Crocodiles and crabs – swimming with your baby

A first trip to the pool with your little one can stir up a whole host of feelings for any parent.

Some find the whole idea a bit daunting – not just because of the logistics of getting a small squirming baby swim ready (swim nappy, check; towel, check; neoprene warm suit, check) but also due to the fact that you need to get yourself ready at the same time…and that means squeezing your postnatal body into a swimsuit and advertising your baby flab/unshaven legs/leaky boobs* to the world.

*delete as appropriate

Some, on the other hand, find the whole idea hugely exciting and happily march into their local leisure centre, looking forward to relaxing in the warmth of the baby pool and seeing their little one (hopefully) squealing in excitement.

Whichever your school of thought, there is no denying that baby swimming can have huge benefits for you and your baby.

Learning to swim is one of the most useful things your child will ever do – lets face it, at some point the vast majority of children are going to come into contact with water of some description, and knowing how to be safe and happy in the water is a great skill to have.

Whatever form of swimming you choose – structured lessons, or as-and-when trips to special baby sessions – ‘swimming’ in the early days will mainly consist of swishing your baby around in the water, bobbing him up and down a bit, perhaps helping him ‘jump’ in from the side, and letting him use his natural reflexes to ‘swim’ underwater. Soon after they may learn how to hold on to the wall on their own, and how to turn to get to the side when they jump into the pool. Then later, as they learn to crawl and walk, they can use these skills in the pool too, becoming ‘crocodiles’ and ‘crabs’.

The skill to actually swim on top of the water is not really gained until around 3 years old, when children are old enough to properly co-ordinate all the necessary movements and have the strength to make them work.

The Wee Man attended swimming lessons from around 4 months old, and from his first trip to the pool he loved it. We went to our local leisure centre for an ‘aquatots’ session, complete with children’s music, floats and toys in the pool, and a qualified swimming instructor on hand to answer any questions, offer tips on helping your baby enjoy the water, and assist with getting your baby swimming underwater if you want them to (which we did, and which the Wee Man seemed a little confused by – but certainly wasn’t that bothered by it!).

Following his apparent enjoyment of the experience (and amazing 3 hour nap afterwards – oh yes, did I mention that other benefit of swimming? It REALLY tires out small babies so you’re guaranteed an uninterrupted drink and a piece of cake at the local coffee shop following the experience…) we signed him up for a term of lessons with the London Swim School, and he hasn’t looked back since.

Now, at 2 ½ years old, he happily swims around the pool with the aid of floats, jumps in unassisted, and dips his head in and out of the water of his own volition, with a big grin on his face. In fact, it’s his favourite activity of the week!

And at 6 months, Bubby D is 2 months into swimming lessons and loving them just as much (although she does have a propensity to dip her tongue into the water at regular intervals and then look confused). As we moved house, she has started lessons in a private pool in a local hotel, which has different teaching methods to the ones which the Wee Man experienced. Despite that, she seems to be learning at the same pace as he did, and I’ve no doubt that the outcome will be the same.

So…whatever your swimming options, whatever your feelings, it really is worth your while to get your kit off, get your swimming kit on, and get on into the pool!