We believe our Waterbabies class is the first step towards a lifelong love of the water.
Everything we do is designed to get your child swimming under the water comfortably or floating on their backs. Classes are 30 minutes long, with a maximum of 7 children, all under 2.5 years of age and working toward similar goals.
It can be hard to know when to start, but experience has shown us the earlier the better! By three months babies have a medical history, their immune systems have developed, and they are bonded with you. Plus, the buoyancy of water and your gentle support is a perfect mix to encourage independent movement and help them explore and have fun. We also know kids respond best when you are confident and having fun, so we want you to enjoy your time in the water as well.
Learning to swim requires physical, mental and emotional readiness and skills are learned gradually. When a baby is born, gravity is the main influence on the development of independent movement. Water creates a different learning situation, because we now have the combined forces of gravity and buoyancy. For babies, this can be an enjoyable experience or an exciting challenge.
This is the most important element in learning movement in water. Children learn water balance gradually, from being carried around the pool by their parents, to eventually feeling buoyancy while floating.
Lying on the back will often be a very comfortable position for a newborn and offers a great way to feel the water. Initially, the entire body may be supported, but special attention should be given to the head, neck and shoulders, ensuring the head doesn’t slip under water and that water doesn’t enter the mouth. This is something you can try in the bath.
This is not usually seen under two years but is possible from about five months. It is a great skill to work towards in each class in a fun and relaxed way, without applying pressure or forcing the issue
Children are often capable of holding their breath before they actually go under water. The easiest way to see this is when you pour water over their head and face. When they react to your cues and stay relaxed and comfortable, they are showing they can hold their breath.
To eventually swim, babies must be comfortable with their faces in the water. Until they can hold their breath, they will not be able to keep their face in the water or be happy submerging. Once this skill is achieved, the baby is ready for more advanced submersions.
Children are never forced to submerge. Be patient and let your baby develop breath control before attempting submersions and work with your teacher to learn the best cues, holds and techniques. Practice just a few each class and limit them to 2 to 3 seconds each, until you are sure they are going well. Soon, you can gradually increase the number and duration of submersions.
Wait until your child is relaxed. Children should be participating in class, happy to get their face wet and feel stable while being held.
Use a consistent verbal cue and facial expression each time. A small lift before submerging also provides a cue that can be felt.
Use a supportive hold and maintain a horizontal body position to avoid getting water in your child’s nose. If a baby’s body and head position are more vertical while submerging, it is easy for water to get in their nose and this can cause coughs, splutters and discomfort!
Go all the way. Aim to get your child’s entire head under water, at least to their hairline. Partial submersions can be confusing and actually cause problems.
Finish off by making contact with your shoulder before surfacing. This will develop a good finishing skill and teach your child to avoid “stalling” before the submersion is complete.
If your baby resists going under by arching their back, turning their head or protesting verbally, they may want more control. Allow them to initiate swims, perhaps by placing a toy or another person in front of them and assist them as they start to move.
Once your child is happily submerging, you may want to let them try swimming on their own. It is quite possible for a six-month-old child to be released comfortably during a submersion and allowed to glide for a few seconds.
Once children are released and gliding, they will often begin kicking their feet or paddling with their arms. It isn’t necessary that they do this right away, or every time. Gliding with their body is a great way to feel the support that water gives them.
Children will often begin to propel when they feel a need to, so gradually increasing distance or sending them off with less of a push may encourage this.
It is common to see eight-month-old children, who have been attending regularly, actively propel themselves for a couple of meters. However, remember that babies who are not yet walking will still need assistance to finish off their swims at your shoulder, the wall or platform.
The level of swimming required to enter the water, turn and come back to the wall, is quite an accomplishment. It will take most children until at least 2 years, if not longer, even if they have been swimming from an early age.
Children learn skills by repetition. Even though a child performs a skill one day, this doesn’t mean they will remember it the next, so review of skills previously learned is necessary before moving on to something new. The class formats that you will learn and see repeated are designed to help create comfortable familiarity. For example, though they may try “Humpty Dumpties” every class, they may be carried to the wall on the first day and eventually progress to swimming independently with a breath. So, the same activity, repeated often, can still offer new challenges.
Start by supporting your baby’s entire body, paying special attention to the head, neck and shoulders. Make sure the head doesn’t slip under water and that water doesn’t enter the mouth.
Your baby will associate the water with a calm and relaxed feeling. This special time enhances bonding and is a great way for dads to get involved as well.
Another option, it's quick and convenient, allowing babies to become comfortable with water on their face.
Keep in mind to:
Children will be awarded the Waterbabies certificate and be promoted to the Tadpole class when they are:
This will be a fun and important step in your child’s swimming development.
