There are so many reasons for teaching your baby to swim it’s hard to know
where to start. For one thing, babies love to be in the water. Even if your baby
doesn’t seem to like bath-time, she may still enjoy going swimming. Getting her
used to the water early is very important from a safety point of view. Your baby
won’t be able to swim properly until she is older, but even young babies can
learn to hold their breath, blow bubbles under water, and paddle to the sides to
hold on – invaluable if you live near the water or plan a holiday by the sea.
When should you start?
It isn’t necessary to wait until your baby has had all her immunizations before
you take her to the local swimming baths. The National Health Service (NHS)
says,
“The advice to wait until the baby has had some or all of their immunisations
goes back to the days when polio was much more common and people were worried
about its spread in swimming pools. It is now an extremely rare infection and
hardly ever seen in the UK.”
You may, however, want to wait until your baby is old enough not to be fazed by
the noise and activity at the local swimming pool. Most parent and baby classes
start at around twelve weeks, so this is probably a good guide.
Changing for you and your baby
A concern for many new mums is how to manage getting themselves and their baby
ready for the pool – and dry again afterwards. What do you do with the baby
while you are in the shower? Call the pool before you visit and ask about their
facilities – or visit alone the first time to see for yourself. Many changing
rooms have changing tables and playpens, but just as many don’t. Some mums seem
to manage fine by simply placing their baby on a towel on the floor.
Lots of pools prefer babies to wear some kind of swim-wear, so invest in a good
swim-nappy (water-proof knickers to you and me). You’ll also need a towel for
your baby, preferably with a hood, toys that are suitable for the water, your
usual changing bag and a feed if bottle feeding. And your own changing bag, of
course!
Getting started
Take it slowly when you and your baby first go to the pool. Limit your visits to
off-peak hours so your baby isn’t overwhelmed – and so you aren’t either. Using
his own bath toys, play games in the water, keeping him close to you so he feels
safe. Swish him through the water pretending he is a fish, or raise him up and
splash him back down gently. Keep it fun.
As soon as he is confident in the water, begin to teach him to blow bubbles when
his mouth is underwater. Demonstrate this yourself, and don’t forget to make it
into a game. There is a serious aspect to this: your baby will not be able to
swallow any water if he is blowing, so the game could one day save his life.
Safety in the water
Obviously you should only take your baby into the shallow end of the
toddler’s pool.
Ideally, you should wait an hour after a baby's feed before swimming.
Keep your concentration - a baby can drown in seconds.
Don't rely on baby floats and inflatables to keep your baby safe.
Don’t take your baby swimming if he is poorly. Wait at least 2 days
after he has recovered from any tummy bugs, colds or ear infections before
you take him swimming.
Test the temperature of the water yourself before taking your baby in,
Always take him out of the water and wrap him in a towel as soon as he
starts to look cold.
If you are scared of the water, or are a very poor swimmer, consider
taking lessons yourself before going to the pool with your baby.
If your baby has sensitive skin, you might like to rinse off under a
shower immediately after coming out of the pool.
And finally...
Ask at your local pool for information on parent and baby classes – a great way
to teach your infant to swim, and to meet new mums and dads.
Read our Diary Of A New Mum and discover what happens when Jessica-Ann comes
home from the hospital and during her first year at home. This fun read is
perfect for new mums and experienced mums alike! New episodes weekly. Diary Of A New Mum
Dislaimer
AV Baby content is for information only. If you are at all worried about your
baby, please seek the advice of your midwife, doctor or paediatrician.
Diary of a New Mum Week 33
A Baby Cage In which I purchase a play-pen and wait to see how Jessica-Ann will react...
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