Baby goes swimming - BabySpa and some thoughts

Lil' J has been going to BabySPA for quite a few sessions now, and she seems to be enjoying it.

She doesn't really show it on her face; she doesn't give wide smiles like some other babies do.

She just swims, looking rather contented.
She looks... carefree.

When Lil' J is in the pool (big jacuzzi tub), she is often in a world of her own. She doesn't seem to care if I was there, or not. She doesn't quite bother about the other babies in the pool.
She used to give a couple of patronising smiles when she first started but I think she's working on her social smiles lately.

Lil' J wasn't quite as excited during the first three sessions where she was in a small individual tub pool (washed after each use). She was calm. She paddled her legs, she looked contented but she was calm. 

Then she graduated to the bigger pool (big jacuzzi tub, cleaned daily). 

Oh, the joy!
You could feel it.
She loves it in the big Jacuzzi tub.

 

I didn't expect myself to be the momma who brings her kid to the BabySPA. After all, when an ex-colleague showed me a photo of her son at the spa about four years ago, I asked her why she put her son in a sink. I hope she isn't offended. But Lil' J enjoyed her baths so much since day one, and when she outgrew her tiny bathtub at three months old, I felt the need to find her a bigger space to 'swim' in.

I signed up for a 10-session package ($350 + $10 membership registration fee. I was given a few free swim diapers- they don't allow bring-your-owns, a hooded towel, a voucher to a photoshoot, a spa for momma, and 2 free massages) immediately after the first session because Lil' J seems to love it a lot. and the staff are nice. Nice staff makes a lot of difference.
 

Lil' J did the massage after the first session and the effects are pretty immediate. Blood circulation, I mean. Her hands and feet weren't cold and clammy for the next three days. (As a member, massages and haircuts are at $10 each, which makes it more affordable then the usual $20+.)

By her fourth session, we were convinced that she really enjoys swimming and we topped up and upgraded to the 20-session package. ($590)

Now we are thinking if we should upgrade her to the 'Gold Card' ($1090, unlimited swims for one year) since she really enjoys her swim but we think we will start bringing her to public pools only when she is one.

I did the some quick sums. 

If I take Lil' J to 50 sessions, that will be around $22/ session (diaper cost included). 50 sessions will take us about 5-6 months if we go twice a week. That means Lil' J will be about 8-9 months old. If she still love swimming, that's money pretty well spent. And the husband and mothers agree that it's good exercise for the little one.

But I do have some considerations as well.

1) What if she doesn't like it anymore when she is older?

2) The Haze. If the haze returns and it's as bad as it was last year, she will have to be kept indoors. What of she doesn't like it anymore after the long break?

3) Commitment. I have to make sure I take her there at least twice a week. (I'm pretty sure I'm up to it as long as she enjoys her session.)

So, gold card yay or nay?



Edit:
A friend recommended AquaBambinos and AquaDucks.
Their programmes(starting from 6 months old) look pretty good. Looking at their locations though, I know it's not going to come cheap.

I'm not going to lie but some days, on days like these, I wonder if I made the right decision to become a SAHM. Even though I know nothing beats spending time with my little one, with the extra income, we could be able to give Lil' J so much more.

On days like these, I secretly hope that I write well enough so that we could be sponsored a few trials to such programmes.

On days like these, allow me to dream.