What to Wear to Swim Lessons
Wetsuits
As I often say when my swimmers ask if the water is cold: “well, it’s not a warm bath.” With younger swimmers, particularly three and under, cooler water temperatures are an added challenge to what may already be a nerve-wracking experience. For these children who are only just getting comfortable in the water and can’t swim laps to bring up their internal temperature, we recommend a wetsuit.
However, as soon as your swimmer advances and begins to really swim, a wetsuit will only get in their way. Kids grow fast, which means even the perfect fit will soon be too tight, and the thick, unyielding fabric will limit their mobility. It’s hard to do big arm circles or get your shoulders up by your ears in backstroke when a heavy wetsuit is cutting your circulation at the armpit!
If your swimmer is shivering themselves right off the island and a warm wetsuit is non-negotiable, make sure to size up so that the sleeves are nice and loose.
Rashguards
Rashguards are another great option for keeping kids warm in the pool, especially during back float or back stroke, so their bare bellies aren’t exposed to the cooler air. However, the fit of the rashguard is key. Because rashguards have thin, flexible fabric, there is no need to size up. When a rashguard is too big and loose, it creates drag, which slows your swimmer down.
What happens most often is that the sleeves are too long and they cover your swimmer’s hands, or even dangle a few inches past their fingertips. When this happens, your swimmer can’t put their hands in the correct position – their fingers are curled around the fabric instead. They learn to throw their arms around, not to pull the water effectively. Over time, your swimmer will develop ineffective swimming habits to compensate for their floppy sleeves, and these may be challenging to unlearn.
One Piece Suits
If your swimmer is old enough to have opinions about fashion, they may gravitate towards the “cutest” suits and not the most practical ones. A bikini, tankini, halter top or one-sleeve fit is perfect for a beach trip or a day at the family pool. In a swim lesson, a slipping suit or unraveling knot is an unnecessary distraction. Choosing a flexible one-piece swimsuit means no time is wasted on pulling bathing suit bottoms up or bathing suit tops down, and your swimmer won’t experience a sudden chill from the circulating air every time they flip onto their back.
Wearing a well-fitted suit is even more important when your swimmer advances to upper levels or the swim team and they are swimming longer distances at a faster pace. No one wants their suit to slip off after nailing their starting dive! Look for one-piece training suits from brands like TYR or Speedo.
Trunks or Shorts
When it comes to swimming trunks, all that matters is the fit. Your swimmer should be able to tighten and secure their shorts so that they stay in place after a strong push off of the wall.
For swim team or upper level classes, you might consider purchasing jammers, tight-fitted training shorts that limit drag.
A Note about Swim Caps
There is a common misconception that swim caps keep your swimmer’s hair dry or prevent damage from the chlorinated water. While some brands – like Hairbrella – are designed for this, a basic swim cap is not waterproof. The purpose of a swim cap is to keep your swimmer’s hair out of their face when they are swimming. If your swimmer has short hair, a swim cap is really not necessary.
Swim caps are also difficult to put on and prone to slipping off, which usually makes them more distracting than helpful in a swim lesson. If your swimmer has long hair, we recommend putting it in braids or in a tight bun. As a bonus, a bun or braided ponytail in the middle of the back of the head is very useful for balancing goggle straps, so those don’t slip down your swimmer’s head!