First post lockdown swimming lesson with Water Babies

7th October 2020 1 By Rachael Stray

We had our first long-awaited post lockdown swimming lesson with Water Babies and it was absolutely brilliant to be back in the pool at last!

Our last swimming lesson was way back on 15 March so it had been a long six months since we’d been in the pool.

Elsie started swimming lessons with Water Babies at just seven weeks old and it’s been something we’ve enjoyed doing as a family.

Before lockdown Elsie had been working through the water wobbles which we were being really well supported with in and out of the pool from the Water Babies team, most children go through the water wobbles at one stage or another.

With such a long break from swimming, worries about the water wobbles and of course covid coupled with our lessons moving to a totally different venue, I was a little nervous for our first post-lockdown lesson.

Our usual school pool venue wasn’t back open so we were offered a different venue a little further away which we accepted.

Water Babies sent us lots of useful information via email explaining the covid safety measures they have put in place, what to expect and how we as parents can play a part to keep everyone safe.

As instructed we turned up shortly before our lesson was due and followed the signage which explained there was a one way system in place.

We were let into the building via the fire exit by a lifeguard who explained that each parent is given a designated changing area by number and that corresponds to where you will get changed in the proper changing room after the lesson.

Changing signage

Before the lesson you get changed by the pool (parents to be wearing swimwear underneath their clothes) so it’s just a case of popping your clothes into your bag and getting baby ready.

This is so the changing rooms are ready for the people who have just finished their lesson and can be cleaned before your lesson finishes so it’s ready for you.

Elsie ready for her lesson

The chairs and poolside area are then cleaned down when you’re in the pool ready for the next set of parents to use and so on.

Numbers have been reduced from a maximum of 10 to six and swimming instructors are on the side of the pool wearing special visors rather than in the pool with you.

Only one parent or carer is allowed in the building and you’re only allowed to bring one bag with you.

There’s also lots of hand sanitiser available and lots of distance inbetween the changing areas.

Hand sanitiser

Once Elsie was all ready in her Water Babies double happy nappy and disposable swim nappy and I was stripped off down to my swimming costume, we made our way into the pool.

Like before, the pool is nice and warm perfect for babies.

This pool is larger than the one we used to have lessons in and a little deeper which is better for the parents legs!

Our swimming instructor Jo explained that we’ve been grouped together more by age and ability now and that the lessons had been specially adapted to bring us back up to where we needed to be after such a long absence and that the chapters would be changing format a little.

The thirty minute lesson just flew by and Elsie was absolutely loving every single second in the pool, squealing with delight and a huge smile on her face the entire time.

She loved hearing us sing her favourite songs from lessons like bounce bounce and ending with twinkle twinkle.

Jo was pleased to see that Elsie seems to have gotten over her fear of Bubba and enjoyed surfing on the board and she even did an underwater swim with no problems.

Elsie was kicking her legs really well and thoroughly enjoyed the lesson.

And we’re hopeful that she’s over the water wobbles.

Once our lesson had sadly come to an end we made our way to our designated changing area, once we were dried and dressed we exited through the main entrance.

I was really impressed with all of the safety measures that have been put in place, Water Babies has kept us well informed throughout lockdown and ahead of our return to the pool so we felt confident and safe.

We’ve had a few lessons now, Steve and I taking turns each week to go and Elsie is absolutely loving being back in the pool.