How do babies swim
Babies and swimming | Pregnancy Birth and Baby
Babies and swimming | Pregnancy Birth and Baby beginning of content4-minute read
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Teaching your child to swim will help keep them safe and can be lots of fun. Even young babies can go in a pool, but make sure you follow these tips to look after them when you take them swimming.
When can my baby start to swim?
Newborn babies can’t swim — they have to learn, just like they learn to walk. But most babies enjoy being in water and their reflexes mean they will be able to do primitive swimming strokes.
Babies can go into water from birth. However, they can’t regulate their temperature like adults, so it’s very important to make sure they don’t get too cold. Babies can also pick up an infection from water.
Therefore, it’s generally best to wait until your baby is around 2 months old before you take them swimming. You don’t have to wait until your baby is immunised to take them swimming.
If your baby is younger than 6 months, make sure the pool is heated to about 32° C. A large public pool would be too cold for a baby under 6 months.
New mothers should not go swimming until at least 6 weeks after the birth, or when they have stopped bleeding.
Safety precautions
There are lots of risks for babies and young children around water. Babies can drown in just 5cm of water. To keep them safe, never, ever leave young children unattended near water. It is a good idea to learn resuscitation for babies before you take them swimming. You can learn this by doing a first aid course.
If you have a pool or spa, it is important to make sure it is fenced according to the Australian Standard.
It is also important to be careful when using flotation devices such as rubber rings – they can tip over and make the baby’s head go underwater.
Babies can get ill from bacteria or viruses in water that hasn't been treated properly. Try not to let them swallow any water. Use swim nappies, and don't take them swimming if they have diarrhoea.
If you are swimming outside, make sure your baby is protected from the sun with clothing that blocks out ultraviolet light.
Where can my baby swim?
It’s best to get your baby used to the water at home in the bath. You don’t have to put them under the water – just let them get to enjoy floating (while you hold them) and the feel of the water on their skin.
From about 2 months you can take them into a heated pool, but don’t keep them in the water for more than 10 minutes at first. If they start to shiver, take them out and wrap them in a towel. Babies under 12 months shouldn’t stay in a pool for more than 30 minutes.
It’s OK to take your baby into a river, lake or the ocean from 2 months, but it’s very important to make sure they don’t get cold. Choose a spot where the water is warm and clean.
Watch out for currents that prevent you from holding them properly. And don’t let your baby drink the water.
Young children should not go into hot spas. Spas are only suitable for children over 16.
About swimming lessons
Baby swim classes are designed to get your baby used to the water, help them learn swimming strokes, and teach them safety and how to survive in the water. Baby swimming lessons generally start at around 6 months.
Usually lessons involve a small group of parents and babies who learn through fun activities and play.
You can find swimming classes in your area by asking at your local pool or visiting the AUSTSWIM website.
Swimming clothes for babies
Before you take your baby swimming, you will need a swim nappy, which has snug-fitting legs and waistbands to contain your baby’s poo. Swim nappies are not designed to contain urine.
A swim nappy is necessary to ensure your baby’s poo does not enter the pool. If poo gets into the swimming pool, it will need to be closed down immediately and cleaned.
Public swimming pools often require babies to wear a swim nappy.
There are 2 main types of swim nappies:
- Disposable swim nappies. These are like normal disposable nappies but they won’t swell up in the water.
- Reusable swim nappies. These are made from stretchy bathing suit material, which allows water to escape, but will contain any solids. Some have a water-proof layer inside the nappy – like plastic pants. Others have an inner mesh layer.
You will also need:
- a towel
- change mat
- nappy bag
- a snack or bottle for afterwards
More information
Kidsafe Queensland – When is the right time to take my baby swimming?
AUSTSWIM – (Parents - FAQs)
Sources:
Babycenter Australia (Swimming with your baby), Babycenter Australia (When can my baby go in oceans, lakes, or rivers?), Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (Be water safe), Australian Swim Schools Association (Information for parents), Raising Children Network (Swimming pool hygiene), AUSTSWIM (Parents - FAQs), Kidsafe Queensland (When is the right time to take my baby to swimming lessons?), Babycenter Australia (Buying a swim nappy)Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: December 2020
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Related pages
- Resuscitation for babies and children
- Sun and heat protection for babies and kids
- Water safety for babies
Need more information?
