Teaching your infant to swim is an important decision. Many parents begin swimming lessons for their infant to get an early start. However, there are prominent safety-related issues that make infant swimming ability far more crucial. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 4,000 babies die by drowning while another 12,000 to 16,000 will suffer severe brain damage from "near" drowning.
(Figures taken from the Infant Swimming Resource)
Teaching an infant to swim accomplishes two things:
1. They learn to maneuver in water and hold their breath early on in life, and are prepared for advanced swimming techniques at a younger age if swimming is practiced often.
2. If an accident occurs in the water and the infant is suddenly in a potential drowning situation, he/she will naturally know what to do. It could save the child's life.
What Can Babies Learn?
Infant lessons aren't designed to teach a baby to "swim" by the definition of many. Swimming is often thought of as a motion or action, not a state of being. However, in infant lesson talk, it's more of a state of being than an action.
Comfort in the Water
Babies can and should learn first of all to be comfortable in water. Allowing your infant to float while you hold onto him/her should be done often before the first lesson. Your baby needs to become familiar with being in the water.
Holding Their Breath
Babies as young as six months old can be taught to hold their breath on cue when submerged into the water. This takes much practice and patience.
Your infant will not learn the swimming strokes and motions until later. When a baby begins to crawl or walk on its own, this might be time to teach swimming strokes.
Only teach your infant if you feel he/she is ready. If the baby illustrates panic while in the water, then you'll need to wait. Not all babies take to the water easily. You know your child better than anyone else, and shouldn't force swimming lessons if you have a bad feeling about it. A parent's participation is of utmost importance during the lessons and practice.
Learning to Stroke
Some children are able to swim by stroking at the age of one year although very close parent or instructor supervision should be present at all times. A one-year-old might be able to last a few seconds swimming solo (with an adult by their side, of course). The child is often given a reachable goal such as a ladder or the side wall of a pool, and then placed in the water within just a few strokes of the target.
Toddlers who have been instructed and engaged in much practice can even jump into the water and begin swimming. Every child develops their skills differently so don't expect too much from your child while learning. Always be very cautious, even if your child is a very fast learner.
Tips for Parents
Don't try teaching your infant or small child to swim on your own unless you are a trained professional. Enroll your child in a trustworthy program to ensure safety.
Learn how to save your child's life by training in basic CPR and other life-saving techniques. If you plan to practice with your child in your own pool after each lesson, knowing these techniques is important.
Make sure your baby is relaxed before and during lessons. Infants who associate tension with swimming may never learn fully how to do the maneuvers.
Take frequent but short lessons if possible. If you're only taking one lesson per week, practice at home. You can use the bathtub if you don't own a pool.
Teaching your infant to swim requires patience and consistency, but the rewards are great. Your child will be more comfortable in the water at a young age and be able to further skills as he/she grows. It's easier to teach a young child to swim than an older child because the older a person gets, the more aware of dangers they become. Fear keeps many adults from learning to swim. Although your child should develop a respect for the water and a knowledge of safety guidelines, he/she should learn that the water doesn't have to be a fearful thing. This is best taught at a young age.
Use the tips above as a guide while teaching your infant to swim. Your child can be a skilled swimmer by the age of five with plenty of practice and patience.
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