Bathers

I was walking through Target yesterday and they already have their swim suits out for the summer.  So I thought it would be a good idea to remind people how to size a swim suit as well as appropriate swim attire or "bathers" as my Aussie girlfriend likes to call them.

One of my pet peeves is seeing little girls with swim suits hanging off their bodies.  The fabric bunches down at the bottom.  1st thing to remember when buying a swim suit for girls is BUY IT TIGHT FITTING!  Please don't buy a swim suit thinking they will "grow into it".  If anything the lycra in a suit will stretch and break down over time.  When trying on a swim suit for your daughter, check her shoulder straps at the top.  You should be able to fit only about 2 fingers in at the top.  Tight is good!  The suit will stretch and lose elasticity through wear.

A bonus with a tight fitting swim suit is that it will last longer.  The fabric is being pulled tight and this strengthens the lycra from chlorine breakdown.  Also, do not wash your swim suit in the washing machine.  That will break down the suit much faster and waste your money.  I don't even rinse mine, I just hang to dry.

I also think it is appropriate for young girls to wear 1 piece swim suits.  Not only is it the most practical but it is appropriately modest for their age. Little girls don't have the body parts for holding down a bikini or even a tankini for that matter.  If they jump in the pool, their suit will roll right up past their breasts.  At LPB we strongly feel that tight fitting 1 piece suits are good for learning to swim.  I personally feel that they are also optimal for romp and play at the lake and pool as well.

What about those swim shirts that so many swim suits come with now?  At swim lessons, our pool is indoors.  There is no sun, the pool is 90 degrees.  There is no need for a swim shirt.  These shirts act as drag and can weigh down a swimmer.  When we were training at an elite level, we would sometimes use additional suits or even cut off tights to act as drag to make us work harder.  I don't think young children need to work so hard in a pool learning to swim.  Swim shirts come in handy of course when out in the sun.  But keep in mind, they weigh a child down!  Luckily for me, me kids are olive complexioned and I lather them with sunscreen every hour.  But I can understand fair skinned children needing extra sun protection.  Just be aware and mindful of the extra fabric when swimming.

Boys suits (swim trunks) also can be a burden when netting or pockets fill up with water.  My boys swim in "jammers" which are similar to bike shorts.  Tight fitting but more coverage than a typical speedo.  These can be bought at most sporting good stores or online.

I hope this helps for your kid's swim suit decisions for the summer.  If you have any questions, shoot me an email and I will try to help you as best I can.  I just bought my kids some speedo suits for the summer.  The fabric that Speedo calls "Endurance" has polyester in it and lasts much longer!

WHY CHLORINE?

Many parents are concerned about the use of chlorine in our pools and whether it is safe for their infants to be swimming in a pool with chlorine.  All I can say is thank God for chlorine!  I have asked my husband, the facilities manager of all 3 LPB locations (4 pools) to weigh in and help explain why we must use chlorine and why you will be happy to know that we do!

Chlorine in swimming pools!

Hi there swimmers and families!  This is Ugur Taner, Facilities Director at La Petite Baleen Swim Schools.  Today I want to share with you some information regarding chlorine in our pools and the importance of safety as our number one priority.  

I’m very proud of our family business and the fact that we take safety very seriously.  The California Code of Regulations requires a minimum free chlorine residual of 1.0 parts per million (ppm) and recommends no more than 10 ppm to be present in pool water.  This means that, by law, every swimming pool in California is required to use chlorine in the pool water as the primary sanitizer and disinfectant.  Chlorine is our first line of defense against any recreational water illnesses.  In order to minimize the amount of chlorine in our pool water without compromising safety and health, we use Ultra Violet light as a secondary source of sanitization and disinfection.  100% of our pool water passes through our Ultra Violet machine, which destroys all living micro-organisms (viruses, bacteria, parasites).  The result is extremely clean and safe pool water.  Because the UV machine purifies the water so well, we don’t need to use as much chlorine for sanitation and disinfection!  

