A Guide To Getting Your Baby To Swim
Everyone knows that children love water. They have been in fluid for nine months in their mother’s womb and hence do not fear water. Teaching your baby to swim has its advantages. It boosts their confidence, and it is a great exercise for them, and it also means for you that you’d be spending fun and quality time with them.
The swimming training techniques vary for kids of different age and hence you should adopt different techniques for children that are most suitable for them when you take them for swimming training.
Six months to one year
According to American Association of Pediatrics, parents should not give swimming lessons for kids until they are 4 years old. It is because even though babies do not fear water, they do not possess the fine motoring skills until they get to that age.
However, you can focus on different programs like introducing your baby to water; participate in various water games and so on. You can also start teaching your child at home in the bathtub. You can start doing by pouring a little water on your baby’s face.
Toddlers and young children
When it comes to toddlers, you can start giving them introductory swimming lessons. You can show your kid to blow bubbles. You can also teach him to float independently, how to shift from a standing position to a swimming position without your support, gliding, and easy kicking movements, etc.
For young kids, you can either teach them yourself or enroll them in a swimming course for professional lessons and services that are more dedicated.
Steps for teaching your baby how to swim
1. Get necessary supplies
Before going to the pool, make sure that you have all the necessary things with you, like;
- Towels, for you as well as your baby
- Swimming costume for your baby
- Swimming nappies that can protect fecal matter do not enter into the pool and create a problem for other swimmers.
- Some snacks for your baby, which you can feed him after the swimming lesson.
- Hat for your baby
2. Going into the pool
Before you take your child to the pool, you need to teach your child some valuable lessons, related to safety and security. Teach your child not to enter into the pool alone without parents around and enter only after parents enter the pool. After you enter the pool and are ready, ask your child to jump. Whatever words you chose to say, make sure that you are consistent with it. For instance, you can try saying things like, “1, 2, 3, let’s go.”
Smile and talk to your child and make sure that your child is having fun. Try to be calm and be positive. Make your baby hold your fingers and pull him in a very gentle way. In this step, you are just introducing your child to the pool, and this will make your child feel relaxed and comfortable.
3. Blowing bubbles in the pool
Blowing bubbles are a good step to teach your baby to hold his breath under water. It will make your child understand the need to blow out and not breath in when he/she is under water. You should try to keep this whole step playful. Smile at your child always and encourage your baby. These actions will make your child relaxed. Do not stress out.
4. Bobbing your baby’s head under water
You should always tell your child when you are about to make him/her go under water. Initially, you should only take your child to go chin deep. As the time passes, and your child feels comfortable with the whole thing, you can try going deeper.
Firstly, make your child’s mouth a little wet with each bob. Then, you can go further and with each bob submerge his nose, face and body.
5. Passing underwater
When your child is comfortable with the above steps and starts to enjoy the whole thing, you can teach your child some very simple swimming motions. You can teach your child to kick legs by holding your child on the surface of the water and pushing around gently. Make sure that your baby is not panicking or is afraid of it.
6. Making your baby swim without assistance
Finally, when your child has learned all the above steps, you can let your child swim independently. However, this may scare your baby and hence, do this for a very brief period. Start with the steps mentioned above, then stand in front of your child with stretched arms, and encourage him/her to swim towards you.
Tips
- Teach your baby to enter a pool only when accompanied by a parent.
- Do not submerge children under water if they are younger than 3 years. It is because they might swallow a large amount of water and chemicals along with it, which may cause nausea, seizures, and sleepiness in them.
- If you are teaching your baby swimming in your pool, make sure it has proper fencing, and the fence has a height of 4 to 5 feet. Your pool should also have a self-closing gate, which is not in the reach of your baby.
- Check the pool’s temperature before going in. It should be 32 degree Celsius for babies who are 3 months or lesser in age. The temperature should be 30 degree Celsius for children older than that.
- Water safety is a paramount factor. Make sure that you hold your child close to your chest each time you take him/her to swimming. Never leave your baby alone. Do not assume that someone else will watch your kid. Your child is your responsibility. Drowning is a very common cause of death these days. Keep your baby safe.
- Pick a quiet time for swimming. Try not to go to swimming when the pool is too crowded. You can go early on a weekend to avoid the crowd or going in the evening on a weekday is also a good idea.
- Make sure that your baby is ready for swimming. Your child must not be tired and fed well before taking for swimming. A tired child can be agitated and grumpy. Hence, you should make sure that your child slept well before you take him/her for swimming.
You can have some real fun time with you baby when you teach him/her swimming. Follow the above steps to make the lesson easier for your child and so that you will never have to compromise the safety of your child during the swimming training.