Water safety | Emergency services and safety | Queensland Government
Information to help you stay safe in and around the water.
Read more on Queensland Health website
Drowning and water safety | NT.GOV.AU
Read about how to stop children from drowning at your home.
Read more on NT Health website
Drowning prevention and water safety | Kids Health
If children aren't supervised closely in or around water, they can drown quickly in just a few centimetres of water.
Drowning is very quick and silent. Most parents and carers think they will hear if a child is drowning, but this isn’t true. A young child's head is heavy compared to the rest of their body, so they can’t lift themselves once they're under water.
Read more on Sydney Children's Hospitals Network website
Water safety for children - Better Health Channel
Toddlers are most at risk of drowning because they are mobile and curious but don't understand the danger of water.
Read more on Better Health Channel website
Water safety - MyDr.com.au
In Australian waterways in the 12 months to 30 June 2017, 291 lives were lost to drowning. Here are some water safety tips for use at swimming pools, inland waterways and the beach.
Read more on myDr website
Rural child safety
Learn more about child safety on farms and rural properties such as water hazards, animal stings and bites and sun safety and what to do if your child is injured.
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Water safety for babies
Babies can drown in as little as 5cm (two inches) of water. Drowning is silent so you won’t necessarily hear any noise or struggle.
Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website
Water safety for kids | Raising Children Network
Close adult supervision at all times is the key to drowning prevention and water safety for kids around dams, ponds, swimming pools, beaches and lakes.
Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website
Water expanding toys & products | Product Safety Australia
Water expanding products can pose a choking hazard, always keep them out of reach of young children.
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Hot water safety
Here is practical and trusted advice to prevent your children getting hot water scalds caused by bathwater, hot drinks, boiling water, cooking and hot food.
Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website
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How do babies swim underwater?
Drowning is the third leading cause of accidental death worldwide. [1] That’s why learning to swim is crucial to keeping ourselves and our children safe.
And we understand that it might seem scary to take your baby swimming from birth. But it really is the best time to start. You might be thinking, how is my little one able to go underwater and not inhale any water? What actually happens?
We all know that drowning happens when water enters the lungs, stopping the supply of oxygen.
But your little one is born with a reflex called the ‘laryngeal reflex’, or ‘gag reflex’. This kicks into action when your baby feels water on their face, nose or throat. When your baby goes underwater, the soft tissue at the back of their throat (called the larynx) closes to block the entrance to the airway.
And it’s at its peak in their first 6 months. But this doesn’t mean that babies can be suddenly submerged without warning. That’s why, from the get-go, we use the cue "Name, Are you ready? Go" to build up the association with this phrase and going underwater, so that your little one is always in control. We never swim your baby unless we’re absolutely sure that they are happy to go underwater. If they’re hiccuping, sleeping, crying or seem generally resistant, they’ll stay on the surface.
Using your little one’s natural reflexes from an early age and preparing them to go under the water through word association means it quickly becomes a learned response.
But why do they sometimes cough or splutter after their first underwater swim?
Don’t worry, this is absolutely normal.
It means that your baby’s natural reflexes are working to clear the fluid from the back of their throat and stop water entering their lungs. Sometimes, the involuntary spasm carries on a little longer.
Keeping your baby safe
The most common reasons for drowning are not being able to swim and panicking in the water. But the good news is that together, we can prevent horrible things like this happening. Teaching your little one how to swim from birth is one of the best things you can do. Getting them started early means that they’ll become confident around water, so if they ever do fall in, they’ll be able to keep themselves safe and not panic.
After the first 6 months, the gag reflex does start to fade, so we teach your baby all about breath control. As our lessons progress, you'll be amazed at how good your little one is at responding to both verbal and non-verbal cues. Ultimately, they'll learn to breathe out while they're underwater, which we believe gives them real empowerment and a sense of being fully in control.
It's also a great foundation in 'aquatic breathing', which is essential as they progress to become independent little swimmers.
