We have a pool at home. Before my younger son was born, we would spend hours on end out there on the weekends (sunscreened and hydrated of course), my husband and our older son (now 4) and I. It was a fun, healthy way to spend time together and we loved it. My younger one was born toward the end of last summer so by the time the postpartum period passed we were done with the pool for the year anyway, but had been looking forward to it again this summer. The baby LOVES water, he could stay in the bathtub forever splashing around, playing with toys. So when at first he didn't like the pool, i figured when the water warmed up more he would. Now its nice and warm and he still doesn't like it. We keep trying it, but inevitably one of us gets out after like 15 min to be with him inside. So I'm just wondering if anyone has tried anything (certain kinds of floating devices, certain toys) that make the pool fun for a kiddo this age. We have one of those things where he sits in the middle and it holds him securely with some mesh part to hold some toys and then an inflated tube around the outside, with a shade built in. He doesn't seem to like that. He gets bored even with toys and water to splash. So then we try to just holding him, same result. So, just curious, anyone found anything amazing that might keep him happy in there? Thanks for any ideas!
It may be more that the pool is intimidateing to him. I brought my son into a pool very young too and when we did that I put him in my HotSling for water play.
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I think it made him feel safter. Otherwise I will suggest you set up the play pen under an outdoor tent and allow the family outdoor fun the baby in the play pen with toys and the rest of the family in the pool.
Maybe since he loves the tub, try setting up a little inflatable pool near the big pool and let him splash around and play while big brother plays in the big pool. He will feel safe and still be a part of the family water time. Eventually he will want to join the fun.
I would just get a little inflatable kiddie pool with some toys and let him get used to that first - maybe he just finds the big pool too overwhelming. I also wonder if something like a wind-up toy that moves through the water he might enjoy, or the squishy balls that he can soak in the water and then squeeze the water out.
Not unusual. The sight of all of that water may be too overwhelming. Look a pool products for young children and see if you can find something that looks more contained.
When you get into the pool, make sure he is facing you while you hold hom. Also make sure no one is splashing him.
I see this every summer at the baby pool. Screaming clinging babies.
I would just say keep trying to put him in a little at a time. The bathtub is a lot smaller than a pool so the size might scare him. My daughter is 6 almost 7, she loves taking baths but for the past couple years she has been very afraid of pools. If she can't touch she won't get in. Even when we go to pools where its zero depth and she can walk in it takes her a few minutes for her to get in and I let her go at her own pace and not force her.
Some kids go through stages where they are afraid of the bathtub even and maybe the large size is scaring him but I would not force it and see what next year brings. Maybe he'll love it then.
We have a large in ground pool as well and both of my kids were very scare or nervous around the pool until they were about 3. It really isn't just like a large bathtub. We ended up getting a 1-2 floatie for parent and child. It has a seated floatie for the baby and a open-ended ring for mom or dad so you could put toys in between mom and day so baby could play but baby faced mom and dad all the time and felt closer. It is hard to keep them entertained in the pool at that age because in a bathtub they can easily reach all of their toys and to tell you the truth with my young ones it wasn't until they were a little older that we were in the pool for more than 20 minute stretches. Consider Mommy and Me swim classes for little ones.
My husband and I did a lot of swimming during their naptimes or night time at that age.
Each child is different so while your older son just took to it your younger son is obviously intimidated or frightened of the pool or all the water it holds. The size alone may upset him, It's a huge difference between a tub in an enclosed area (bathroom) and a pool in the open. He may love water, but to him the pool is too much.
Keep taking him in as you have been and when he's done place him in his pack n play with his fave toys, where he can see the rest of you and you know he's safe. It will just take patience on your part and accepting how he feels until he grows to love the pool like the rest of you do, there's no way to keep him happy in the water if he isn't.
The pool is a whole lot bigger than the tub, and his bottom sits in the tub. Your pool is probably scary to him and he doesn't feel any freedom in it.
In order to train him to be a little fish, you have to keep taking him in it. It's okay that he won't last, but do it for a while, take him in, take him back out, take him in. Crimps your style, but it is what it is.
In a year and a half or so, I'd get him swim lessons at the Y so that he learns how to move around in the pool. It also gets him in a pool regularly "off-season" so that you don't spend the whole summer getting him used to the pool yet again.
Dawn
My son didn't care for the float either. I tried a few different float swim suits and the best one is My Pool Pal. They have the one block that sits at their chest level and holds their head up better. They are sized by weight, but if you are close to the next size, go for the smaller size. They tend to grow when they get wet. You can only find them online so hurry and order one and enjoy the rest of this summer!
My kids hated the floaty thing where they sat in the middle. I don't think they felt "in control". They did like to wear a life jacket and swim around on their own.
It's a phase. My son liked our pool the first and second year. The third year he was terrified. The fourth he loves it again. Keep bringing the baby back in (make sure it's nice and warm) and respect him when he fusses and wants to get out. He will eventually like it on his own time.
