Kim Purnell, Professional Swim instructor, shares her tips on how to encourage your baby to swim from a young age and has some important safety tips we should remember around water. She is has provided answers to Huggies Baby Club members below.
You shouldn’t be too concerned about the chlorine, as most leading swim schools monitor their pool chemistry consistently during the day. A tip – apply a little sorboline cream before and after swimming.
Three months is a great age to introduce your baby to swimming. However remember that you need to make the swimming experience pleasurable for your baby, so avoid swimming if the pool water is too cold, or better still, go to a swimming centre and enroll in a baby learn to swim class, where the pool water is pleasantly warm.
It is important for the health and safety of the other swimmers that any little accidents can be contained. Even though your child is toilet trained, sometimes the excitement or even the warm water can induce an accident! Therefore it is best if the pools enforce a policy of wearing Little Swimmers for all babies/ toddlers.
At this age it is important to continue lessons throughout the year. That way, by summer your son will be continuing to develop his skills. If you stop lessons during the colder months, some kids develop fears and anxieties about returning to the pool.
Tip – Especially for younger swimmers, when leaving the pool, pop a beanie on your son’s head, as you lose significant heat from your body through your head.
Thank you for your kind thoughts.
I suggest you ask your swim centre if they offer a sibling discount for the second and third swimmers in your family. Otherwise ‘shop around’ and call other swim centres in your area as I know some centres do offer this discount.
I hope that you can find some relief in the fees as it is so important for your children’s safety and enjoyment to swim.
Where I teach swimming we use no floatation devices as we are trying to develop the skill of independent swimming. At home, you can use floaties or a bubble at family BBQ’s etc, however don’t rely on them as a baby sitter – constant supervision is imperative at all times for water safety. When swimming in your home pool with just the family, I suggest not using flotation devices as this will help develop your child’s feel for the water.
It is quite OK for parents to alternate lessons. That way both of you can experience the time with your baby’s lessons. Mum and dad should talk about the lessons to inform each other of the child’s progress and skills.
Why wait until she is 6 months old when we take babies from 3 months. She is at a great age now to start. Have a look at www.carlile.com.au or www.austswim.com.au
You are looking for a well established organization, with a warm friendly teaching environment, and a well maintained pool and facilities.
You might like to ask your doctor or at the baby clinic first, but as long as you are shown the correct way to submerge your baby by an experienced teacher, your baby should not be taking water into his lungs. We teach babies from 3 months old at our facility.
Have a look at www.carlile.com.au or www.austswim.com.au
You need to find a facility which has a policy of not forcing your child into the water. We need to make her first lesson fun and enjoyable by, if necessary, not even putting your child in the water for the first lesson. They can just play and become familiar with the pool and other children at first and see others having a pleasant experience.
Privately run dedicated swim schools have multiple pools eg 25m pool and a 16m teaching pool, which is dedicated to teach from babies through to 7 year olds. The water is warm and makes for a much more pleasant learning environment.
I hope you find the right facility for your daughter, and don’t give up on her swimming lessons. I have seen children just like her who have been so afraid and they turn into fantastic confident swimmers. Don’t be disheartened, keep trying.
Have a look at www.carlile.com.au or www.austswim.com.au
Hi Bree, I understand your concerns but please don’t be anxious about submerging her. Once you find your swim centre, you will be guided by an experienced teacher how to safely do this. They will show you the correct verbal cues and baby holds to use. You will find it a fascinating and pleasant experience for you and your baby.
There is no evidence that I know of that baby’s/ toddlers will suffer from an increase in colds and ear infections due to swimming in winter. Our pools are warm and well maintained. There is never a right or wrong time to start lessons, just when you are comfortable to start.
Tip – Especially for younger swimmers, when leaving the pool, pop a beanie on your baby’ head, as you lose significant heat from your body through your head.
Hi Jessica, You should persevere with the lessons, but explain your concerns to the teacher or the supervisor at the swim centre. The Humpty Dumpty part needs to be made enjoyable for him. It is not necessary that it always ends in a submersion, but go through the actions keeping his head above the water a few times, gaining his confidence. Then slowly introduce a submersion. Make a big fuss then ‘good job, well done’ all smiles and happy face. Keep trying!
You will need to talk to your swimming instructor or their supervisor about how much specific help they can give you at that centre. At our centre in this situation, we have the group lesson for all, but our teacher will then give some one-on-one time to explain to our hearing impaired mum. They seem to be enjoying and progressing well in the class.
For more information see Episode 10 Entertaining kids or Parenting .