teaching an infant to swim?

The YMCA (and I'm sure other places) offer Water Babies classes (which I think start at 3 months?) if you're looking for structure/group work. They're a lot about teaching comfort and confidence in the pool and water, socializing, singing/bouncing etc. Very parent intensive. The best thing you can do for a kid is to take them to the pool and be positive about it. Lots of kids get into the upper level swim classes TERRIFIED of water because either a) their parents are terrified of water b) their parents are anxious about them going to the class ( "you're going to drown!") and they transfer this anxiety on to the kids c) they had a bad experience early in their swimming career (i.e. the old school "toss 'em in and make 'em swim" theory). You're doing a very good thing by acclimating your child to the pool early. They're pretty instinctive little buggers and will sort of let you know when they're ready to do more. Make it play, bring their favorite toys, lots of kicking/ arm movements / bobbing, little kids love kickboards, as they get more confident and comfortable, you can introduce things like holding them "superbaby" style (holding them around the middle and letting them "crawl"/doggy paddle on their own usually after some sort of toy/ball, some love the same thing floating on their back holding a ball/toy)...and keep it short. The younger ones tend to get cold and cranky even in the warmest pool after about 20-25 minutes and then they lose focus and it just goes down hill from there.

Our YMCA offers a parent & child swim class for ages 6mo - 36mo that acclimates them to the water and introduces basics like blowing bubbles and getting their face wet.

We did this with our daughter & I'd definitely recommend it.

If you google search infant swimming you will find an interesting program about actually teaching them to swim VERY early-like months old.  I feel like it is possible but did not persue it with mine (I got the info too late-I think you have to start very early) and it is quite scary to watch the video but amazing.

I have seen videos of young infants "swimming" (you know what I mean) and they look like they are having a blast. They look completely at home in the water. I think it's great to acclimate them early, for the reasons already given. Raise little fishies and they will never fear the OWS at their first tri!!

Most infants will do great in the water. It is an environment that they are pretty used to, actually. A lot don't even mind the occasional dunk underwater.

My mom told me she used to take me to mommy and me water aerobics when I was around 1 or 2, and all she did was occasionally haul me to the surface to breathe, and look what I turned into...

Ok, maybe that's not the best recommendation... :D

John

So, this is your first kid, eh? Relax. Don't worry about it. You'll traumatize him sooner or later.

Do you pour water over his head at bath time? If not, that's good place to start.

My daughter is in something called ISR www.infantswim.com. i believe it starts at six months of age. it teaches them how to save them selves if they were ever too fall into water with noone around. its amazing what little kids can do in the water. my moms friends daughter is 12mnths old and she fell into a pool, and got out by herself! it is a great thing, especially if you have a pool or your around water pretty often.

My sister teaches a class at school that teaches the parents how to teach the kids. Most of the kids were 4-6 months old.
I know dad had all three of in the water before we were out of diapers.
My neice and nephews all swim like fish after that program the youngest is not yeat able to touch the bottom even in the shallow end, so  it is all the deep end to him. Kid has no fear at all.

My daughter just finished the Infant Swim Resource classes. Google it, find an instructor, and sign your kid up. Expensive and time consuming but well worth it, especially if you own a pool.

As with the others, i've heard great reviews from the INFANT SWIM RESOURCE site. Several within my office have used it.

Check to see if there is a certified Infant aquatics Survival course available near you. We offer them through trained instructors at our hospital. They teach infants how to float on their back if they were to fall in the water. It doesn't drown-proof children, as nothing is more important than close supervision, but the course was amazing. The process has allowed my daughter to become at ease in the water and she just loves it. I think there is a video on their site. If you go to You Tube and type in 'Wise Regional" our video on the class should show up (this isn't a solicitation for our hospital-just a link for you) or there might be one one the Infant Aquatic Survival web site.

Thanks for the input!

I checked into the ISR stuff, but there is not an instructor close by.  Our Y has classes that start at 6 months.  I think I will sign up for those and just keep taking my son to the pool between now and then.

Just don't EVER think that they are 'water-proofed'!!!  There isn't an alternative to watching your babies/toddlers/children like a hawk whenever there is water nearby.  Even a swimmer can panic after falling into a pool!   Too many youngster drown every year, and the parents swear that they could swim!!

Sorry.  My own pet rant.

And all 3 of mine have been competitively swimming since they were 4.....and love the water.  Just watch your babies!!

Edited by velcromom 2009-09-09 11:19 AM