Here are a few tips in helping your baby enjoy the
water and be able to swim at a very young age. I hope
this information will be useful to you, so that you
and your family will experience even greater pleasure
in the water!!
Subject : BABIES 0 TO 4 MONTHS
It is not advisable
to bring your baby into the swimming pool until he or
she is at least three months old.
A) Keep
in mind that your baby is no stranger to water, swimming
in the mother’s womb for many months. After
birth the baby’s first touch of water, is in
the bathtub, during their daily washing session. Make
sure the water is of a good temperature, not too hot,
not too cold. Talk to your baby in a soft reassuring
voice. Maybe even sing some songs while bathing.
B) At four weeks of age you can start with the first
“lesson”. Parent and child go under the
shower.
Be very careful to hold your baby properly (he
can be very slippery) i.e. one arm under the buttocks,
the other arm across the back supporting the head
and neck, holding the baby against your chest. Now
you are ready to start….
• STEP 1
Let the shower water run down the shoulders and back
of your baby, his head resting on your shoulder. While
doing so, sing or talk soothingly to your baby until
he or she is relaxed.
• STEP 2
Now, it is time to take your baby completely under
the shower. The back of the head faces the shower.
Count gently 1,2,3 one thousand and bring your baby’s
head under the showers and stay there for about two
seconds, then slowly bring him/her out.
• STEP 3
Repeat what you did in Step 1 for a while letting
the waters run down the shoulders and back, talking
soothingly to your baby. When you feel he is ready,
bring him completely under the shower again, making
sure you always count to three before bringing his
head under water. Your baby of course cannot count,
but you will be amazed at how fast he will recognize
the sound, and will hold his breath before going under.
When you first try this, don’t bring your baby
completely under for more than three to four times,
as he gets older and more used to it, you can built
it up to six to ten times, staying under the shower
for three to four seconds at a time.
C) Don’t underestimate your baby’s instinct.
If you feel nervous about bringing your baby’s
head under the shower, your baby will be scared and
think something is wrong. On the other hand, if you
feel relaxed about it, your baby will feel the same,
and be happy. So make sure you have the right frame
of mind before you try this!!
D) If you have succeeded in the above, and practiced
this on a regular basis (say two to three times a
week) your baby whilst using the same trigger words
as under the shower will be ready to go completely
under water in the swimming pool by the time he is
three to four months old, and will be quite happy
doing so!!