What’s the deal with Saline pools?  You may have heard that some pool owners have chosen to treat their pools with salt.  What’s important to remember here is that the salt is added to the pool water in order to produce chlorine.  Salt pools are still required to maintain the same 1.0 ppm of residual chlorine as pools that do not use salt.  Although salt water can be more gentle on the skin, it presents other problems as well.  First of all, salt systems require a minimum of 3000 ppm of salt in order to generate enough chlorine to meet the state requirements.  That amount of salt increases the total dissolved solids (TDS) in the water, making the UV less effective.  If you add the TDS that is introduced into the water from regular bather load on top of that, your TDS levels can near 5000 ppm.  The recommended TDS levels for a swimming pool is not to exceed 2000 ppm.  High TDS can also contribute to problems with heaters and water balance.  Since safety is our number one priority, we have determined that maximizing the effectiveness of our UV machine will provide us with the safest and purest water while at the same time, minimizing the amount of chlorine needed to maintain our 1.0 ppm residual.  

Whether your swimmer is an infant, toddler, or older child, the biggest safety concern is not the chlorine, but recreational water illness.  Most micro-organisms are killed by chlorine.  Even very dangerous ones such as HIV and Hepatitis B are killed by a properly chlorinated pool on contact.  There are some, however, that are more resistant to chlorine.  That’s why we use UV!  Nothing that goes into the UV chamber, comes out alive!

If you’re concerned about the safety of the pool water at your local community pool, ask the aquatics director at the facility in question about their water safety policies and procedures.  They should be able to share with you the steps they have taken in order to ensure the safety of their pool water.  At La Petite Baleen, our goal is to provide our customers and staff with the cleanest and safest pool water possible.  It’s my privilege to oversee my staff of 4 Nationally Certified Pool Operators who are committed to this level of excellence and quality 7 days a week.  For links and more information about the equipment we use at La Petite Baleen, please visit our website at swimlpb.com.

Happy splashing!

"If all of the pools I inspected were like La Petite Baleen, I'd be out of a job!"  Ken Robinson, San Mateo County Health Inspector

Skin Care

It's Fall!  I've been busy this summer.  Sorry to have been gone so long but I thoroughly enjoyed my children this summer.  We did many field trips and swam a ton.

Now that it is fall and the weather is cooling off, I always remind my parents to PUT LOTION ON YOUR KIDS AFTER SWIMMING!  This is so important.  Chlorinated water and dry cold air can be so irritating to skin.  This should be done before going home, right after you get out of the pool and rinse off.

I think it is best to immediately rinse off with water only.  Soap is made with chemicals (remember that chemistry lab?).  Using soap is adding additional chemicals to your skin.  So rinse with plain water.

Next apply lotion (any kind you like), all over!  At our house we do this after showering and bathing as well.

My youngest baby has ECZEMA.  I know some of you parents have kids with this skin condition.  It can flare up simply from cold weather or being in the sun. Here is what a mild case looks like:

It is common in the folds of the skin.  Diaper area, elbow and knee creases as well as the face.  My son gets flare ups on the back of his thighs on his diaper area where the diaper rubs.  I use baby powder to help keep any chafing down.  When there is a flare up from playing outside or something I have good results using the Weleda Calendula brand of creams and lotions.  It really calms his eczema and skin.  It smells great and is all natural.  This can be found at Whole Foods, New Leaf or any other health food stores.  Here is what it looks like:

I use the lotion as well as the cream.  

A more mainstream lotion that I also use that works well at keeping flare ups at bay is the Aveeno brand Eczema Therapy Lotion.  This works really well and I notice less flare ups on my baby.  I get mine at Target:

If your child does not have eczema, then any lotion will do.  

Lube those babies and kiddos up.  Keep their skin super soft and kissable!

Summer Safety Part 2

Summer is just around the corner.  My sister Anya and I have been doing summer safety talks at pre-schools and for Mother's Clubs.  Boy are we ready for a break from school and schedule.  We want to frolic and play and travel.  And of course our kids want to be in the water constantly.

Here are some more reminders for summer safety:

Around the pool:

• Remember, lifeguards should be considered an extra set of eyes...no one will watch your child as closely as YOU...especially at pool parties where adults are often distracted.
• Wear a "Water Watcher" bracelet or a necklace as a physical reminder of who is in charge of watching the water.  A simple rubber band around the wrist or a fun Hawaiian lei can do the trick. When the water watcher needs a break, they must find a replacement and "pass the baton" to another responsible adult.

Different Bodies of Water:

• Standing Water is water that does not move.  Some of these bodies of water can be colder (or warmer) than La Petite Baleen water.  Some of them may be darker, deeper or shallower.  It's important to discuss depth, clarity and temperature with your child before swimming in them.  Examples include:
• Lakes
• Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs
• Ponds

• Moving Water can be the most dangerous body of water.  In addition to temperature, depth and clarity difference, moving water adds the element of power.  Discuss how waves and currents work and how to stay in a safety zone.  Life jackets are always recommended when swimming in moving bodies of water.  Examples include:
• Beach/Ocean
• Rivers, creeks and streams
• Whirlpool bathtubs and hot tubs

Please explore this link, there is a wealth of information.  

http://www.swimforlife.org/

Have fun and be safe this summer!

