When we found out that we were pregnant with our baby girl, my husband and I had just made an offer on our new house, where we knew the backyard was screaming for a swimming pool. This was a surprise for us because we had tried to get pregnant for over 8 years. We had gone to specialists and were diagnosed with infertility for unknown reasons. We moved to a different state and had not found a fertility doctor to work with in our new state, and we were getting close to deciding that we would just be the best aunts and uncles in the world, rather than parents.
Now that we were pregnant, we knew the house would still be the perfect place to start our new family, but we questioned if we should still build a pool. It was a large expense, and it would be a hazard for a new child. Would we even have time to enjoy the pool with a new baby? It was always a dream of my husband's to have a pool, so we decided we would move forward with it and make sure that we had all the child proofing paraphernalia. I benefited from this decision, because during my third trimester, we heated the pool, and it was the best exercise for my growing belly and sore back.
We started looking into swim classes, but the local places do not start until 6 months old. As we researched how to teach baby on our own, the first step is comfort with water.
On the 1 month anniversary of her birth, we were able to introduce her to the swimming pool, heated to 89 degrees to make sure she was comfortable. With dad holding her head and shoulders above the water, her face immediately smiled upon entering the water and her little legs started kicking. It was love at first swim. Since the water was so warm, it may have reminded her of the 9 months she spent in the womb. Seeing the way her legs kicked in the water made me better understand what she was doing to my kidneys when in utero.
We had a few more opportunities to get her into the pool, and she seemed to really enjoy it. It was a little stressful for me because I always felt like I was going to get her ears in the water accidentally and I couldn't see her face easily while holding her to see if she having fun.
As I started researching infant water floatation options, the Otterroo appeared top of my list. The contraption which attaches around the neck looks very awkward and uncomfortable. The images from other parents showed happy babies enjoying their bathtime and swimtime.
After a few weeks of researching, I ordered the Otteroo and believe it was one of our best pool purchases so far. Baby loves the freedom that the float provides her. Sometimes she kicks and waves her arms with full energy and big smiles on her face and other times she kicks her feet up and relaxes while smiling at the world around her.
It has opened a whole new world of experiences for her and she is absolutely comfortable with the water. She still only enjoys swimming for about 15 minutes, but I think that is because she gets tired. As her sleep and wake cycles continue to expand, she will be swimming more and by next summer she'll probably be asking to go in every day!
Now that we were pregnant, we knew the house would still be the perfect place to start our new family, but we questioned if we should still build a pool. It was a large expense, and it would be a hazard for a new child. Would we even have time to enjoy the pool with a new baby? It was always a dream of my husband's to have a pool, so we decided we would move forward with it and make sure that we had all the child proofing paraphernalia. I benefited from this decision, because during my third trimester, we heated the pool, and it was the best exercise for my growing belly and sore back.  |
| Preparing for Baby's First Swim |
We started looking into swim classes, but the local places do not start until 6 months old. As we researched how to teach baby on our own, the first step is comfort with water.
At her 1st month appointment we asked the doctor when we could get her in the water, and she said as long as the water was warm and we had shade, we could let her in anytime. Probably short periods of time, 10 to 15 minutes to start.
We stopped at Target on our way home and bought the smallest swim diapers that we could. Luckily she is a chunky monkey and we found a reusable one that would fit.
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| Baby's First Swim |
We had a few more opportunities to get her into the pool, and she seemed to really enjoy it. It was a little stressful for me because I always felt like I was going to get her ears in the water accidentally and I couldn't see her face easily while holding her to see if she having fun.
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| Otterroo Baby for Life! |
After a few weeks of researching, I ordered the Otteroo and believe it was one of our best pool purchases so far. Baby loves the freedom that the float provides her. Sometimes she kicks and waves her arms with full energy and big smiles on her face and other times she kicks her feet up and relaxes while smiling at the world around her.
It has opened a whole new world of experiences for her and she is absolutely comfortable with the water. She still only enjoys swimming for about 15 minutes, but I think that is because she gets tired. As her sleep and wake cycles continue to expand, she will be swimming more and by next summer she'll probably be asking to go in every day!
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