Learning to Swim

Start at 3-6 months. Babies have a natural reaction to hold their breath when you blow on them and you use that to teach them to hold their breath when under water.

If you wait till they are 2 or 3.... you are negotiating with someone who can say no...;)

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Hi there.
Very good question! I am a former life guard and WSI (water safety instructor) from AZ. I think the former respondant hit the nail on the head - kids always benefit from getting in the water and learning basically how to respect it. As infants they can benefit. I have taught and participated with mommy & me classes. Although they are great, I beleive the best thing you can do is spend some time and a pool (friends or public) and teach a child floating and wading one on one. Wading is when they learn to keep their head above water. I was also a competitive swimmer and our youngest group to competitively swim was 3&4 year olds. So it is possible for them to learn the coordination, it just takes some patience in teaching them the skill. Start with holding baby in the water and how to hold their breath and how to blow bubbles. Graduate to teaching them how to go to the bottom (in three feet deep water) with your help and touch the bottom of the pool and push off to get back to the top. When they are old enough to grip the edge of the pool you can teach kicking and then graduate to the arms (that is the last thing to develop coordination in.) Have your child hold the edge of the pool and swim a SMALL distance to you. Then have them repeat and go towards the edge of the pool from you. I hope that this helps. Water safety is so important because as a former AZ resident it was heartbreaking to hear the amount of infant deaths because parents didn't educate themselves on this matter. Good for you to recognize the concern now. Now go swim and enjoy!!
P.

1 mom found this helpful

Kids will not actually learn to swim until they are about 3-5 years old. It does actually depend on the child too, some learn earlier, some a bit later. But, "swim lessons" before that age are actually very important to help your child become comfortable in the water. The lessons before the age of 3 are usually referred to as water adjustment classes and a parent should be in the water with them. They will sing songs as they work on "preswimming" skills. A good class should teach children how to blow bubbles, get their faces wet, water saftey, kick, paddle their arms, and just have a good time in the water. There should not be too much emphasis on technique at this point, you want them to have fun. Be cautious of places that claim to have your 2 year old swimming, 2 year olds are not really made to swim yet, their little bodies do not have the muscle strength to do things like pull their head out of the water to breath the way a swimmer should. Som of this is personal opinion, but I taught swim lssons for 10 years, with a focus on prschool age childrn. I hav had my son in lessons since he was 9 months old, he is now 2 1/2 and we are just now starting into some more "serious" lessons, but I am still in th water with him.

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I'm not an expert, but I can share my personal experiences. I put my son, who is now 6, through numerous swim classes when he was and infant and toddler. I started with group mommy & me classes. The only thing it taught was how I can handle a child in the water. Later, when he was 3, I put him in Red Cross style group classes over and over again. He learned nothing and hated it. I complained to the director of the swim school who told me that children don't have coordination to do multiple functions, such as kick, paddle, and breath, until they are 5 years old. I was frustrated and pulled him out. I felt the time I was investing was wasted and, although the classes were inexpensive, the money was a waste too.

Then I had a scare. A playgroup friend who had a pool chose to host a swimming playgroup. I had a newborn and my mommy friends promised to watch my son in the pool while I nursed. They were well aware that my son could not swim. However, my son was confident in the shallow end of pools where he could touch the bottom and jumped in. That's was swimming lessons did for him, gave him confidence in the water without the skill of swimming. My mommy friends did not realize how deep the shallow end was in this pool and my son could not touch bottom and keep his head above the surface. I had to jump in with my clothes on to pull my son out.

The strange thing was that there were 3 other 3-year-olds who could swim. All of them had pools at their own homes and had taken private lessons at a swim safe school where they first teach children, including young babies, how to roll over and float before teaching strokes. They had been swim safe since a young age and swimming (doggy paddling) since 2.

I put my son in one of those private lessons. I had steered away from them because of the cost. However, my son was swim safe - able to roll in float - within a month and a decent swimmer in less than 6 months. I feel the money was well worth it and it was costing me a lot more in time and money the other way.

I now have my daughter, who is 3, in a similar kind of swim school. She has learned so much in a short time that I'm amazed. And, in both cases, this style of teaching gave me comfort knowing that my children would be safe at a swimming pool.

However, to answer your question, I have seen infants as young as 4 months old benefit from these private swim lessons. They are able to learn early how to roll over and float. And, they can stay afloat for hours. From my observations, their progress is slower than an older child, but they do learn.

I highly recommend a swim safe school at an infant age (before they're crawling) if you have a pool in your home. I chose to start my daughter at 3-years-old, but it has taken her less than 4 months to learn to confidently float, hold her breath, and perform some strokes. She can swim, not well, but swim non-the-less.