Summer Safety Part 1

It's already mid May and this week at LPB was our annual Summer Safety Week.  Your kids, who are red ribbon or higher, got to learn, discuss and act out life saving techniques and safety rules.  Since parents are not the ones in the water getting our "safety talk", the next two posts will discuss some of the things we cover and would like parents to remember during the summer swim and travel months.  This is for ALL parents, even if your baby is only 2 moths old.  It is never to early to keep safety in mind.

What is Summer Safety Week?
La Petite Baleen has been running our "Summer Safety Week" program for 20 years in an effort to refresh our students and parents with safety tips before the summer months.  The program includes age appropriate rescue, survival and safety skills for all bodies of water.

What are my kids learning?

• Never swim alone (even a good swimmer never swims alone!).  Even preschoolers can understand and grasp this #1 rule.
• Never swim to a drowning person.
• Get help/Call 911
• Throw something that floats.
• Survival floating and treading.
• Different bodies of water.

Travel Tips:

• When renting a vacation home/condo, ask about whether the swimming pool has a gate or safety feature before booking.  Friends of ours once rented a house where the pool actually went through the living room!  And they had 4 kids under the age of 4 staying with them!  I wouldn't have been able to sleep that's for sure.
• Discuss what types of water your child will be swimming in (lake, rivers, etc.).
• Remember that children may not swim quite as well on vacation as they do in lessons (colder water, deeper/darker water, etc.).  Don't expect them to swim like they do for their swim teacher.  They might just want to play or are used to fins and a structured class environment.
• Always wear life jackets when rafting or boating.  Kids at LPB get a chance to practice what this feels like.  It's awkward to be a good swimmer and to have a life jacket making you super buoyant.  

At Home:

• Double check all bathrooms/toilets.  My youngest baby loves to "swim" in our toilets and it freaks me out and is disgusting.  Not safe!  keep the lids down and the doors closed.
• Never leave a child unattended in the bathtub (even for a minute!).
• Baby/wading pools, buckets, etc. in the yard should be drained immediately after use.
• Be certain that all pools, hot tubs and ponds have safety fences, covers or nets.  We always triple check that our hot tob is locked.  

Reminders:

• All parents and caretakers should have current CPR certification.
• Always apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to swimming outdoors and really every hour.  I personally like to use the Target brand (Up & Up) cream sunscreen and lather it on before we head to the lake or pool.  Once we arrive, I give the kids a spray of sunscreen before they get in.  Double coverage!  And we re-apply when they get out for snacks every hour with the lotion/cream sunscreen.

to be continued.....

1+1=2

Adding another baby to the family? Dealing with a toddler at the same time?

Most people have their second child when their first is between 2-3 years old. I often hear people say things like, "He's jealous of the new baby", or "the baby brought him a present when he was born so he would feel included". Or people go out of their way to greet the toddler first so his 'feelings' don't get hurt. I see adults project so many of our grown up concerns onto our toddlers and preschoolers.

We have brought 4 newborns into our home with an older sibling waiting for them. Never have we experienced any sibling rivalry or jealousy of the newborn. Here is my 'advice' on how to handle bringing a new baby home with an older sibling waiting for them:

1. Keep in mind the age appropriate behaviors that your older child will exhibit. A two year old will act like a two year old simply because they are two. Not because of a baby. They throw fits, get frustrated, and work on their communication. These are likely not attributed to a new baby and Mommy's attention being elsewhere. They are acting their age.

2. NO GUILT! This is the most important advice I can give. Many parents parent with guilt even without a new baby in the mix. You are not making their life worse, you are blessing it with a sibling and forever love. Don't be sorry for someone's life. You owe no such exclusivity to your older child.

3. The birth of a new baby is about the baby. Not about the 1st child. They already had their time in the spotlight. Now it is baby #2's turn to be on center stage and get presents. It's OK for your toddler to learn that they aren't the only one who needs attention. The sooner they learn this the better. Life doesn't revolve around them. Other people need care, food and attention. Waiting your turn for a string cheese is a great skill for a toddler to learn.

