Do you take your twins swimming

We live about 2 blocks from a lake with a community park and beach that we pay association dues to use. I am just not sure I can take them down there solo though (to swim). We took them swimming last night and Lily has absolutely no fear of the water...walks right in, sits down with the water up to her neck. DH took her out deeper for a little while, then he came back and grabbed Grace and Lily followed him right back out on her own.

I'm a good swimmer, so is DH, but right now we have the benefit of Grace not walking yet, so she's easy to control. But with Lily's lack of fear, I just get nervous of her taking off.

So I was just curious if you take your kids swimming solo? We have a double floating thing they can get in, which is probably the only way I'll do it - with both of them in that.

 

im 2 blocks from our pool and have three under 2.5 i refuse to loose my kids to not being able to watch them closely enough.. ie i havent been to the pool this summer..

im a single mom and i just refuze.. it stinks but so does the thought of loosing one to drowning..

just my opinion..

 

I've taken all five of mine to the water park every day this week. I've used the first years harnesses for the twins so that they can't get too far away from me. I can keep them in the really shallow part. Might be worth a try. The ones I have I got at Babies r Us for like $7. I dont know anything about this site, but these are the ones I bought...

http://www.boscovs.com/StoreFrontWeb/Produ...mp;type=Product

 

Me and hubby took them for swim lessons last year, but he is so busy with work right now and I have no one else to help me. So theis year I have been taking them to parks, where they have water spraying, they have one at our zoo, and they love it even more than a swimming pool. They can run around and learn all about the diffrent things the water sprays out of and buckets dumping, great for crawlers and walkers. Of corse you still have to watch them closely!!! as some of the other kids may run into them.

 

QUOTE(ktfan @ Jun 8 2007, 12:41 PM) [snapback]284661[/snapback]
I've taken all five of mine to the water park every day this week. I've used the first years harnesses for the twins so that they can't get too far away from me. I can keep them in the really shallow part. Might be worth a try. The ones I have I got at Babies r Us for like $7. I dont know anything about this site, but these are the ones I bought...

http://www.boscovs.com/StoreFrontWeb/Produ...mp;type=Product



What a great idea, I would have never thought of it. We are going on vaca in a few weeks to the beach and these might help, because they have no fear and go in opposite directions of course!!

 

I take mine out to their kiddie pool almost every day but I absolutely will not take them down to the lake alone. Of course, there are a lot of slippery rocks and some poison ivy if you wander off of the path so it's not like a flat beach where you could use leashes on them. As for the floating toys... I can't get them in or out without two free hands plus they were able to climb out of them at that age so I wouldn't have been comfortable trying to use those alone.

 

I take all three of mine swimming. We have free reign of my neighbor's pool as they are away a lot and what I do is take them over in the stroller and put them one at a time in a spring float. When we're done, I do the same thing, take them out one at a time and put them back in the stroller. My 3.5 yr old has his water wings and kick board and does great with those. I do the same when we go to friends' pools.
I don't know that I'd feel as comfortable going somewhere public with them by myself though? And a lake has no enclosure so I'm not sure how you would put them in one at a time?
Sorry, not very helpful!

 

I sometimes feel like I'm always bragging about Amy, but you need an Amy! She's my DH's best friend's daughter, now 13. She's been helping me since she was 10. She's very responsible and mature and loves to help me with the girls. I've taken her with us to the pool, to KinderMusik (required an adult for each toddler), wished we could have afforded to take her to Disney with us!

Do you have a neighbor or friend around 11-13?

 

This has been quite an adventure for me...my two older girls swim on our neighborhood team, and our pool is social central allllll summer long. I have been taking the boys by myself and it's hard. They are new walkers, so they aren't any help there, but I usually will keep them in the baby pool (they cruise the edge) or if I bring them in the "big pool", I just hold them both. I carry them both all the time, (yes, I have HUGE arms, now!!!) so the hardest part is getting them in and out, but I usually will either sit one on the side and hold on to him with one hand while I climb out using the stairs or just walk out holding both of them. (I always make sure to find a good spot close to the shallow end so I don't have to carry them far!!) I bought the double float for twins, but it does not work for us, as it has no back supports for them and they end up falling forward or backward due to the water. I think I may look for two of the single floats that I used when my girls were young, since that HAS to be easier than holding them both at the same time!

Anyway...hope this helps some...it can be done, it's just hard!
Nicole

 

I wouldn't do it. Then again, I'm not very brave about taking them places by myself -- but DH and I have taken them to the pool together, and even then, I feel like we have our hands full. I guess I could theoretically do it and manage to keep them both from drowning, but I don't know if it would be any fun. :huh:

 

This is an interesting topic. Our neighborhood has a pool and I've been debating about whether I will take all 3 by myself or not. If we did it would probably be go, get in the pool, and when we get out we leave. But I want my oldest to be able to go to the pool. I'm still debating on this. I'll probably decide once we all go to the pool a few times and see how easy/hard it is with DH's help and that will help make up my mind. I'd like to think I could do it. I just keep saying next summer should be easier.

