In baby swimming lessons, the most common question isn't about technique, but emotion: Will I have to put my baby in the water?
The answer is no. And that's not just to reassure mothers.
It is not the water the baby finds foreign, but loneliness.
Water is a familiar environment for babies. They lived in water for nine months. Entering the water is not an entirely new experience for them.
What's new is something else: separating from the person she trusted.
If you put a baby in water while it's in the arms of a stranger, its reaction will be to separation, not to the water. The crying isn't from the coldness of the water or fear, but from the disappearance of a familiar person.
That's why in baby workouts, the mother or father is in the water. The baby starts in your arms and doesn't leave your side. The trainer accompanies you in the water and shows you the movements.
It's also a learning experience for parents.
The subtle benefit of these lessons is this: parents learn too.
A mother who learns how to hold and support her baby in the water, when to let go and when to pick them up, is more comfortable outside the pool as well. In the sea, in the bath, on vacation.
Being cautious around water is a good thing. Not panicking is. Most parents understand the difference in these lessons.
Crying baby
You don't put a crying baby in the water. That's a rule we follow.
When the baby cries, you leave, they calm down in your arms, you come back in if they want to, otherwise that's the end of it for the day. It will be tried again in the next lesson.
There's no point in forcing someone. Babies don't learn to like water by being forced; they learn by feeling safe in it.
Why is the lesson only 30 minutes long?
Babies have a short attention span and limited energy levels. Anything beyond thirty minutes leads to fatigue, and for a tired baby, the experience turns negative.
The goal isn't to stay long, but to finish well. If your baby is happy when the lesson is over, then that lesson has achieved its purpose.
When should we start?
From 2 months old. Lessons are one-on-one, no groups. Pool water is kept between 30-32 degrees Celsius. We recommend consulting your pediatrician before starting.
Come see the pool, ask your questions.
For information: 0549 613 18 28