It's not swimming, really, but they can get used to the water starting at birth. Community pools are warm enough, the small "baby pools" anyway. Mommy and Me start at 6 months, but you can tell which babies have been in water before and which haven't. The ones who have been in a big bath tub with Mom or taken into pools just glide and giggle and do back floats. The newbies scream. Babies love bathing with Mom in a big bath tub, and showering too. I wrapped my babies in towels and took them in the shower with me. The towels weree so they wouldn't get slippery. They got used to streaming water over their faces, and thought it was very soothing and part of their daily routine. Those two are water rats. I only used a baby bath with one of my kids and he's the only one who doesn't like swimming. Of course, if Mom isn't comfortable in the water, baby will know, and then act the same way - or worse- so she's not the person to take him into the pool or surf. The beach is kind of cold, so maybe wait until he/she is a little older, like 1 1/2 or 2. Long Beach has a decent swim program. Australian Swim School is really good. There are books about games and songs to sing in pools. And there is a book written years ago by an Australian woman called "How to Teach Your Baby to Swim" I think it is out of print, but if you can find it, it's really good.

Hi, I have a 6 yr old that I believe I started to late because he was scared from an early age. I started my 2yr old about 5 months ago. He is my little fish. Even if it is just keeping your child in the pool, it will help with lessons later. The YMCA has a great mom/parent and me program that is indoors so lasts year round. Good luck.

Dear K. H, I have Two boys,one is 21 and the other is 6. The 6 year old has taken swim lessons every year since he was three,still learning and I will contine to take him until he has learned to swim real good.While there they had a mommy and me class for babies as young as six months.Good luck. CSA

As soon as possible! Babies intuitively know to hold there breath underwater and can be dunked right after birth. Look into a book called Water Babies. There are huge benefits to getting your children in the water immediately. Good Luck.

We put our son and daughter in the pool as soon as they lost their umbilical cords. My son swam w/o any flotation devices at 3 years old and my daughter is only 10 months so she has a little while to go. We used and swear by Stearns life jackets to aid in the learning to swim process and for saftey of course! I would start lessons no later than 2. Good luck!

hi i teach swimming at akai swim school and private lessons at homes. children are all different. mommy and me is greAT VFOR THE FIRST 3 YEARS. LESSONS AT 4 AND SOMETIMES KIDS JUST GO YOU HAve to trust yourself to let the children do there best.

DEAR K. H;
I START MY BABY WHEN HE WAS 2 MONTH OLD, I WAS SCARED BUT HE DID VERY WELL. YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT BABYS THEY ARE USE TO BE IN THE SACK OF WATER IN YOUR TUMMY THEY KNOW HOW TO HOLD THEIR BREATH.THIS IS THE BEST TIME. GOOD LUCK. LET ME KNOW HOW IT TURNS OUT.
ANNA LEGER
____@____.com

I would say to have a baby familiar with water as soon as poss. I live in Hawaii and have a one year old. I haven't given lessons yet but take him to the pool to let him feel safe in my arms in the water. I will probably start at 18months or 2. Before that I am watching him close so no need for lessons. I don't want to be lulled into a false sense of security thinking I don't have to watch him as close.

I believe it is never to soon to learn to swim - however, as an infant/toddler, they will first learn to float in case they should ever fall into a pool when no one is around. This survival technique I feel is the most important thing to learn. My 11 month old daughter took lessons and had her float test. It took 4 weeks and she knew exactly what to do. Even in the bathtub she's slipped before and I don't panic because I let her fall and watch her flip herself over :o) It's a wonderful thing to know she automatically knows what to do now!!!

The YMCA has a parent/tot class for babies ages 6 months to 3 years (at least the one I go to). I think they start "real" swimming lessons at 3. I am starting my first class this week with my 8 1/2 month old. Woo hoo!

I wouldn't worry about "lessons" until after she is three, babies cannot swim before then and many times the thought that your baby can "swim" because of the lessons actually puts them at more risk because the parents feel the baby is safer in the water than they really are. I would suggest not signing her up for any type of lesson or class until she is at least three - just play with her in the pool, do dance in your living room together, have gymnastics in the backyard. The more FREE time she has, the greater her learning capabilities will be. I spent 20 minutes watching my son throw different objects in a mud puddle the other day - I did not comment at all on his activity - and he says "The big rock make a big splash, the stick make a little splash." I didn't have to sign him up for a science class to learn physics, and I didn't have to teach it to him myself - kids are natural learners, just let her go at her own pace.

Hi! It can't be too soon I swam with my girls at 3-6mo. and they took off like fish. The sooner the better and will enjoy water at an early age and that too is good. My sis gave birth to her baby in water and the baby swam around before the cord was cut, its real neat to watch.

