Watching your baby laugh and cry as they splash water everywhere around the bathtub can be adorable. You may wonder when it’s best to introduce them to swimming lessons. Maybe you want them to use your pool at home, you’re going on a trip, or you’ve simply found that your baby loves having meal time in the bathtub. Basically, kids swimming lessons acclimate them to the water. In the process, they also learn the basics of water safety. Below is everything you need to know about introducing your baby to swimming lessons, including when to do it and why it’s worth it. You’ll also learn what to look for when choosing a class and what you can do to ensure a seamless transition from your child’s first swim lesson.

Why Should You Teach Your Baby To Swim?

The main reason to consider swimming lessons for children is for their safety. There are many toddlers swimming pool-related accidents every year. These accidents can be avoided by your child understanding the basics of swimming, not fearing the water, and knowing how to get themselves to safety in the pool. Although younger children may not yet be able to swim across the pool, they can learn the skills necessary to get to safety if they accidentally fall into the water.

Swimming lessons are as important as any safety precautions required in private or public pools today. Treating them as a basic requirement ensures the safety of your loved ones at all times. In addition, your beautiful baby will feel more comfortable in the pool and find swimming enjoyable; this is important to ensure that they are more receptive to more advanced lessons later on.

Swimming is considered a cardio exercise that can help your child strengthen their limbs and other body parts while aiding muscle development. It may help them have better coordination, and reflexes and aid build cognitive skills. The healthy exhaustion from swimming can help toddlers have a better appetite and sleeping patterns.

When Should Your Child Start Swimming Lessons?

It’s ideal to introduce your little one to swimming lessons at four months of age. The earlier they are comfortable in the water, the easier it will be for them to learn various safety techniques. Research shows that babies sometimes develop fears around eight months of age, which they can handle well with earlier training. It is not too late, even if they are over four months old. The earlier they start learning, the better their skills will be shaped.

Additionally, babies under six months old don’t learn to swim nearly as much as older children. Rather, they receive basic pool skills and familiarity to strengthen them for future success. Keep in mind that infants who participate in parent-child swimming receive basic information and motor skills that will help them excel in the future, including swimming lessons to keep them safe in and near the pool.

In swimming pools, children start kicking and paddling before they practice swimming, just as they learn to crawl before they start walking. Understand that through repeated practice, young children can learn to hold onto the side of the pool or turn onto their backs to swim.

Swimming Safety For Babies

It is important you don’t leave your child alone in or near the pool. Also, don’t leave them in the care of other young children. Remember, children ages 12 to 36 months are more at risk of swimming pool-related accidents. The AAP(American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends touch monitoring; your child should be an arm’s length away from the water so you can get to them immediately.

Swim aids and other inflatables are fun, but you should not fully rely on them to protect your children from the dangers of the water. A Canadian coast guard- approved life jacket fits more securely and is safer than traditional flotation devices for children. Regardless of the method you use to keep your child afloat, always keep an arm’s length away when your child is enjoying their time in the water. Life jackets cannot completely substitute your supervision as a parent.

For safety, have appropriate rescue equipment by your pool and enroll your child in swim lessons as soon as they become developmentally ready.

Choosing Baby Swimming Lessons

When looking for a swimming class for your young children, it is worth making important considerations. First, you should feel comfortable communicating with the team, and they should explain their entire process to you. Also, the facilities should be safe, well-maintained, and clean; parents should opt for clean, odor-free water. You should also ensure that the swimming facility has dedicated lifeguards. In addition, pay attention to proof of safety guidelines, such as warning against running and requiring toddlers who can not go potty to use swim diapers.

Local pool facilities are a good place to start since they are close by and convenient for you. While at it, find a facility specializing in swim training for infants and toddlers. Also, warm water, ideally in the upper 80s, is equally important, especially for toddler swimming, as they lose heat faster. Remember toddler swimming classes should last at least half an hour so that they can get better acquainted with the water. Such shorter swimming lessons ensure that babies do not get anxious and reduce the chances of accidents because of tiredness.

It is also important to learn about the swim school’s teaching methods. Inquire about how they make their swimming classes enjoyable for your little one. Look for a facility with an effective lesson program to teach your child how to swim safely while still having fun. Ask your relatives, acquaintances, or work colleagues if they have had any experience with a trainer. They can recommend a competent trainer to you.

Aqua Life Swim Academy can help you introduce your baby to swimming in a fun and safe way. Our kid-friendly training is unique in Canada, and we’ve designed it to teach young swimmers breath control, forward and backward swimming, underwater swimming, and submersion. Learn more about how you can benefit from our program by visiting https://www.theaqualife.ca/kids-lessons/. We recommend starting at four months of age to help your child gain confidence in and around the water.

Name, Address, and Phone

The Aqua Life Swim Academy,

Main office – East 1199 Joseph Cyr St

Ottawa ON 1J 7T4

Main Office: 613-793-0323,

Pool Phone: 1-833-744-2782

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