How Soon Can I Teach My Son to Swim?

Hi M.,
I started my son at 6 months swimming in our own pool. To this day (he is 2 now) my son LOVES the water. He can hold his breath underwater, dive (with assistance down as much as 3 feet), float on his back and kick while being pulled in the water. The sooner the better, and make sure you try to keep it going throughout the year. They can develop a fear during the winter months because of less swimming. Good luck!

Personally, I started my daughter in basic swim courses at CSUFullerton at age 2 just to get her used to the water. I never let her use floaties because, personally, I think they provide a false sense of security for the kids and moms. I was always at pool side or in the pool with her. As she grew older and wanted to swim without me, but wasn't yet swimming, I had her wear a swimming safety vest. Due to peer pressure, her not wanting to wear it in front of friends, she quickly got over the last hump to swim on her own. That was in kindergarten for her and she quickly became a very proficient swimmer. We continued CSUF summer swim classes from summer of 2 through 5.

Since your son is so young, it might be worth having a floatie sittie raft that he can sit up in while you are in the pool. I don't trust water wings as they get older...too scary when they think they have them on and jump in without! YIKES!
Good luck!

Hi M., Check out the website for Infant swimming resource. They start training at 6 months. I just put my daughter through it, it is an amazing program! it is not just swim lessons but "aquatic survival skills". I think all kids should do this. I am going to start my little boy at 6 months. There are a coupe of instructors in town. The training is for about 3 weeks and 5 days a week for about 10 minutes a day, so it is a commitment from the parents, but i believe it's worth their life! just watch www.childdrowningpreventions.com
Check out the business review online on mamasource too, the trainer's name is Frankie.

I used to teach swim lessons and until they are 1-2 years old, it is simply about getting them used to the water so it is not a scary place to be. I purposely spray water over my 6mo old's face in the tub so she will be used to it. Good for you to sit with him on the pool steps and kick. He will watch you and if you are having fun in the pool, so will he! Make up silly games and songs and have fun.

I taught private lessons to 2year old twins last summer and they learned to float with help getting started and they could "swim" a distance of about 4 feet. I do NOT recommend floaties b/c they alter the body position in the water (teaching incorrect balance) and provides a false sense of security. You should be with him at all times in the pool. Noodles are a better option--tuck across chest and under arms and let him float in a prone position (on tummy)...progress to putting eyes in water when he is ready--and don't let go of him. Another fun thing at this age is dropping pool rings on the steps and let him reach down to pick them up.

final notes on safety--don't overdo the going underwater right away-and if you do, try to draw him forward so the water goes over the nose instead of up it; limit your time in pool to 20-30 min per session and make sure he is not too cold; and keep him away from pool area when not supervised (do you have a pool fence?).

Happy swimming!

I am not affiliated with this swim school, but I just came across it on the web (i'm putting my girls in swim classes). Look at watersafe.com and it talks about kids who have started at 6 months. They don't learn to swim, but the learn to float on their backs. They show pictures of these babies floating...it's amazing! and they have success stories of kids who fell in the water and then floated until mom found them. It gave me chills!!