4. Be normal. Same routines, same bedtimes, same people. Who usually puts kid #1 to bed? If it's mom then mom should continue putting them to bed. Kids thrive on routine and structure. Knowing that mom is the same and is still there when he wakes up and still feeding him breakfast while baby hangs in the swing is important. Newborns don't need a ton of attention. They need to be fed every 2-3 hours, changed and then they can be put down or worn in a sling while you attend to your toddler doing every day things.

5. Sleep! if you haven't already gotten your first child on an early bed time with good sleeping through the night habits. Do it now! Parents need sleep to be successful during the day. Toddlers need sleep for brain development and recoup. Newborns also need to learn good sleep habits. I am a big proponent of sleep training the Babywise way. Little kids should be in bed by 7 pm. An added bonus is the alone time this afforded to you and your spouse. It's like a free date night in your house every night for 3 hours:)

6. Parent together. If you and your spouse are not on the same page with parenting this is an area to improve in. Moms, does your husband feel like you run the whole show and he just jumps under your command? Is your husband undermining your discipline and playing the good guy? Does your husband need more alone time with you, more attention? Toddlers can see the cracks in your parenting and exploit them. They are so smart, we constantly have to be ahead of them yet show them consistency, grace and love.

I have to say that when we bring a new baby into our home it is a sweet time of togetherness and joy. I hope this advice helps but it is just that, my advice from my experiences and observations. I hope the transition is smooth and wonderful to a family of 4 or more.

A Good Start

We are getting a lot of new swimmers here at LPB this New Year. Lots of new babies and pre-schoolers who have never had lessons before. I just opened a new shift that I teach here in Half Moon Bay on Thursday mornings. With that are what we call "Novice" students who might be uncomfortable in the water or even having water touch them. While we keep our water at 90 degrees, our pool is like a giant bath tub, kids still sometimes need some help 'navigating' themselves into a comfortable time at swim lessons. I do however love picking up a fearful student and bringing them down into the warm water see that first hurdle of their body relaxing with the warmth. Like they thought their mom was throwing them into the Pacific Ocean, their lips blue and quivering. Not in my pool! Nice and toasty so those nervous muscles can relax and we can begin building trust.

Step 1 for the teacher is to build trust with the student. Are you sensing when the child gets nervous? Do they need a little more touching and holding while they learn to balance in that inner tube or even on the stairs? Once I have that relationship with them through body talk as well as my reassuring voice, then I can begin swim skills. Little baby steps for some.

And here's where you the parents come in. What you do at home even before swim lessons can make a huge difference. I have had 4 year olds come to swimming and never even taken a shower before. Only baths. Well, time to expand the comfort zone and save some water at the same time.

Here is what I tell my new parents with new students:

Get their face wet. Shower instead of bathe them. Let them have special toys to play with while the water runs down their body and face. Take them in the shower with you. We want them to get used to the feeling of water on their ears, nose, eyes and hair. Desensitize them in a way. This can help your swim teacher move forward on into swimming sooner. Teaching a toddler or pre-schooler to hold their breath and put their face in the water is one of the trickiest parts of lessons. Water in the ears doesn't hurt and plain water in the eyes doesn't hurt either. I tell my kids when they feel water in their ears that it tickles.

Ever get water in your nose? Yah, it kills and burns. That is why it's important to start learning how to hold their breath (we do have nose clips for nose sniffers). At LPB we don't blow bubbles. Most parents come to lessons doing that with the kids. We want our kids to learn to hold their breath under water, not blow it out. So we ask and show them a 'balloon face'. Puffing out the cheeks with the mouth closed. There we go, a Rainbow Ribbon skill! Once a child does a balloon face out of the water then we work on putting it in the water. But even before that, we do some play showering. We have many little watering cans around our pool and we play with gently pouring water over their balloon face. Then we tell them to blow like a whale. They love it. Whale blows. Parents, you can easily do this at home in the bath and shower.

This is the start of swimming. Getting that face wet. Getting them comfortable with water all over their face, ears and eyes. Practice the balloon faces and whale blows. This 'homework' will be so helpful to your teacher when you come in to lessons. Knowing that you are helping us during the week between classes, I bet your teacher will be able to tell if you have done your homework. I know I can. All of a sudden a student will come in and can do something they struggled with last week. I look up at mom and say, "Oh, someone has been practicing!" Mom nods and beams. Her "Little Whale" is off to a great start!

Please go to our website for more ribbon level "HOMEWORK"