Frequently Asked Questions

It is natural for you to have questions.  Please be encouraged ask away.  The better prepared you feel, the more relaxed you will be.

Why should I take my baby swimming?

Swimming isn’t just fun!  Because of all the skin-to-skin contact, it’s also a terrific bonding activity to enhance the connection between you and your little one. Plus, because your baby can move without the restriction of gravity while in the water, they will be able to use muscles that they never use on dry land. Swimming can benefit both your baby’s strength and coordination but the most obvious benefit of teaching your child to swim is its potential life-saving. There are numerous additional benefits of infant swimming; perhaps the most important of these are;

• Enhances general health & awareness
• Enhances eating and sleeping patterns
• Encourages physical, social & psychological development
• Strengthens cardio-respiratory functions
• Develops strength, stamina & agility
• It’s fun & social!

There is also substantial scientific research to support the many benefits of swimming from and early age.

ScienceDaily (Nov. 16, 2012) — Children who learn how to swim at a young age are reaching many developmental milestones earlier than the norm
Researchers from the Griffith Institute for Educational Research in Australia found skills that are highly valuable in other learning environments and will be of considerable benefit for young children as they transition into pre-schools and school. As well as achieving physical milestones faster, children also scored significantly better in visual-motor skills such as cutting paper, colouring in and drawing lines and shapes, and many mathematically-related tasks. Their oral expression was also better as well as in the general areas of literacy and numeracy.

 

Can my baby go swimming before or after vaccinations?

Babies should only be introduced to the water in line with the most current recommendations from the Department of Health.  The current recommendation (last reviewed 12 November 2019) is your baby does not need any immunisations before they go swimming. 

NHS UK

 

When can I start swimming with my baby?

Though you can take your baby swimming any time from birth, experts advise new mothers to wait at least 6 weeks after the birth of their baby before going to the pool.  Although you are welcome to start sooner, we would tend to advise parents to start classes around 12 weeks or 12 lbs in weight as a rough guide.  By this time your baby will have improved head and neck control and will be able to stay alert for longer.  As our classes are 30 minutes, our concern is to make sure we don't overtire your baby and that you both get the most out of your class experience.  From birth to 9 months babies adjust easily to a water environment.  The later babies are introduced to the water the more likely they are to object to the unfamiliar sensations. 

It is strongly recommended that your health professional is happy for the baby to be introduced to the public pool.  You should not feel under any pressure to go to a pool until both you and baby are ready.

 

Can babies swim?

Yes, babies can swim if we encourage them.  There are many benefits and hardly any risks associated with early swimming if you take a gentle approach.  That’s what you will learn in you parent/ baby swimming class.  The underlying philosophy of our approach to aquatic teaching for babies is that swimming comes naturally to them.  You will be shown how to help your baby move on their own in the water, offering physical support, steady encouragement and constant praise.  Your baby will become more and more independent from you as they develop skills, strength and self-confidence.  Nevertheless, babies need strength and control to raise themselves to the surface to breathe, which they cannot do until they are at least eight months old.  From birth to six months it is natural for them to hold their breath and their arm and leg movements are a reflex action.  They cannot yet swim properly by extending their arms, kicking their legs and lifting their heads to breath.  The STA (Swimming Teacher’s Association) and Birthlight emphasis is not on teaching your baby to swim in a formal way but on encouraging free movement in the water.  This will lead to swimming as soon as your baby or toddler is physically and emotionally ready.  

The approach used in our Baby Beginner’s class is based on encouraging the development of a newborn baby’s natural swimming reflex in water into conscious movements of the legs and arms by the end of the first year.  If these early reflexes are not strengthened by regular stimulation they will disappear in most babies after five or six months.  The techniques practiced will not only sustain and build these reflexes in younger babies but also then lead to

the natural development of voluntary arm and leg movements in the water and then baby swimming.

Skills are learned in different but complementary ways:

•      Exercises allowing each baby to develop at their own pace, promoting a progressive foundation for unaided swimming on the basis of reflex movements in the first year

•      Swimming with adults so that babies experience the motions of swimming, register them and gain familiarity with them

•      Submersion, breathing control and diving skills, practiced simultaneously in each session at the pool

•      Games that are relaxing and fun but at the same time develop the child’s skills in the water

 

When will my baby swim?

It all depends on what you mean by ‘swimming’.  Many parents expect their babies to be able to swim soon after they start.  While some infants may move freely in the water after just a few sessions, it is very rare that they will be able to swim unaided to a target before they are at least a year old.  This means 40 to 60 weekly sessions or more.  Each child is unique and his progression depends on many different factors.  The focus of any class should always be on having fun in the water.  There should never be any pressure for achievement.  Expecting quick results and pushing for them will often be counterproductive.  Some parents are under the impression that babies will float from birth.  Very few if any babies actually do.  Helping a baby develop full buoyancy as she grows is part of the joy of infant aquatics.

