Being a swimming coach, I have been working with infants and babies for the last ten years. One question that I come across very often from parents is “How can I teach my baby to swim?” And sometimes phrases like “I would love to swim with my baby, but I am scared to take them into the water with me.”
Being in the water with your baby can be an amazing experience. It’s all about having fun and splashing around while introducing your baby to this amazing world of water. Get your baby ready for swimming with these simple yet effective exercises that I have put together after years of working as a swimming instructor with infants and babies.
By following these tips, not only will you help your baby in developing their swimming skills, but you will also be able to bond with your child in a very special way!
This is how I do it!
The very first step is to find a position in the swimming pool where you have a firm footing. Next, hold your baby under the armpits, slowly bring them into the water and let them feel as well as explore the water with their hands and feet. Make sure that their head from chin-up is above the water level but their hands and legs are free to explore the water. You can make it a little more interesting by singing rhymes while walking with them around the pool, maybe have a small floating toy within the pool and move towards it. I usually walk around the pool and tell the babies to kick around and move their arms towards the floating toy. This will help your child to gain some mobility in water and gradually they will start liking the feeling of being in the water. Do not worry if some water splashes on your baby’s face. Splashing water on the face is one of the key parts of this exercise. This will help the child become comfortable in the water. Once you feel that your baby is not only comfortable but loves being in the water, you can move to the next stage.
The Humpty Dumpty move
I fondly call the second stage “The Humpty Dumpty move”. Start by making you babysit on the edge of the swimming pool while you stand inside the pool.
Now start singing “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.” While singing the last line, when it comes to “had a great fall”, bring the baby slowly in the water by holding them under the armpits.
Again, make sure that their head from chin up stays over the water level. Then make the babysit again on the edge of the pool and repeat the entire exercise. Only this time, instead of keeping their entire head above the water, try to immerse them till their chins.
Slowly and gradually, try immersing their noses underwater and then eyes. Always remember that babies love repetition and it is a great way to build trust with your baby and bond with them. Repeating this exercise several times will finally make your baby feel comfortable with you and the water and once that happens, you can go for a full dive in the pool with your baby.
The back float
The final exercise is the back float. The back float is one of the most important exercises that everyone who wishes to learn swimming must go through. The earlier you start, the better it is for your child.
To start, make your baby lie flat on their back, facing the sky. Make sure your child’s head is in line with your shoulders. You can sing “twinkle twinkle little star” and get your child to spot a flying bird or an airplane in the sky, just to make it more interesting for them.
Slowly start walking backward in the pool while your baby is lying with their head on your shoulders. Continue to do this until you find them relaxing and enjoying the process. Once you feel that your baby is completely relaxed, you can just hold their head to provide minimal support.
They will, eventually, be completely ready to float and once that happens you can remove your hands from beneath their head and let them back float on their own. Nevertheless, of course, be very careful and do not let go unless you find them completely ready. There is a lot of instinct involved, and patience, so as to understand when your baby is ready and to wait for them to be completely ready.
Have fun
These are the three exercises that I highly recommend to parents who are eager to train their babies to swim.
One extra tip is to prepare a very good bag with swimming clothes, towels, and a change of clothes. Do not forget to also pack a healthy snack because usually, babies will get very hungry after a swimming session.
Do not rush the process, instead enjoy this time with your child and take half an hour regularly to play around in the water while doing the three exercises. Remember, infant swimming is not only beneficial for your baby, but it is a great way to spend some quality time with them. Appreciate this time you spend with them, the giggles, and the water splashing because they will grow up before you know it!
About Erika Peres
Erika is a Physical Education graduate with a specialization in child and infant development through sport and aquatic activities. She is a certified AustSwim Water Safety and Infants Teacher and also holds an ASCA level 2 with over 10 years of specialized experience in teaching babies and children. Through her Waterbabies and Waterkiddies programs, she has successfully trained over 1,000 students. Her swimming method is a baby/child-friendly system that encourages kids to learn the basics of swimming while having fun. This process also ensures that parents are intimately involved in their child’s development.
By Erika Perez,
Austswim Licensed Swimming Teacher
For further inquiries, write to erika.peres@epsacademy.com or call +60123316372.
