When it comes to baby swimming lessons, there is a chance that you will have a lot of questions and queries. At what age can babies go underwater? Do babies already have a swimming instinct? What is the best approach to take when it comes to teaching babies to swim?
Among the long list of things that parents have to consider when it comes to babies, swimming might be relatively low on your list of priorities, especially if you don’t live near the water. However, it is always a good idea to teach babies and children to swim. This can help babies in the future should they ever find themselves in a position where they are in contact with the water.
Is Swimming an Instinct For Babies?
The history of swimming and anecdotal evidence tells us babies are born with an instinct and a natural ability that helps them to swim. Natural reactions mean that when your kid is in water they will try to swim. Up to the age of around six months, babies will usually display this behaviour.
You can test it out. When you support your child, holding their stomach and keeping them at the surface of the water, their reflexes will show as they move their arms and legs. Babies also tend to have something called a dive reflex, meaning that when they are underwater they will hold their breath.
Fascinating studies have shown that babies very rarely inhale any water when they are underwater. That doesn’t mean that you don’t have to take any precautions, but it does mean that you have a green light to start teaching your baby to swim at a super early age.
The answer to the question of whether babies can swim is still not a positive “yes”. There is a big difference between the instinct and the actual skills to stay afloat and swim in the water. You can’t put a baby in the water and expect them to swim independently, but instinct helps, and it is a good idea to get them comfortable with the water if they seem open to this.
It’s also fair to say that not every baby enjoys water. Just because it is a reflex, if your child cries and seems distressed by it then it might not be the best idea. If your child shows signs of being a water baby, underwater swimming might be possible from a very young age. For newborn babies swimming is possible, and this means if you are used to going to the local pool on a regular basis you don’t have to tweak your routines too much.
If you find that baby seems to love spending time in the water when it comes to bath time, it may be a sign that they will enjoy going to the local swimming pool.
What Age Should Babies Learn to Swim?
It is generally agreed that babies can actually start to develop the motor skills and techniques needed to swim from the age of around one.
Of course, a baby that has been going in the water with their parents for a long time will probably be at an advantage due to the fact that they will be much more comfortable.
A lot of primary schools in the UK will do some form of swimming lessons, as it is considered to be important that a child has some level of swimming ability. If you can, try to take your child swimming when they are still a baby or toddler, to prepare them for this long before the time comes that they will be expected to learn to swim with their friends at school.
Benefits of Swimming For Babies and Children
Why would you bother? Is it really important to help babies learn how to swim? What if your baby hates swimming lessons? Well, there is a very compelling argument for swimming for babies and a lot of benefits to it:
- Swimming can be a social activity. Swimming lessons for babies near you may include mother and baby classes, and this gives your baby (and you) a chance to meet others in the same position and share your experiences.
- Swimming and spending time in the water can help babies to learn motor skills and build their coordination. This can even help as they learn how to crawl, stand, and walk.
- Other water activities such as playing with pool toys can also help them to learn coordination and balance. Being in the water can help babies' vestibular system development.
- Swimming can help the growth of the leg, arm, and neck muscles as well as provide a stronger heart and lungs.
- It can be fun! A lot of water babies love to swim. A swimming pool for babies may feel very natural due to their reflexes.
Of course, one of the main benefits for children is the safety factor. If you live near any body of water, there is a slim risk that a child could fall in or get swept away while paddling. If you don't teach them young, then your child may need to take adult swimming lessons.
The ability to swim will help them, along with the confidence in the water that they may build up. The skills to be safe in water won’t be built as a baby, but you can begin to lay the foundations by taking a newborn baby swimming.
Tips For Teaching Babies to Swim
When your baby’s communication is limited there are only certain things that you will be able to do when it comes to teaching them how to swim. You won’t be in a position to teach them any advanced techniques.
That said, there are some great tips to keep in mind to ensure you get good results when trying to teach your baby to swim, and more importantly in their first year or two, teaching them to be comfortable in the water.
Firstly, encourage the baby’s instincts. We’ve already discussed the fact that your baby will want to kick and try to swim, encourage this and help them in every way you can, especially when you see they are enjoying it. You can hold their tummy or back to help them, so they don't need to worry about staying afloat (at this age, they won’t be able to). Then, you can let them splash and get comfortable with the water at their own leisure.
When the fun stops, take them out of there. Newborns can have a lot of fun in the pool, but not always. If they don’t seem to be enjoying it then get them out of the pool and do something else. You don’t want to reach the point where your baby hates going in the water because it was forced upon them.
As with a lot of parts of your child’s development, including toys can also really help. This can assist their sensory development and motor skills and make it a bit more interesting for your little one.
Should I Take My Baby to Swimming Lessons?
While you shouldn’t feel pressured to take your baby to swimming lessons, it can be a positive activity for mother (or father) and baby, and a chance for some bonding.
You do need to be very careful. If you want to take your newborn baby swimming then you need to be cautious about sharing the water with so many people, and new mothers can be at increased risk of infection for around six weeks after giving birth (longer if you have had a caesarean section). Consult your doctor if you have any concerns about this.
Are swimming lessons worth it for babies? Well, they won’t pick up any real techniques until they are a year old or even older, but there are so many benefits of taking your baby to specific kids lessons and baby swim classes that can be a wonderful social activity.
A lot of new mums and dads like to find activities they can undertake with other young parents. It helps children and babies to be around other peers at the same age, and let’s face it, it helps parents to have other new parents around for support. Baby swimming lessons are often group activities built around development rather than teaching your kid to be the next Olympic swimmer.
Swimming For Babies, is it Worth It?
If your baby shows comfort in the water and seems to enjoy it, we say that you should embrace this with swimming lessons and groups. As discussed, it can aid development and provide a great chance to mix before any sort of preschool or nursery has started. As long as you and the baby are getting something out of it, swimming can be a great activity.
Find for yourself a safe swimming lessons near me here on Superprof.
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