Sources
[1] Drowning, World Health Organisation, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drowning, 15 January 2018
Baby swimming - articles from the specialists of the clinic "Mother and Child"
Arefieva Natalya Yurievna
Dentist, Dentist-therapist for children, Dentist-therapist for adults
Lapino-1 Clinical Hospital "Mother and Child"
arguments for
Immediately after birth, the child from the aquatic environment enters the air, where he begins to breathe on his own . But for some time after the birth, the child retains the breath-holding reflex, and sometimes he can even swim and breathe properly at the same time. Many methods of infant swimming are based on this, especially the technique called diving, when diving and breathing under water are fixed.
Therefore, supporters of infant swimming believe that in the first months of a child's life, the swimming reflex and the ability to hold the breath must be developed and consolidated, otherwise they will simply be forgotten and in the future the baby will have to be taught everything again. nine0003
And of course, being in the water hardens the baby, trains his cardiovascular system, develops the musculoskeletal system, in general, strengthens the child's health in every possible way.
arguments against
Opponents of infant swimming, especially diving. have their own, and very weighty, arguments.
- The ability to stay afloat and hold your breath are protective reflexes, they are saved only at first for use in critical situations, which adults recreate in the pool. In other words, this is an artificial simulation of a critical situation, which is accompanied by stress for the baby. nine0024
- From the point of view of physiology, if the reflex of holding the breath in water should die out, then it must be allowed to do so - after all, this was conceived by nature for a reason.
- It is not necessary for a child to swim for physical development. This can be too stressful for a baby who does not even know how to crawl yet.
- Baby swimming (especially in public pools and baths) can lead to inflammatory diseases of the ear, nasopharynx, respiratory tract, and in some people even weaken the immune system. And swallowing water can cause indigestion. nine0024
what to choose
Bathing and swimming itself is not harmful, but rather useful. It is harmful to carry out this procedure incorrectly, not to take into account the developmental characteristics of the child and use the wrong methods. Pediatricians, neurologists and neurophysiologists believe that, for example, the so-called diving (when a child’s head is immersed under water so that he learns to dive) leads to brain hypoxia (albeit short-term), and it is not known how this will affect the condition of the baby. In addition, the stress that occurs at this moment is also likely to affect the child negatively.
Both hypoxia, and stress, and simply extra loads often lead to some kind of developmental disorders. One child will start to get sick more often (and not necessarily with colds), the other will become more excited than necessary, or in the future it will be worse to concentrate. nine0003
Therefore, it is possible for a baby to swim, you just need to take into account several factors.
find a swimming pool and instructor
Being a swimming instructor is very important. As such, there is no specialty “baby swimming coach”: most likely, the instructor will take some short-term courses. The main thing here is his experience and your trust in him. Before the start of the lesson, talk to the instructor, or even better, go and see how he conducts the classes, how he relates to the desire or unwillingness of the child to do some kind of action, how comfortable the baby is with the instructor. First, the child must get used to the instructor, and only then should classes begin.
No sudden movements, haste and discomfort. Both parents, and the kid, and the instructor should be on the same wavelength. nine0003
As long as the child is small, you can swim at home, in your own bath; when the baby grows up, look for a clean and warm children's pool with a good water purification system, with pleasant conditions and a benevolent environment.
listen to the child
It is impossible to find out from the baby himself how much he likes what is done to him while swimming. There are children who smile and laugh while in the water; there are those who scream and cry even during a simple bath, especially when swimming (and certainly when diving). And it happens that the baby, as it were, freezes emotionally during swimming - here it is generally difficult to guess about his reaction. Therefore, starting water procedures, listen and look closely at the child. And accept his wish. Start with a regular bath in a bath, then gradually move into an adult bath.
