Swimming with your baby

Expert advice from Kayle Burgham, STA’s Aquatics Technical Manager

Having been a swimming teacher for 13 years and now a mum of an 18 month old, I know the importance of learning to swim, and teaching water safety and water confidence. Some my earliest memories are of being on holiday with my family and playing in the pool with my sisters and parents. So many people think of swimming as swimming length after length in a pool and forget about the fun, bonding and enjoyment that can be had as a family. It was really important for me to take my son swimming from an early age so that we too can create these memories, while making sure he is water confident which is an important life skill.  

Many of my new mum friends were really nervous about taking their baby swimming for the first time; at what age can they start? What should I take? What do they need to wear? What should I do with them? These are all questions I often get asked.

Here are some of my top tips:

• Babies should only be introduced to water in line with the most recent recommendations from the Department of Health. The current advice is ‘your baby does not need any immunisations before they go swimming.’ However a midwife, health visitor or doctor must be happy for them to go into a public swimming pool.

• Go to a swimming pool which is at least 30° because babies can get cold really quickly. Also be realistic; they may only last 10 – 20mins during their first couple of sessions. A baby wetsuit can also be worn if your baby feels the cold or the pool you swim at is on the cooler side; however a baby swimming costume or all in one swim suit is ideal in a warm pool.

• Your baby MUST wear a swim nappy and if possible another neoprene swim nappy over the top.

• Take a car seat into the changing rooms if possible; most leisure centre changing rooms are not big enough to take pushchairs. Plus, if you have a car seat you can place your baby in there while you get changed.

• Take 3 towels at least, 1 for you and 1 to take onto poolside so that once you have finished swimming you can wrap your baby in the towel to keep warm. Swim nappies absorb a lot of water so will make this towel very wet; your 3rd towel can then be used to dry your baby once you are back into the changing room. The 2nd towel can also be used on the baby changing table or bench as a softer layer between your baby and the surface.

• Make sure you take a drink/ snacks for after swimming; even a short swim will make your baby hungry so ensure there is an appropriate place to feed your baby after swimming.

• Choose a time to go swimming when your baby isn’t due a sleep or feed; swimming will make your baby tired. I get the best naps after swimming; I go an hour before my son is due a sleep which means he is happy, excited and ready to play while we are swimming, and then once he is changed and had a snack he always falls asleep in the car on the way home.

• Check the swim school you attend - look at reviews online and check swimming teachers hold a Baby and Pre-School teaching qualification and are insured. See if they hold a STAmark accreditation - STA checks policies, procedures, teacher qualifications and insurance to ensure all STAmark swim schools meet our high standards. 

When you are in the water

Swimming is a brilliant way to bond with your baby, you have skin to skin contact, can focus on just you and your baby by singing songs, playing and interacting with your baby in a relaxed environment.

You don’t need armbands, floats or a baby seat as these do not fully support your baby and can restrict the movements - you holding them and supporting them as they explore the water is preferred.  

Make sure your baby’s body is in the water at all times; holding them out of the water will cause them to get cold.

You can hold them in the Cradle Hold, where you cradle the baby in your arms so they can see your face and they have water on their chest with their head clear. In this hold you can sing as you gently rock your baby to and fro. Rock a bye baby, row row row your boat work well in this hold.

Another hold for older babies is the Safety Hold; your baby is facing away from you, and you bring an arm around their chest and under their arm so that your baby’s chest is supported on your forearm. The other hand can support your baby under your baby’s bottom. This is good for babies to chase toys or gain confidence by splashing hands, you doing little bounces with them, facing their face etc. 

And finally, remember not all swimming session will go swimmingly! If your baby is going through a development change or is learning a new skill, they may become unsettled or not want to join in an activity - so you may feel like they are going backwards, but relax and stay calm. Go back to singing and activities which they enjoy - I have done humpty dumpty over and over again for 15 minutes before, as that is all he wanted to do!

Most importantly keep with it and you will create so many special moments, and give them a life skill which one day could save a life.