Re: Swimming class for 4-month-old
March 2009

This isn't a class per se, but Berkeley High School has a Parents and Toddlers warm-pool swim class from 3:30-4:30 pm each Friday and 10-11 am (I think) each Saturday. The classes are an hour long, despite what the website says.

The pool is heated to like 85 degrees and the sign says babies who are 5 months and up can participate as long as they wear swim diapers. There is a class leader who does songs, splashing activities, and other things like that with parents and babies in the pool with the intention of helping little ones feel comfortable in the water. It's $6.50 and drop-ins are welcome. I think they do 10 classes for $60, saving a few bucks.

FWIW, they also have warm-pool drop-in hours for people with therapeutic needs/disabilities.

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/uploadedFiles/Parks_Rec_Waterfront/Level_3__-General/Pool%20Schedule%20Flyer%20BHS%20Winter%202009%20FY%2009.pdf Baby Audrey likes to swim!

Re: Swim class for mom and 6-month-old
Berkeley Parks and Rec has ''Parent and Tot'' swim session at the Warm Pool (nice and warm!) at Berkeley High on Friday afternoons (click Aquatics Programs for the current schedule: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=5672). I took my baby there a few times when he was 6-12 months old--most of the babies were that age, although occasionally an older toddler came. That was about a year and a half ago. It was fun. There are supposedly two 1/2-hour sessions, but in reality they treated it as a 1-hour session; in other words, one could come at the beginning and swim through both sessions. One pays for each session individually, so you can go as often or little as you like. They have a few bath toys to play with, and, at least when I went, the ''leader'' led a couple of songs at some point, but otherwise it was free swim. There are ''Tiny Tot Times'' (free swim) at Willard and King Pools as well (regular cold pools); I don't have any experience with these. Bobbin' for babies

Re: Pool near N. Oakland for family swim
The Berkeley Parks and Recs offers baby & toddler swim time/class in the Berkeley High heated pool (bathtub temperature) every Friday at 3:30 and 4:00. It's drop-in and costs $5.50 per session. It's a great find as it's the only affordable option for a really heated pool. Call Berkeley Parks and Rec. for more details. caitlin

From: Tom

The Berkeley City pools have good, not great, swimming programs that are about $40/month. They include the pools at Willard Jr. High and King Jr. High.

The King Center Pool (schedule available at Willard Pool, corner of Telegraph at Derby) offers toddler swimming, as do all the local YMCA's (that have pools). Albany pool (behind Albany highschool) may also offer toddler programs. Sorry I don't have the phone numbers immediately available, but I have been looking into this very thing for my 2.5 year old. Hope it helps,