My daughter’s first visit to the pool only required her swim diaper and bathing suit because I knew that we would only stay for thirty minutes or so. Applying sunscreen and blowing up her boat like water floaty seemed like too much for our first time out. Knowing that she loves being in the water at bath time, gave me hope that she would also enjoy being in the water at the pool.
Only her brother and I accompanied her to the pool during Memorial day weekend for her first pool experience. She wore her long sleeved and hooded bathing suit. At first we just walked around in the water without getting her wet. She seemed to enjoy the sun reflecting in the water and the interesting shapes and shadows made by our and other pool goers movement in the water. With no signs of distress coming from my daughter, we took the next step: getting her wet. I lowered her into the water so that her feet would be submerged. She started to cry! Although the water was warm for pool water, it was cooler than her bath water and she was shocked and scared by the difference. I pulled her feet out of the water immediately and gave her a hug and continued to hold her tightly. We walked around a little more and she again enjoyed just looking at all the movement in the water. A few minutes later I made a second attempt at getting her wet. This time my son and I sat down in the shallow water. WIth my daughter on my lap facing me, I slowly let her toes get wet. She kind of fussed, but I was able to soothe her a few words and some encouraging smiles. Once it was clear that she had gotten used to having her toes in the water, I let her get her legs wet while she was still perched on my lap. After a few minutes she had adjusted to the temperature of the water and seemed to be enjoying her first time at the pool!