Has anyone any tips on taking 3 kids swimming on your own?

Question

they are aged 6, 4 and 1 year old, they really want to go to pool as we havent went in ages i usually only go if my husband comes with me but he cant with work and its too late for the baby to go in the evenings, am i mad to try it alone or has anyone any tilps that could make it easier im a bit worried about getting showered after and trying to get us all dressed and watch the one year old, the more i think about it maybe its a bad idea what do you think?

Answer 1

cant you ask a friend to go with you to help? i would be more worried about keeping an eye on them all in the pool.

Answer 2

If you are taking them to the children's pool then you should be fine.  A suggestion for showering and dressing with the little one.  Take an umbrella stroller and get her dressed first and then let her sit in it and just put your clothes on.  You can shower and fix up after you get home.  The other two are also old enough to know to stay with you.  I tackle swimming just about every day with my 10,9, 6 and 10 month old.  It's my own pool but I still have your dilemma when we all get out.  I have done public pool and used the umbrella stroller and it worked great.  Hope this helped.

Answer 3

I agree with momof4 and POOH.  They've got great answers.

I agree with them that safety tips depends on the facility, pool rules and your children's skill level.

I have three kids, too.  Other than what they mentioned about safety in the pool, one tip of mine is to minimize the time to change and shower, since this is the most chaotic time and the source of stress for me.  I let them wear the swimsuits and apply sunscreen before putting on the normal clothes. Each of them has a backpack with bath towel, goggles, etc.  Once we go to the pool, I stay with my 1 year old. My older two go to shower on their own while I'm nearby and come out to the pool with me.

After swimming, we all wrap ourselves with the huge bath towels, put on something(t-shirt,etc) and head straight to the car. We all shower at home since it's hectic in the public shower room.  Besides, if we shower there, it's very possible that we have to head back to pick up something one of us forgot.

Ah...summer is never a vacation for moms!!

Answer 4

you need to find out the rules when swimming at your local pool as at mine each child under five has to be accomanied by an adult and so you would need to take another adult for health and safty reasons!!!!

Answer 5

get a friend to go with you, you cant do it on your own, dangerous!

Answer 6

dont do it! i took a friend when i took my 3 and still found it hard too dangerous just wait until you have help, take them the park instead

Answer 7

I wouldn't do it. If they were all 6 or over and good swimmers I might...but 1 is a baby still and you'll be holding him most of the time...what if the 4 year ols fell or something? Or if one of them went out of sight....it is too risky in my opinion.

Answer 8

The pool I go to has strict restrictions on parent to child ratios. Children under 3 have to have 1 adult per child and children 3 and over can be 2 to 1. You should check the pools policies as you wouldnt want to be disappointed when you get there. Personally I think its a bit of a hassle and would go with a friend or give it a miss til your husband can go. Why not go to a softplay or something instead?

Answer 9

go and get wet ..they are only little once

Answer 10

at our local pool you can only take one child under 5 in at a time, on your own, so they may not let you.

Answer 11

I have lots of experience in being stressed out about this question.  :-)

Can they easily stand up everywhere in the pool (not just on tiptoes)? If so, I'd go but keep your hands on the 1 year old at all times and your eyes on the other two.  Make sure the older two know there's an absolute rule that if they're getting into or out of the pool they have to tell you first.  If they break it, leave the pool immediately.

If they can't all stand up, unless the older two can both swim and at least one of them can swim really well, I wouldn't go (and if both can swim and one can swim well, put a bubble or life jacket on the other one just to be safe).

(Another option is to put at least one of the kids in a swim class so they're being watched by the teacher while you watch the others).

Answer 12

I take my 3 kids to the beach on my own but i've never done the pool. I think maybe it will be hard as u have a 1 year old. Maybe take a friend (who doesnt have kids) for a bit of help with your youngest child. Then again, you'll never know. You cld always try it once on yr own and maybe yr 2 older kids are old enough to dry and dress themselves leaving you to sort out yrself and the 1 year old.