Kids on the coast

 
All babies are born with a natural affinity to water however, as time passes this confidence can decrease and between 10 and 15 months babies can develop a fear of water, if not already regularly exposed to it. The sooner your baby is introduced to water the less likely they are to develop any fear of it in the future.

Bath time is a great time to start familiarising your baby with the aquatic environment and prepare them for future lessons. The primary focus is to ensure your baby is happy in water, that they gradually become accustomed to feeling the water on their face and feeling the support that the water gives.

Swim instructors suggest you make bath time fun. Gently splash water over your baby’s body, lay them on their back and move them gently through the water. When you move your baby to a big bath, use enough water so they can float. Support your baby on their front and back and very gently manipulate their arms and legs in a swimming motion. When laying them on their tummy, support their head underneath the chin so that their face and mouth don’t fall forwards into the water.

Learn to swim program coordinator Angela Hall recommends using cue words during bath time. “Try saying, ‘(your babys name), ready, go!’ when you pour water over their face,” she says. “Babies have a reflex action, so will automatically hold their breath when water hits their face. In the future, these words will be used to help your baby hold their breath underwater.”

Swimming benefits your baby’s physical and emotional development

The first year of your baby’s life is crucial in terms of development because their brain grows more rapidly than at any other time. Regular exercise plays a vital role in this, with every movement they make helping to strengthen their brain for new learning. Uniquely, swimming provides the perfect exercise as water allows your baby’s muscles to move freely without constraints of gravity which means that they can develop actions they wouldn’t otherwise have had the opportunity to experience on land.

Baby swim classes provide your little one with a gentle, yet complete, physical work-out which will strengthen their heart, lungs and respiratory system aiding the development of the brain. They will learn to respond to commands which can make them sharper mentally thereby increasing levels of awareness and understanding.

What to expect during baby classes

Most swim schools start taking babies for lessons from six months of age. When you join you will find that classes follow a clear and progressive structure and will also involve some underwater work as and when your baby is ready. Underwater work allows your baby the experience of swimming completely independently, however, in all classes the overall emphasis is on parents and their babies having fun and no baby is ever forced to do anything against their clear wishes.

Swimming lessons are often a baby’s first social experience out of the home that involves their peers. During class time they learn to relate and interact with each other and look forward to seeing their classmates each week. Lessons are fun, socially stimulating and an excellent way to bond with your child. An added bonus is that regular swimming often improves eating and sleeping patterns!

Not only can early swimming be life enhancing, it can also be lifesaving. The younger your child is when they begin their swimming adventure the sooner they will be able to build a foundation for the eventual ability to perform age-appropriate safety skills. From an early age, babies are taught how to turn around if they fall into the water and reach for and hold onto the side until help arrives. These basic water safety skills are practised and reinforced in every baby swim class.

A word about flotation aids

A wide range of flotation aids are available, from arm bands and swim seats to float suits and float jackets. These help build toddlers’ and young children’s confidence in the water but Angela warns against over-using them: “Flotation aids are fine, however they can give parents a false sense of their child’s ability in the water so it is essential to do some work without them,” she says. “like supporting your child under his arms, on his front or back – so he doesn’t become reliant on them.”

Your first trip to baby classes

For most parents the first trip to swimming lessons can be fraught with uncertainty so it’s a good idea to take your baby to the pool on several occasions prior to enrolling them for lessons. This will familiarise them with the new, possibly noisy and definitely splashy, environment and will also give you a chance to chat to the teacher and have a quick peek at any baby lessons that might be underway.
For your first baby class Angela suggests:

Two towels – one for yourself and one for baby
Waterproof nappies
Appropriate dry clothing for after the lesson
Food – swimming makes babies hungry so be prepared for a feed immediately after the lesson
Nappy bag, friend, partner or relative with a camera and an attitude of fun!

Teaching your baby to swim is a subtle, long term process which requires sensitivity and skill on behalf of both the parent and the swim school. A cooperative partnership between parent, child and teacher is key to creating the kind of harmonious relationship necessary to gently and playfully guide your baby on their learn-to-swim journey.

How to teach your baby to swim

by Douglas Doman

If you prefer to teach your baby yourself, this book is a clear, easy-to-follow guide. Divided into eight chapters, it is illustrated with photographs and includes wonderful techniques like walking backwards holding your baby to create a current, or how to use your shower to introduce babies to hold their breath. RRP: $29.95