A child will be at least 2 or maybe even 3 years old before they have the cognative ability to be able to learn correct swimming technique.

 

What is the ideal water temperature for infant swimming?

Water temperature should be at least 30°C (32° C for babies under 3 months or weighing less than 5.5kg or 12lbs).  Typically most pools where we hold our classes are kept between 31 and 33° C,  Both water and ambient temperatures are monitored before and during class.

 

What does my baby need to wear when swimming in a public pool?

Children attending class who are not yet fully potty trained are required to wear a double nappy system during class. This is to mitigate as far as possible against faeces leaking into the water should baby soil during class. Such an incident poses a serious threat to public health and can cause the temporary closure of the pool. This causes embarrassment for the parent, disruption to class and can be very costly to the leisure facility. It is mandatory therefore that during class, all children who are not yet fully potty trained wear a porous swim nappy (such as Huggies Little Swimmers) under a reusable swim nappy (such as Konfidence Neo Nappy) that fits snuggly enough around your baby’s body to prevent leakage of faeces. Your AquababesNIMAEA instructor will refuse entry into the pool if your child is not properly dressed for class. Refunds will not be issued where an adult is refused entry because their child is not properly attired for class.

 

What will I need to bring to my Baby Swim Class?

Along with your own swimming costume and towels, you'll also need to pack:

• Both a disposable (plus spare) and reusable swim nappy for Baby.
• A warm bottle for after the swim if you are bottle feeding and or a snack if your baby has started solids.  Swimming is hungry work!
• A changing mat and nappy bag
• A suggly hat to pop on your baby's head after the swim.
• A bath sized towel for the poolside and a pair of flip-flops are also recommended for hygiene and warmth and in the event you need to leave the pool unexpectedly.

 

When should I feed my baby?

If at all possible, babies should not be fed in the hour preceding their class.  Babies can sometimes regurgitate milk or vomit in the water (spilling).  If your baby tends to do this, avoid snacks before going into the pool but bring a healthy snack for after the session. Older babies who are fed solid food should not be fed immediately before swimming as they tend to bring it up in the water, particularly if they have mucus in their stomachs.

Loud burps in the water are to be expected from babies.  Cheer them!  When a baby has hiccups, submersion should be avoided.

 

Should I swim my baby if he falls sick?
Please note the following is general advice and should not be used above that of your health professional. Unless a baby has a sniffy cold (yellow/green mucus in the nose which can indicate infection), a chest infection, an ear or an eye infection, taking him swimming is unlikely to make him worse if he is just ‘under the weather’. In fact, swimming can provide temporary relief from the symptoms of common colds and be invigorating. Doctors recommend it as the best exercise for asthmatic children since it does not produce bronchial hyperactivity. This said, if your baby is diagnosed as asthmatic, seek medical advice before starting infant aquatics as each individual case is different.

Babies who have eczema may not be able to swim in chlorinated pools. After a couple of trials, you will know if your baby’s condition is made worse by swimming and if so you should take medical advice.

My baby seems to have gone off swimming.  Why should this be?
There are known times when a baby is more likely to be affected by separation anxiety (around 7-9 months, and 14-15 months). A mother’s new pregnancy, a house move or illness, a long journey, changes in baby care or tensions in the home may affect your baby’s swimming temporarily.  Learning to crawl, walk and talk may also change a baby’s performance in the water, either speeding his progress or slowing it.  You must be patient and never feel guilty if your baby is slow to show signs of progress or interest. Be reassured that if you persevere without forcing your baby, enjoyment of the water will resume spontaneously in your baby’s own time.

I make a personal recommendation of the "Wonder Weeks" book (and accompanying app) by Hetty Van de Rijt, Frans Plooij, et al. This book and app changed my life and relationship with my own three children in their infancy.
The worldwide bestseller and multiple award winning The Wonder Weeks. How to stimulate your baby's mental development and help him turn his 10 predictable, great, fussy phases into magical leaps forward describes the incredible mental developmental changes (leaps) and regression periods that all babies go through. Understanding the real reason behind crying, eating and sleeping problems is the only real solution every parent needs. The Wonder Weeks reveals what's going on inside baby's mind.

Can Dads and partners come too?
Ordinarily yes! I love to see Dads and partners take an interest and support you in your swimming endeavours with Baby. It is a wonderful opportunity for you both to get involved in an activity that is fun, relaxing and engaging for all. Unfortunately during COVID-19, only one adult will be allowed into the pool with Baby during class to prevent overcrowding and help maintain social distancing. As soon as I am free to, this restriction that has been imposed on us will be relaxed again. Spectators are also not welcome during COVID-19.