My youngest is a big time water lover. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and you will get the answer a mermaid. Erin is my own little mermaid. She started swimming lessons at just 6 weeks old. She loved it from the start and as she grew so did her love of the water. In fact Erin swam before she could walk. It was a family joke. We giggled and laughed at how she couldn’t yet walk but she outswam everyone her swimming class. Water gave her the freedom that her little legs didn’t.
At 22 months we learnt the reason why Erin could swim but not walk, Erin had hip dysplasia. Her hip was dislocated and she required immediate surgery and spica casting for 24 weeks. Through my bath of tears I was said that she would not be able to have a bath or swim. Heartbroken I knew how much she would miss the water and swimming. During that time the nearest we got to having a bath was on the draining board! Washing a child in spica is no easy task nor is washing their hair.
In time when the cast was removed we headed back to the pool and to her swimming teacher. Swimming has since been important for Erin’s hip development. Swimming and being in the bath encourages her to kick without weight bearing. I was amazed that when she got back in the pool after a nine month break she immediately began swimming again. Now she insists on baths everyday and we swim at least twice a week. We do not take this for granted and Erin has lots of fun in the bath.
This week she was sent some Finding Nemo Bubbly Bath and here you can see the fun she had using it!
In Erin’s bath she is never alone – she is joined by fish, ducks, books and jugs. She stays in the bath as long as she is allowed and has lots of fun. This is especially important when her joints are aching the warmth of the water really does work wonders. Plus the more bubbles the better!
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F is exactly the same. She loves the water and (most of the time) loves bathtime too. Cute pics of Erin – she’s gorgeous. x