We registered for a regular class starting in a couple weeks. Between now and then, I might have to take the baby swimming at a community pool, provided this measles thing blows over and I get comfortable taking her indoors in public again.
Because I love a natatorium and it turns out swimming with my baby is just entirely too fun. I like to be warm in a humid environment. Bath house, Bikram yoga class, indoor swimming, summer in Kentucky...
Because I'm a crazy person, I wrote myself notes (in the form of an email to my husband) about how everyone else behaved, moreso than how swim lessons actually went.
It's important to observe the local customs. Also, they tell you how to behave and what to do during class. No one tells you what is considered "normal" behavior before and after class.
1) bring only the barest essentials
- baby, diaper, towel, own swim stuff, clean diaper. Not the whole diaper bag.
2) the change room is ringed in changing tables + there's a play yard. Also a play yard on the deck.
3) no one wears shoes on the pool deck. It is okay to bring the bag out there.
4) the lesson was a welcome song, then a song where we passed the babies to the instructor and she stuck their faces in the water, then some "jumping" off the side, floating in a pool noodle on front and back under a tunnel, tummy and back on a big piece of foam as a group, a trip down a slide, some free time and a goodbye song.
5) then everyone goes directly to the showers and rinses off. The showers are clothes-on, on the pool deck. No rinse before swimming.
6) then change and go home. All babies in hooded towels, on changing station with hoods on.
We were one of two lessons in the "small pool". I didn't see the rest of the place.
Three moms, one dad, but one mom said dad usually goes. Ours was the youngest but not smallest baby.