Newborn Baby Trials

4 - 9 weeks

A gentle introduction for your newborn to the pool

The Newborn Trial class is about enjoying your very first swim with your baby. Our experienced instructors will ensure to make it safe and comfortable for both you and your baby. You will learn how to hold and support your baby in the water and enjoy the bonding experience of skin on skin in the warm water of our private pool. These trials help to give you an idea of what a full term of swim classes at First Swim would be like.

What's included

We’ll provide a free disposable swim nappy and a rental neoprene nappy – both are requirements for swimming in our pool. We have a limit of 6 babies/parents to 1 teacher in the pool at any one time. Our private pool is purpose-built and kept at 33 °C, so both you and your baby will be toasty warm! The changing rooms have individual cubicles with change units in each one. There are cots in the open changing area for those hands-free moments as needed.

What you need to bring

  • Adult swim costume

  • Adult swim cap

  • Towels (for baby/toddler and adult)

  • Changing mat or extra towel for the change unit

  • Shower supplies

  • Padlock for lockers

  • Bag for wet swimwear

Newborn Baby Trials FAQ’s

My baby was premature, can I bring them to the Newborn Trial class?

If your baby was born prematurely, we would recommend you check with your GP before bringing them swimming.

Yes, the pool at First Swim is kept at 33 degrees celcius which is 3-4 degrees higher than your average gym or hotel pool. This is great news for newborns who can’t regulate their body temperature yet. The changing rooms are als kept nice and warm so that you can change your little one with the least discomfort after the class.
It is generally recommended that you wait for 6 weeks before getting into a pool or swimming after a c-section. Your doctor or surgeon will have provided you with specific guidelines for your recovery, which may include restrictions on swimming, bathing, and other activities so best to check with them first before getting into the water.
Our wonderful instructors will show you a number of different holds in the water whilst ensuring to support your baby’s head at all times.
What age can my baby go swimming?

It’s never too early to start swimming and although babies can go in the water from birth, we start our classes for babies from 10 weeks old when they are a little more aware of the world around them.

Our swimming classes welcome babies both before and after they have been vaccinated. Some parents prefer to wait for their baby to be immunised before they go swimming but it isn’t a health requirement. We’ve worked with lots of babies in the pool who’ve not yet been vaccinated. We encourage parents to follow the advice you’re most comfortable with keeping your child in mind. Please discuss any concerns you may have with your GP.

Our 33oC pool has a state of the art UV filtration system which significantly reduces the need for harmful chemicals, which is great news for babies, and our water pump exchange replaces the entire volume of our pool every six hours. We digitally monitor everything from chemicals, pH, alkalinity and calcium hardness to ensure that you and your little ones are in the safest and cleanest possible environment.

Our entire centre has been designed with you and your child’s needs in mind. There are individual changing cubicles with a changing table in each one. Our wet room areas all have the highest grade non-slip surfaces for safety and there are plenty of lockers to safely store your belongings. There are also highchairs and cots in the changing area if you need a few handsfree moments for yourself.

Not at all. The water depth in our pool is only 1.2m (just under 4ft) so all you need to do is stand with your child during the sessions. We have worked with many parents who cannot swim. Just let us know at the front desk and our instructors will make sure it’s not an issue. 

What our customers say

Yvonne Butler

We love our swimming lessons in First Swim. Didier is our teacher and he’s brilliant. The pace of the class is great, he differentiates as needed to meet the needs of all the children in the class…

We love our swimming lessons in First Swim. Didier is our teacher and he’s brilliant. The pace of the class is great, he differentiates as needed to meet the needs of all the children in the class, the lessons are well paced, clear instructions and lots of fun. We’ve met Katie, Chloe and Grace in the pool other days and they were all fantastic too. The facilities for changing are ideal from individual cubicles with plenty of room and a wall hung changing table in all, to the travel cot in the middle, hair dryers, child friendly low music and everything in between. I’m delighted we found First Swim. We started when my son was 3 years and it’s been fantastic for his age as well as for babies. Thanks so much

Helena M. S.

We’ve been taking our 4-month-old to First Swim classes and it’s been such a lovely experience. The facilities are spotless and perfectly set up for babies, with warm water, comfortable changing areas

We’ve been taking our 4-month-old to First Swim classes and it’s been such a lovely experience. The facilities are spotless and perfectly set up for babies, with warm water, comfortable changing areas, and everything you need right on hand. The instructors are fantastic. Each class is calm, fun, and really helps build our baby’s confidence in the water. I’ve noticed such a difference already in just a few weeks! Also, she has the best naps afterwards!

Alex Meade Wilson

We’ve been with First Swim in Sandyford since the very beginning, when our first son, started learning to swim shortly after they launched. Now, over three years later, his younger brother is there too…

We’ve been with First Swim in Sandyford since the very beginning, when our first son, started learning to swim shortly after they launched. Now, over three years later, his younger brother is there too, and absolutely flying it! From day one, it’s been clear that the owners and founders, have created something genuinely special. The place is modern, pristinely clean, and designed with such care and thought for families. Everything from the layout to the facilities makes the experience so comfortable and enjoyable, not just for the kids, but for parents too. The instructors and staff are incredible, professional, kind, patient, and full of enthusiasm. The education and confidence our boys have gained in the water are amazing to see. It’s also been a lovely social hub, especially for new parents with little ones from newborn to four years old. We’ll be genuinely sad when our boys age out of the program, but we couldn’t recommend FirstSwim highly enough. It’s been such a positive and memorable part of our family’s journey.

Review 4

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Review 5

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Review 6

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