Toddler suddenly hates swimming

I’ve been taking my little boy swimming since he was 5 months old and was doing water babies lessons to get him familiarised with water. He always enjoyed it right up until he could walk around 13/14 months. I stopped taking him to lessons to give him a break in the hope that he would begin to enjoy it again but he’s now 17 months old and seems to hate it whenever I take him swimming. He cries/ whinges and tries to get out of the pool. We go on holiday this Thursday for a week and I’m just dreading it😓 has anyone else experienced this or know how I can help get him to enjoy swimming again?

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Yes! We started our little guy at 3 months and we took a break around 7months due to the cold weather and an ear infection. Just started him up again at 13mons. He fusses and cries when we do submersions and hand him off to the instructor. I find when we just simply have fun, be silly, sing, wave to dada and splash he enjoys it more. Less pressure = more fun.

This happened to my son recently but he’s 4! We just try to have fun in the pool and explain that it’s not scary (he’s worried about sinking suddenly) As soon as we get him in the water and distract him for a moment he loves it again!

This happened with my son at four. But for him, he was worried about sinking and not coming back up. The first day at the pool. He didn’t get in other than his feet. The next day we had friends come over, and when he saw the other little Girls, jumping in, he decided to jump in. That’s when he realized that his puddle jumper wouldn’t let him sink, and now he has the time of his life again at the pool. I think for him. It was just that he got to the realization that water can drown you.

Thanks everyone. Good to know I’m not alone😩 I do tend to keep it casual and we try use distractions such as bath/ pool toys but he’s still not keen. Think I will have to see how he is abroad and if he still hates it then I will give him a bigger break from it and maybe try again when he’s 2 or something.

We're taking a break from lessons as well, as my husband has to have an operation on his leg at some point in the next few months. My little boy didn't enjoy his lessons either, but he loved just swimming around & playing before & after his lessons. Try just starting him off in the shallow end, splashing around & having fun x