Baby swimming is an essential activity for supporting your little one's personal growth. Numerous studies and perinatal experts highlight the benefits of introducing babies to water activities, including swimming, between the ages of 4 months and 6 years. This is the ideal age range for participating in baby swimming sessions.
These sessions allow young children to safely explore the aquatic environment alongside their parents. Led by specialized swimming instructors, baby swimming classes are widely recognized as the most effective and reassuring way to introduce little ones to water.
Let’s dive into the world of baby swimming: what exactly is it, why is it beneficial for babies, when should you start, and what does a typical session look like?
What is Baby Swimming and Why Should You Practice This Activity?
Before diving into the details of what a typical baby swimming session consists of, we want to explain to you what “baby swimming” is and why this exercise is beneficial for your little one.
What is Baby Swimming?
This term "baby swimming" is sometimes confusing. In fact, this activity is not designed to teach your child how to swim, contrary to what one might think. Baby swimming lessons allow the little one to discover the aquatic environment, to feel comfortable, and to overcome this fear of water (aquaphobia) that is naturally present in most children.
Following this activity, your baby will no longer be fearful of the marine environment (no more fear of splashes, no more fear of putting their head underwater, etc.).
To avoid this confusion, some pools call this activity "baby in the water" rather than "baby swimming". This seems to better describe what a baby swimming session really is. Later in this article, we will return in detail to what this activity consists of.
The Advantages of Practicing Baby Swimming Sessions
As mentioned earlier, this enjoyable activity is not meant to teach swimming. Learning to swim is more suitable for children from 5 to 6 years old. Before this age, the little one does not fully control their body, so their movements are not well-coordinated.
If your little one is already comfortable in the water, feel free to visit our store specializing in inflatable pool accessories. Discover our collection of baby swimmer floats:
Baby swimming lessons are ideal for contributing to your little one's general awakening and to their physical, psychological, and psycho-affective development.
More specifically, this activity covers four interdependent themes:
- Discovery of water, oneself, and others,
- Entering the water,
- Wading, floating, moving,
- Going underwater.
These themes will allow the child to become familiar with the water, then develop their motor skills, self-confidence, and sociability.
Real moments of sharing between parents and the child, the sessions are also supervised by professionals (specialized swimming instructors). This reassures everyone, greatly reduces drowning risks, and enriches this magical moment even more.
At What Age to Start Baby Swimming Sessions and What Precautions to Take?
Baby swimming classes are accessible to babies from the 4th month, once the first two DTPolio vaccine injections have been completed. In addition, a medical certificate from the doctor must be obtained, certifying that there are no contraindications and that the baby can begin their aquatic awakening in complete tranquility.
We still recommend starting the aquatic awakening from 6 months. The child will be more receptive to sensations, and the sessions will be more enjoyable for them and the parents. Make sure to register well in advance; places are generally in high demand (especially during school holidays). You can also develop your baby's aquatic awakening in your bathroom with a neck float, for example.
Then, you can practice baby swimming courses until the age of 4 or 6 years (depending on the establishments). From this age, learning to swim can begin more seriously.
Make sure to feed your little one well before the sessions (with slow sugars 1 to 2 hours before, for example). Indeed, this activity is very energy-consuming, and the caloric expenditure is very high for the child. Also, make sure to keep your baby warm when leaving the pool. The little ones are very sensitive to the cold, and before 18 months, they cannot fight it effectively.
It's important to know: the mandatory visit to the doctor before starting the sessions is precisely for this, but we prefer to mention some obvious contraindications. It is not recommended to practice aquatic awakening for children with respiratory problems (bronchitis, rhinitis, asthma...), cardiovascular issues, ear infections, or proven skin problems like eczema or psoriasis.
What Happens in a Baby Swimming Session?
Baby is held by the parent for the first swim. This allows them to get over the hurdle, accompanied by a trusted individual.
Between 4 and 9 months, classes generally last for a maximum of 20 minutes, and the baby slowly discovers the water with the help of their parents, who make them float on the surface, get them into the water, and then below the water... After 9 months, classes can go up to 45 minutes to 1 hour.
The sessions are organized by pools and supervised by a professional. Baby is not alone to discover this new environment... Classes are usually conducted in a small group of about ten children.
Then, when the baby becomes more comfortable, other exercises may be considered (slide, play mats, inflatable floats...). This is really when the development of their motor skills comes into play. They also learn to better manage their breathing. In short, a very complete development of their body and mindset.
Besides the essential swimming caps and swimsuits, most establishments provide the appropriate equipment (floaters, armbands, play mats, slides, aquatic toys...). Nonetheless, if you wish to continue practicing elsewhere than in a municipal pool, feel free to discover all our models of trendy baby floats - fun and playful:
Enough to spend unforgettable moments with your little one!
This article is coming to an end, and we hope it has shed light on the activity of baby swimming and that you are now ready to start your little one's aquatic awakening.
