Private swim lessons vs. Baby and me

DS is 16 months, and Saf T Swim is saying he is a little old for the baby and me class. I am terrified about the private lesson. I dont think he will have fun with someone else, I think he will cry....did most of you start off in a private lesson?

Re: Private swim lessons vs. Baby and me

We started with private lessons at 7 months old and DD did great. Now at 2 she LOVES her instructor and loves swimming.

IMO, the key is to get an instructor that you and DS are comfortable with. Which location are you going to? I may be able to clue you in on which instructors are good.

Re: Private swim lessons vs. Baby and me

Im deciding between Deer Park and Commack.

For some reason, I am thinking DS is going to have a really hard time with the idea of getting in the pool, and with someone he doesnt know. I thought it would be better if we did it together first, but some disagree.

Any input on instructors would be great.

Re: Private swim lessons vs. Baby and me

DS started with private lessons. I wanted him to learn how to swim and be comfortable in the water with someone other than me.
He cried in the beginning and all the other Moms in the viewing room helped me get through it!! They reassured me that they all cry in the beginning. DS can be very clingy to me sometimes but he adjusted.
Now we have been going a year and he is doing great - loves it. He just changed instructors and is still doing good.

Re: Private swim lessons vs. Baby and me

Re: Private swim lessons vs. Baby and me

DS and I do baby and me at Commack. I don't think 16 months is too old at all! There were several "older" babies there. I find Safe T swim to be all about the money and IMO they only told you to do individual lessons b/c it's more expensive. DS was only 3 months old when I called to inquire about classes and I ended up doing baby and me b/c they never told me individual lessons were free since he was under 6 months. I found out they were free from another mom and he does individual lessons now also.

Re: Private swim lessons vs. Baby and me

We started with mommy and me and I actually think although DS would have cried no matter who took him in the water he probably would have gotten over it faster with someone else taking him in. Now I think he is worse off because he is used to me going in-which to be honest I personally hated! Trying to juggle a wet baby and myself in the changing rooms after the lesson-disaster! Go for private lessons

Re: Private swim lessons vs. Baby and me

I also felt that baby and me would be more like play time so we opted for the private lessons.

Re: Private swim lessons vs. Baby and me

Give the private lessons a try you may be surprised.

As a former instructor I can say that I had kids who actually were MORE comfortable with me as an instructor than they were with their parents. And in alot of cases you will see the progress more because as parents (I am guilty of this with my own DS even though I taught for 5+ years) we are more hesitant to do certain things with our kids because we don't want to upset them, make them cry, scare them etc.

Either way if you do try the private lessons commit to them because if might take a few times of clinging to the teacher before he relaxes and really "participates"

Either way kids have fun in the water once they are comfortable, honestly my DS has just as much fun with me as he does with anyone else. He just loves being in the water!

Re: Private swim lessons vs. Baby and me

I started with Baby and me at 12 months. I figured if she liked that we can work toward private lessons, it's only 6 weeks and why incur the cost of privates if it wasn't something she enjoyed. The instructors get involved enough for her to feel comfortable with them. There are a few "older" babies in our Saf-T-Swim class.

ETA: while I do notice some parents in the class use it as "play time" (which can I just say can be annoying) there are some of us who take it seriously enough and work with our kids in the pool. I ask the instructors for help all the time, they work with her on things I can't do. It gives her enough of a balance between me and the instructors.

Message edited 6/18/2009 11:55:39 PM.

Re: Private swim lessons vs. Baby and me

My DS turned two in April and we started Saf-T-Swim in May. We went for the private lessons. He cried the entire first lesson with brief moments of not crying. The second lession he cried before and when the instructor took him from me and by the time I got to the viewing room he has stopped crying and did great. We have his last lesson of his first session this Sunday, and I signed him up for 5 more sessions!