For those of you who have/had your kiddos in swimming as a toddler, I've got a question for you! Last summer, we took Natalie swimming for the first time in a big pool at a friend's house. It was VERY chlorinated...it burned our adult eyes when we went underwater and you could really smell it. Natalie wasn't in but 15min. when her eyes really started itching, watering, and getting red all around. She never went under and she was splashed very little (she was in one of those wide baby ring things). Her eyes were red for a few hours afterward. She was in a total of MAYBE 45 min., but probably less.

There are 2 swim class options here, one outdoor and one indoor. The indoor is the YMCA and as soon as you walk into the pool area you are SUFFOCATED by the humidity and the smell of chlorine. I would really like to do swimming with Natalie this summer, but the chlorine seemed to bother her last year. I'm not really sure about the outdoor place because I haven't been to the pool there before. (It's a fitness center.)

What do you think? Do you think it would help if I gave her some Benadryl before class or should we just forget the swim classes?

Also, the Y offers once a week for 6 weeks, and the fitness center is 3x a week for 2 weeks. Any thoughts on that?
TIA as always, for all of your great suggestions/ideas!

By Tripletmom on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 06:33 pm:

I wouldn't recommend Benadryl for her.If she loves to swim can you try finding a little pair of goggles for her.I think the once a week for 6 weeks would be great,she'll have something to look forward too longer.My DD just loves the water and likes to go indoor swimming at least once a week.My DD loves to still wear the goggles because the chlorine has always irritated her eyes.

By Reds9298 on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 08:36 pm:

I never even thought about the goggles at her age!! It just never crossed my mind. That sounds like a good idea. DH and I decided that we wouldn't like doing it as a "camp", so we're going with the Y and once a week. I will definitely try the goggles.Thanks a lot because I would have never thought of that!!!

By Tripletmom on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 08:53 pm:

No problem!!! The chlorine has always bothered my DD eyes.The once a week swim is alot of fun.My DH takes her 1 night a week for there together night.My DD now wears the mask goggle.We throw plastic pucks to the bottom of the pool and she loves to swim down and get them.They can play with pool noodles too.Did you think about getting Natalie pool shoes?I think that's where Katie got her planters wart from.My doctor told me she should wear them in public places for now on.You can get them at Wal-mart very cheap.I usually get a couple pair at a time.Have fun swimming

By Conni on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 09:53 am:

When Blake was a baby I took him to a swim class at our fitness ctr. It was not only pretty chlorinated, but it was CROWDED!!! We hated it. I never thought about the goggles at that age either. lol He does wear them now tho. We found a lady that does private lessons at her home and she uses the Baquacil products that we use in our pool that doesnt bleach your suit or irritate your eyes, etc... She has a very nice inground pool and we just have an above ground pool. Blake is so much happier doing the private lessons. He learns so much more so much more quickly. He was doing flips off her diving board last yr by the end of the 3 weeks. LOL I was not happy- he has no fear tho. Just like the rest of my boys. ugh

I dont know if your class is private, small, or crowded. But did want to point out our experiences. We do the outdoor lesson in the morning before it gets really hot.

Have fun!! We love to swim.

By Debbie on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 11:04 am:

Yes, try googles. I used/still use googles for my youngest ds. His eyes are very sensitive to chlorine. He was 2 when he first started swim lessons, and he wasn't bothered by the googles at all.

By Andi on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 11:40 pm:

I think the goggles are a great idea. Taylor wears them around the house but not in the pool. The pool at our YMCA is like Salt Water...I forget what it's called. It's not chlorine, I love it!!!

Taylor and Dylan are in private swim lessons 2 times a week. I'm not a huge fan of group lessons, I feel like the kids spend 20 minutes out of the 30 minute lesson sitting on the stairs on hanging onto the edge of the pool. With private lessons the get one on one instruction for a solid 30 minutes and they learn so much more.

By Reds9298 on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 02:15 pm:

The private lessons sound great, but I don't know of/haven't heard of anything like that around here. Sounds like it would be great though.

This is a deal where it's a Mommy&Me thing...I have to be in the pool with her at all times, so I think we're constantly busy. Now once we're out of that, I'm not sure what it's like.

The goggles sound like a good idea. Classes start next month, so I still need to get her a swimsuit and some goggles before we start!

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 06:49 pm:

I have no idea if there are private swimming lessons around here!