Getting Started with Swim Lessons? Here’s the Gear You Actually Need
Starting swim lessons is an exciting milestone—whether your child is a tiny infant just getting comfortable in the water or an older beginner ready to dive into formal instruction. One of the most common questions we hear at Bear Paddle Swim School is: “What swimming gear does my child need?”
The good news? You don’t need a ton of fancy equipment to get started. The right gear should focus on comfort, safety, and helping your child feel confident in the water. In this blog, we’ll cover the most essential swimming gear for beginners and why it matters—plus, why starting as an infant is the best way to build lifelong water safety skills.
Why the Right Gear Matters
Proper swimming gear helps your child feel secure, stay warm, and focus on learning—not distractions. A good swimsuit or rash guard, for example, gives your child the freedom to move while still feeling snug and supported. Swim goggles can help ease water fears and allow them to see clearly underwater.
If your child is comfortable and prepared, they’re more likely to enjoy their lessons, stay focused, and progress faster through swim levels.
Infant Swim: The Best Time to Start
Before we dive into the gear checklist, we want to highlight this important fact: The best time to start swim lessons is during infancy. That’s why Bear Paddle offers dedicated infant swim programs for babies as young as six months old. Starting early helps babies develop water comfort, build coordination, and establish a strong foundation in water safety.
And the best part? When infants start early, they usually continue through our program, growing into strong, confident swimmers with a lifelong love of water.
Now, let’s take a look at the swimming gear your beginner really needs.
Essential Swimming Gear for Beginners
1. Swimwear That Fits Well
Choose a swimsuit that fits snugly but allows your child to move freely. For younger children or infants, a one-piece suit or swim diaper with a snug fit is ideal. For older kids, board shorts or two-piece suits are fine as long as they don’t restrict movement or fall down during activity. Bright colored swim suits like yellow, orange, pink, and lime green are strongly recommended as they are the safest colors to use. Blue swimsuits blend into the pool and water making it hard to see your swimmer in an emergency, but bright colors stand out more easily.
Infant Tip: Look for reusable swim diapers or swimwear with built-in waterproof liners. Most public pools and swim schools, including Bear Paddle, require them for babies and toddlers.
2. Goggles
Goggles help reduce eye irritation and let your child see clearly underwater, which can boost confidence and focus. Look for goggles with a soft silicone seal, adjustable straps, and a comfortable fit.
For beginners, especially little ones, goggles are optional at first but can be a great tool once they’re comfortable submerging their face.
3. Swim Cap (Optional but Helpful)
While not always required, swim caps help keep hair out of the face and protect it from pool chemicals. They’re especially helpful for children with longer hair.
Caps also help keep goggles in place and reduce distractions during lessons.
4. Towel and Dry Clothes
After swim class, your child will need a towel to dry off and a change of clothes to head home in comfort. Having a designated “swim bag” with a towel, dry clothes, and flip-flops or sandals makes the process much smoother.
5. Water Bottle
Swim lessons may not seem intense, but they can be surprisingly active! Keeping your child hydrated is important, especially in warm indoor pools.
6. Swim Bag
A dedicated swim bag helps you stay organized and makes getting to and from lessons easier. You can pack all the essentials—goggles, swimsuit, towel, and more—so nothing gets left behind.
What You Don’t Need
It’s tempting to buy everything on the market, but beginners—especially infants and young children—don’t need:
- Kickboards or fins (we’ll provide these if needed during lessons)
- Floaties or water wings (we teach real swim skills and don’t use them)
- Expensive brand-name gear (comfort and fit matter more than labels)
Our goal at Bear Paddle is to build water safety and swim skills from day one, and that starts with letting your child move freely in the water without relying on flotation devices that can give a false sense of security.
The Bear Paddle Difference
We make it easy for families to get started. From infant swim programs to lessons for toddlers, kids, and even beginners over age 5, our classes are designed to grow with your child. Our experienced instructors know how to make every swimmer feel confident—whether it’s their first splash or their first lap.
We provide many of the tools your child will use in class, so you can keep your gear list short and simple. Just bring the essentials, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Ready to Dive In?
If you’re wondering what swimming gear your child needs to get started, now you know: simple, comfortable, and supportive is the way to go. And if your little one hasn’t started lessons yet, there’s no better time than now—especially if they’re still an infant.
Start your swim journey today with a FREE swim lesson at Bear Paddle!
We’ll help you take the first step toward water safety, skill-building, and lifelong confidence.