And you can immediately dive into a large bath with the child, holding him in his arms or at his chest - this way he will be even calmer (though, for this, you will first need helpers). If swimming brings positive emotions to the baby, you are on the right track. If the child is naughty and nervous, the more clearly he demonstrates his unwillingness to swim, give up this idea and postpone swimming until better times. nine0003
simple exercises
You can train with the baby on your own, just do the following exercises:
- steps in the water - an adult holds the child upright, helping him to push off from the bottom of the tub;
- wiring on the back - the baby lies on his back, the adult supports the head of the crumbs and leads the child along the bath;
- wiring on the tummy - all the same, only the child lies on the stomach; nine0023 exercise with a toy - you need to lead the child after the toy, gradually accelerating and explaining: our toy is swimming away, let's catch up with it.
When swimming, don't aim for anything spectacular, as long as your little one's health, safety and enjoyment are paramount.
There is no unequivocal opinion whether a baby should swim or not, because the experience of each family is individual. There are children who, even before the age of one, easily and joyfully master the aquatic environment, and there are those who do not like water for a long time and agree to classes only at a conscious age. Therefore, focus only on the desire of your child. nine0074
Be sure to show your child to a pediatrician and a neurologist before starting lessons to rule out possible contraindications for infant swimming
Quite often, children who have been engaged in infant swimming, at a more conscious age, have to be taught swimming again, according to standard methods
Often diving is perceived by the child as a potential danger
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REPORT: Babies in the pool are not even a year old, but they swim better than some adults
A one-year-old child swims calmly and confidently for several meters in the pool.
Not knowing how to walk properly, he behaves like Ichthyander in the water. These are not lines from a fairy tale, but reality. A child can really be taught to swim from birth, but it is worth approaching such an activity responsibly. For example, together with the baby, you can enroll in a special school or section, where the child will be carefully introduced into swimming and taught the correct techniques. There are also places where such training is carried out in Minsk. One of them was visited by BelTA correspondents. nine0010
In the early morning, when some adults are just warming up and setting themselves up for active and fruitful activities, tiny children under the age of one are already in training. With a focused look, the kids cheerfully stay on the water in the early swimming school under the strict control of their parents, coach and director Olga Veligurskaya.
nine0003
"Before birth, the baby is in the mother's belly. This is a liquid environment that is comfortable for the baby, so from a very early age, children can be introduced to swimming. This is so familiar to them that they are able to learn to move their legs and arms well in the water earlier than I don’t say it just like that, but because I have been working as a swimming instructor for 27 years and teaching children this sport,” Olga Veligurskaya begins the story.
When the desire to teach your children to swim turned into a school
In a warm room with a swimming pool and a lot of colorful toys, Olga is immersed in memories: how a healthy lifestyle has been her great passion since her youth. Hence the education of a preschool psychologist and physical education teacher, as well as the title of master of sports. And then she gave birth to her first child.
“After such an event, I didn’t quit sports. On the contrary, I really wanted to introduce my son to it.
I decided that he would learn to swim before he started. I had experience, but I never taught very young children, so I began to look for information. Then she was in short supply, because there was practically no exercise with babies in the pools.But I found a book where a woman told about a child with physical disabilities who literally flourished in the water.It described the early swimming technique, which I used first when teaching my son, then my daughter and subsequently, teaching the children of friends, "continues Olga Veligurskaya. nine0003
This was over 20 years ago. After a while, she realized that swimming brings invaluable benefits to babies, and decided to found a school. At first, the groups were small, because the parents then were not as keen on early developmental methods as they have been in recent years.
"Now mothers and fathers try to immerse their children in various useful activities from birth. And they come to swimming lessons purposefully. They don't even need to be told the details, because they independently study all the information on the Internet," says Olga Veligurskaya.
nine0003
Only 10% of children quickly become involved in swimming
The early swimming school is designed for children from birth to 8 years old. There is an optimal water level for every age. So, babies up to two months are taught at home: a trainer comes and does a series of exercises with the child in the bathroom, while parents remember and help. This is the first step towards hardening the child's body and in a year he could swim several meters on his own. The second important stage comes from 3 months of age. Then, together with the parents, the baby begins to visit the pool. nine0003
"But before that, you must provide certificates with permission from the pediatrician (for the baby) and the therapist (for the mother). If they are received, all that remains is to purchase aqua diapers for the baby and a bathing suit for the mother. Hats are a problem. Children often react badly to mothers in such a headdress, so for general peace of mind, training takes place without them, - Olga shares.
