Teaching your baby to swim

From tiny newborns to strapping great teenagers, all kids love swimming. Teaching your baby to swim can be incredibly rewarding: not only are you boosting his confidence, it’s great exercise, supports a healthy lifestyle, and it’s also one of the best ways of spending some fun, quality time together.

Apart from the few rare water babies who jump into the water and swim like fish, most kids need a little help. When your child’s older, you might sign him up for swimming lessons, but there’s plenty you can do to build your baby’s confidence in the water from day one.

Start small

Use cue words
Try saying, "one, two, three, go!" when you put water on his face. Babies have a reflex action, so he automatically holds his breath when water hits his face. In the future, you can use those words to help him hold his breath underwater. Jane Saddlington, ASA

There are lots of ways you can get your baby used to water at home, long before you first introduce him to your local swimming pool.

This can start from baby’s first bath. You could

• Splash water gently over his body.
• Lay him on his back and move him gently through the water.
• Over the next few months, get him used to having water on his face by gently squeezing a sponge of water over it.

Jane Saddington of the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) recommends using cue words. She says:

"Try saying, ‘one, two, three, go!’ when you put water on his face. Babies have a reflex action, so he automatically holds his breath when water hits his face. In the future, you can use those words to help him hold his breath underwater."

When you move your baby to a big bath, use enough water so he can float. Support him on his front and back, and very gently manipulate his arms and legs in a swimming motion.

• Hanging out with a newborn

The first trip to the pool

Before your first trip to the pool, you’ll need to take:

• a warm bottle for after the swim
• a towel with a hood or towelling dressing gown
• a snack – swimming makes babies hungry
• some of your baby’s favourite bath toys
• waterproof nappies
• Life skills to teach your kids

How to start

It’s a good idea to take your baby to the pool before he swims, as pools are big, bright and noisy, which can be scary for an infant.

When your baby’s ready for his first dip, Jane Saddington suggests carrying on where you left off in the bath:
"Move him around the pool so he experiences the water on his skin. Support him on his front and back and simulate kicking, which babies naturally do as a butterfly kick, with both legs."

• Also let your baby splash and play with his bath toys – throw one a few feet away and zoom him through the water to retrieve it.
• Put your mouth under water and show your baby how to blow bubbles – this is important for him to learn, as he can’t inhale when he’s blowing.
• Play time

Lesson time

Most local pools have swimming classes for parents and young children. These are usually open to children from the age of 12 weeks.

"Water confidence classes are a great way of getting kids used to the water – there are games, toys and music, which they love," says Jane.

The most important thing is to make swimming fun, so your baby learns through play.

During the adult and child lessons your child will learn the basics, such as jumping into the pool, kicking his legs while holding the side, and holding his breath for short periods underwater.

The age at which your child should start proper lessons varies, but will usually be at around four.

• Boost baby brain development

A word about flotation aids

A wide range of flotation aids is 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 Jane warns against over-using them:

"Flotation aids are fine, but do some work without them – like supporting your child under his arms, on his front or back – so he doesn’t become reliant on his armbands."

Author

Dan Roberts is a feature-writer and columnist with over ten years’ experience of working for The Guardian, The Observer, The Independent, Daily Express and Mail on Sunday, as well as numerous national magazines. His areas of expertise include health, wellbeing, relationships, psychology and parenting. Dan also writes two monthly columns, including Diary of a Single Dad, a humorous but affectionate account of raising his ten-year-old son, Ben. The best of Dan’s work can be found on his website at www.dan-roberts.net

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