it will be necessary to check with the other parents in the class to ensure they are happy with their own children being photographed.

When will my child swim independently?

Every child will progress at their own pace. Our aim is to introduce children to the enjoyment of water and teach swimming and safety skills in a non-competitive environment.

General Health and Safety tips

Never leave your baby unattended near water. Please take care at the poolside and in changing rooms as there are many hazards such as slippery floors. Please keep your toddlers under control at all times and do not let them run around the poolside.

For more information about how to be safe near and around water, visit the STA website which has water safety advice for new parents. Please see the Pools page for details of our swim classes in Bristol area.

I've signed up - what next?

Visit our Members page for tips on how to prepare for your first swim lesson and don't forget to order your Splashabout Swim nappy and other items.