| Growing Accustomed to the Water at a Young Age | | | | wings to help stay afloat. |
| Humans are the only mammals that lack the instinctive | | | | Before starting baby swimming lessons, visit the pool |
| ability to swim. This is why is it very important to | | | | during non-peak hours a couple of times to allow the |
| introduce swimming at a very young age with baby | | | | baby a chance to get accustomed to the water. |
| swimming lessons, so that children grow up learning | | | | Some pools hold weekly "parent and baby" swimming |
| how to swim. This is beneficial from a safety | | | | sessions reserved specifically for this purpose. Always |
| standpoint in addition to enjoyment and fitness | | | | maintain eye contact when first entering the water, |
| purposes. | | | | and hold the baby close to make them feel relaxed |
| Before enrolling any youngster in baby swimming | | | | and confident. As their confidence increases, move the |
| lessons, the child should be as accustomed to the | | | | baby around slowly in the water to ease them into the |
| water as possible. One way to prepare children for | | | | feeling of swimming. |
| baby swimming lessons is at home in the bathtub by | | | | Toys, Songs, and Bubbles |
| pouring small amounts of warm, non soapy water | | | | Here are some other great tips for making the pool a |
| over the child's head so that it trickles down the face. | | | | fun and enjoyable experience for babies. Try bringing |
| Incorporating toys into bath time also helps build position | | | | some of the baby's bath toys to the pool to |
| associations with being in the water that can transfer | | | | demonstrate that the water is essentially the same. |
| over to the swimming pool. | | | | Once the baby has a feel for the pool, toss one of the |
| Starting 'em Young | | | | toys a few feet and hold them as they glide through |
| The best time to start a child in baby swimming | | | | the water to retrieve it. Or, try laying the baby down |
| lessons is between six and twelve months old, | | | | on their back and holding them up while they their legs. |
| because the water still has some of the natural | | | | Some parents like to sing songs like "Humpty Dumpty" |
| associations of being in the womb. Some mothers | | | | while the baby sits on the edge of the pool. When the |
| choose to start baby swimming lessons as early as | | | | song comes to the line "Humpty Dumpty had a great |
| twelve weeks while others wait until their babies are | | | | fall", lift the baby up and down into the water with a big |
| about 18 months old. After this time, it can be more | | | | splash! |
| difficult for a child to learn water adjustment and | | | | Once they become accustomed to the feeling of |
| breath control. | | | | having water on their face, children love to learn how |
| While swim diapers aren't required in all swimming | | | | to blow bubbles. Blowing bubbles is a great first step in |
| pools, they are a good idea for baby swimming | | | | learning how to swim since it is impossible to inhale |
| lessons to avoid any accidents in the water. Babies | | | | water while bubbles are being blown. |
| over the age of one may also benefit from water | | | | |