Turtle Tots Edinburgh

What it’s like

Structured swimming lessons for babies through to four-year-olds, plus aquanatal yoga for pregnant mums.

This is a proper lesson structure rather than a splash-about, starting from birth and running right up through toddlers to the 3 and 4 year olds who are often swimming short distances on their own by the time they're three and a half. Babies go in with a parent, and the Penguin lessons for two-year-olds run for 30 minutes with somewhere between 4 and 10 parent and child pairs in the water, so it's sociable without being a free-for-all.

There's no need to wait for jabs before you start, the NHS line on this is that vaccinations aren't a reason to hold off. If you're newly postnatal, the advice is to wait at least seven days after bleeding has stopped, and ideally until after your six-week check, before getting in yourself.

The kit list is specific: a well fitted neoprene Happy Nappy worn over a swim nappy is required until your child is fully toilet trained, on top of your own costume, towels and something warm and snuggly for afterwards. It's a bit more faff than turning up in trunks, but it's the same double nappy system most baby swim providers ask for.

There's also a Turtle Tums Aquanatal Yoga class for pregnant mums, which sits alongside the children's lessons if you fancy something for yourself while the bump's still on the inside.

Need to know

Best for

Birth to 4, with many swimming short distances alone by 3 and a half

• A double nappy system, neoprene Happy Nappy over a swim nappy, is compulsory until toilet training is done
• Bring your own costume, towels and something warm for your baby afterwards
• Turtle Tums Aquanatal Yoga runs alongside the children's classes for pregnant mums

Plan your visit

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