 

I have a small pool in my back yard about 2 ft. and it is difficult since one loves the water and the other does not..so one will be in pool (where I would have to be) and the other will not stay inside and runs around the yard (concrete). DH said I was lazy for not bringing them out on the w/e's (he works) by myself until yesterday when he relized how difficult it is. I was right beside Evan and he reached for a toy and went over the side of the pool completely under, he got right up and wasn't scared at all but Ian was running around the yard with DH. I just cannot watch both when they want to do completely different things, I don't feel safe or in control. DH then retracted his statement last night after a day in the yard. Do what you can, try it..I'm sure moms do it and it can be done but like pp said it is difficult. GL!

 

We have a pool in our backyard and my 2nd son will be 4 on Mon. and the twins will be 2 in July, that being said I take them swimming by myself almost everyday. I treat it like swim lessons and sit the boys on the side of the pool and give each of them a turn "swimming" with mommy. My 3 yr. old took lessons at the Houston Swim Club when he was 2 1/2 and learned how to flip onto his back from his tummy. Unfortunately I have to make him flip on his back to get air. He hates to be on his back! We have a big, deep pool and he can almost swim the length of it without taking a breath (20 ft, he swims 15 ft) but he is not ready to be "let loose" while I concentrate on the little ones. The babies WILL NOT stay in those floaty things...they HATE them, so I have to take turns "swimming" them around. They both love to jump off the rocks on the side of the pool to me so we spend most of our time in the water doing that.

I CANNOT wait until they can swim and I can actually enjoy the pool!

 

QUOTE(3sweetp @ Jun 9 2007, 12:02 AM) [snapback]285238[/snapback]
I take all three of mine swimming. We have free reign of my neighbor's pool as they are away a lot and what I do is take them over in the stroller and put them one at a time in a spring float. When we're done, I do the same thing, take them out one at a time and put them back in the stroller. My 3.5 yr old has his water wings and kick board and does great with those. I do the same when we go to friends' pools.
I don't know that I'd feel as comfortable going somewhere public with them by myself though? And a lake has no enclosure so I'm not sure how you would put them in one at a time?
Sorry, not very helpful!


I have a nanny, but when she's here I am supposed to be working. I think for now I'll wait for DH to get home to take them swimming, or we'll go on the weekends.

 

I take my three swimming. Our condo complex has a pool that we can easily walk to. The kids just have to wear life jackets or I can't take it. They will at least float at the top of the water. You have to make sure that they are floating head up but it makes it possible. I'm very brave about taking the kids out on my own but would not do the pool without the vests. My boys are way to adventurous (read as trying to kill themselves.)

 

I don't hesitate to take the boys on most adventures on my own...however, I have to say that this is one I won't consider (at least not this year) for these (already perfectly stated) reasons:

QUOTE(debid @ Jun 8 2007, 10:50 PM) [snapback]285147[/snapback]
As for the floating toys... I can't get them in or out without two free hands plus they were able to climb out of them at that age so I wouldn't have been comfortable trying to use those alone.



QUOTE(Minette @ Jun 9 2007, 03:29 AM) [snapback]285534[/snapback]
DH and I have taken them to the pool together, and even then, I feel like we have our hands full. I guess I could theoretically do it and manage to keep them both from drowning, but I don't know if it would be any fun. :huh:



Kudos to you if you can manage it! I can't figure out the logistics with 2, let alone 3!

 

I haven't done it, but someone said they saw a few good float things they wear to go to the pool. There are floaty bathing suits - you could get those and feel more comfortable! :hug99:

 

Wish me luck- I'm taking my two in the baby pool in our back yard for the second time today. The first time was a screaming mess, but I'm not giving up till they like the water!

 

Yes, I have been taking the boys swimming by myself since they were infants. When they were infants I used the CG approved life vests that had neck/head support, and when they got bigger I used the swimsuits that had the flotation devices sewn in. Now they either use nothing or arm floaties depending on the situation. We took them to the water park this weekend and they wore life jackets because they went down slides that had 6 -10 feet of water at the end. I would have no issues taking them there by myself and plan to do it several times this summer. But they are 5.5 now.

 

I don't hesitate to take the boys on most adventures on my own...however, I have to say that this is one I won't consider (at least not this year)

you go that right..

dont get me wrong.. i do everything .. a park, the animalpark.. chuckey cheese.. but the thought of seeing one of my babies floating in the water just scares the daylights out of me..

that being said i go with my mom and i have plans to go with my friend who has a 6 month old..
its two sets of eyes that i fell i despereatly need when they are not around water..

we have the life jacket swim suits and boats.. ie rafts with legs.. but.. I STILL HAVE THREE IN DIAPERS.
i cant and wont risk their lives..

good luck on your decisions..


ps i also feel theres a huge difference in taking 2 in the water by ones self and taking THREE in the water or close to the water.. just my opinion and my situation..

 

I will not take my two to the pool by myself. DS loves the water and would make me a nervous wreck if I didn't have another adult with us.

 

If you use two of those boat things, how do you get them in and out of the pool? Wouldn't one be left in the water while you climb out with the other? Where would you put the one you take out first, so they don't fall back in? My oldest turned 3 last week and the twins are 15 months. I don't even want to take them all 3 with my husband's help, let alone by myself. I feel like it will be more stress than fun.