- Also, for the comfort of the kids, the water in the pool is not chlorinated, and its temperature is maintained within 30 degrees. "
When all the preparatory stages have been completed, the most difficult thing begins - mastering the skill of relaxation and proper support of the child in the water. According to the trainer and the director in one person, only in 10% of cases the kids are instantly involved in water procedures. The rest need time to get used to and come to a complete relaxation of the muscles.
"To do this, parents should deal with children. A coach is only a guide. Babies get rid of tension only in the hands of mom or dad. This is very important, because without relaxation it is impossible to learn to swim. Parents must remain calm, control stress, because the child at the moment of interaction, he feels everything. Only the mother’s hand tensed, the baby, accordingly, begins to get nervous, "the director of the early swimming school notes. nine0003
When the child and the parent are accustomed to the environment, the main block of classes begins - physical exercises for all parts of the body.
Contrary to our expectations, even during gymnastics, the children did not act up, but enjoyed themselves. Six kids with joyful smiles perceived all the manipulations that their mothers performed with them under the control of the coach. They actively tapped their palms on the water, floundered with their legs in a horizontal position, and even dived. The picture was reminiscent of water aerobics.
"Children do completely different exercises. They all seem simple, but for a child the same stretching, turning in the water and swimming with the support of a parent are serious and energy-intensive activities, so we start with small physical exertion, and as we grow older, when the child visits the pool increase it," says the coach.
The main thing in teaching kids to swim is gradualness. Thirty minutes of class is enough, because then the children get tired and lose concentration. nine0003
Benefit: boosting immunity and early development
In the swimming pool, among mothers in colorful swimsuits and restless babies, you can immediately see those who have been attending classes for a long time.
They are more calm and confident in their actions, unlike beginners, who look a little confused and perform all exercises with a child with some apprehension. But, according to the coach, a few sessions - and this effect will disappear.
For the result, it is important to attend classes systematically and allow the baby to fully perform the exercises. “If you bring a child to training, let him do it. You don’t have to carry him in your arms and protect him from the slightest splash of water. It is important to understand why the child attends these classes. Of course, not in order to become an athlete, although this is probably not bad either. But still, the main goal is to improve health," said Olga Veligurskaya. nine0003
At the swimming pool lessons, children get used to calmly react to temperature fluctuations. Hardening strengthens the immune system and reduces the likelihood of complications with a cold. Also, the physical development of the child is faster. "Parents often note that children who regularly attend training begin to roll over, crawl, stand up and walk early.
Especially when compared with kids who did not swim," says the coach.
In addition, systematic exercises form the child's correct posture and a strong muscular corset. The kid is socialized. nine0003
What do parents think about classes at the early swimming school?
According to Olga Veligurskaya, fear of water in children arises only after the wrong approach of an adult. "Now people read many different articles on the Internet and begin to apply the knowledge they have learned at home. Having no experience, they practice on a child, so we end up with a frightened and stressed baby. But if there is no desire to go to the pool, but you want to do it, I advise you to start with the most elementary: gently water the children with a small amount of water and, without sudden movements, drive through the water in a supine position. she emphasizes. nine0003
Despite the presence of an instructor in the pool, the interlocutor continues to closely monitor mothers and children.
She instantly calculates all the incorrect movements of the parents and gives advice on how to eliminate them, and she professionally reads the child’s emotions whether he is tense or relaxed.
"There are almost no places in Minsk where the early swimming technique is taught. This niche is practically not occupied, therefore people who are completely incompetent in business, but conduct classes for kids, begin to appear. I advise parents to choose a coach carefully, and even better - try look like different classes and understand where the coach, the teaching model and conditions are more suitable," notes Olga Veligurskaya. nine0003
In turn, Rezo Mamarnshvili, the father of eight-month-old Niko, says that just after the second lesson, changes occurred in the child. “We tried to work out with our son at home, but he didn’t like it. It’s a completely different thing in the pool. He is active here. We see that then the child is in a good mood for a long time. The muscles have definitely become stronger.