I would start at 3 years old and do it 5 days a week for 2 months and they child should be able to get it. Then again at 4 and its like starting all over with again and at this age they can stay above the water and do all the different strokes but still need to be watched all the time.
I have a son that got the hange of it fast and my friends son that is still not getting his head wet and he started at 3 and he is now 5. So its depends on each child.
C.

Hello,

I have taught swimming for 14 years and coached for a children’s year round swim team (FAST) and a high school team.

3 is the best age for the children to start to learn. Before that the children do not retain it from summer to summer. For the next couple of summers you will need to refresh but they will pick it up quickly. The mommy and me classes are simply playing in the water with the baby.

You can have your baby start to kick with straight legs in the bath tub. You do not want them to bend their knees because it will stop them from moving in the water.

Also, have your baby blow bubbles in the water from the mouth and from the nose.

Last and the most important, have your baby lay down its back and float in the tub. Most kids do not like the water in their ears. You want the water to hit right about their hair line. You want their toes to be just under the water and their legs straight. That will move their pelvic bone to bring up their tummies.

Before 3, it becomes a safety concern because the babies become comfortable in the water and will jump in even if an adult is not around. It also makes them more susceptible to ear infections.

I have a 2 year old daughter and this is the first summer we will start.

Both my children were able to swim fully on their own (no floaties or hanging on to mom) at the age of 2. The earlier you introduce your child to the water world (not just taking a bath)the better. You really don't need to take a mommy and me course, just get into the pool with your child on a regular basis and have fun swirling and twirling and don't be afraid to go under water with her. My father taught them both how to swim.

I only like formal swimming lessons to learn the different strokes and build strength. They don't seem to do much for children younger than the age of 4. Good luck!

Hi,

I was a swimming instructor and coach for several years. Most babies with guidance and some exposure to water can learn to float on their backs. The Red Cross says that kids are not "water-safe" until they are 4. I would not count on a child knowing how to swim, even with many lessons from a great instructor, until he is at least 3.

Swimming lessons for a child younger than 3 might benefit him by giving him a chance to move his body, and thus become more physically fit, and interact with others. Swimming lessons might also prevent him from developing a fear of water, something that happens to many adults who have never received lessons.

L. E

K.:

For babies - under 12 months, I found that the "swim lessons" are for the child to feel comfortable in the water and for the parents to interact with their child and other adults. We started my son when he was about 11 months at our local YMCA, and it was a great experience to meet other parents. Our son who is now 4 loves to swim and feels comfortable in the water.

When we started the lessons there was another little girl who was over 2 and she was terrified and screamed before even getting her feet wet.

When I had my daughter (2 years later) we did not pay for the swimming lessons, we just do the same activities in the water with her. She is actually a better swimmer than her brother.

My advice, if you want to do swim lessons, go for it! Have fun! Use sunscreen and teach your children to be safe around the water.

E.

I took both of my children (now 9 and 6) to swim lessons when they were 5 months old respectively. Several times, that knowledge saved their lives, my daughter fell into a public fountain and another time a child pushed her into a pool before she was two years old. She was capable of getting to the edge and climbing out. The earlier the better is the best motto for teaching them to swim (or to be water safe)! When they are really young, it is all about getting to the edge and staying alive. Check into your local baby swim schools as this tool will help them throughout their entire life.

Hope that helps.

Well I taught my daughter how to swim when she was 3 years old. But the earlier you teach them the better. When they are babies its better, because they get used to the water easier. My dad was a water baby and he was a lifegaurd, and also a trainer in the navy. He suggested its much easier when they are babies. So im going to teach my 6 month old soon instead of waiting.

from 24 year old mom of 2

I started my son at 6 months and he did awesome! He is now 17 months and can get himself to the edge of the pool, kick his feet to swim, float on his back, and hold his breath for 12 seconds. He is not fearful of the water. I would never leave him unattended around water but it is nice to know that he could find his way to the edge. We are currently working on getting out of the pool. Hope that helps.

Answer: At any time after they can crawl. My daughter and son were taught how to "swim" at 7 mos. It was actually an infant drowning survival class. When the child is able to crawl, the instructor teaches them how to float on their back should they fall into a body of water. Once they know how to walk, there is a float/swim sequence that the child is taught. So, you can teach your child to swim as soon as they can walk. My daughter was swimming with us in the pool at 14 months. Jumping off the side, swimming to us at length- taking breaths in between the wall and us and then swimming back to the wall. You have to be trained in this type of infant survival technique- ISR instruction. You can learn more about it at www.infantswim.com It was the best money I have every spent.

When you attend a swim school you will see that babies quite young can learn to swim. The question is whether or not suddenly submerging young infants, toddlers, and preschoolers is the most gentle and effective way to teach your child to swim. I hated watching my 3 year old be submerged and have to figure it out on his own. I think there must be a gentler and more innate way to teach children to swim. Additionally, swimming lessons brought on all sorts of health problems for my son which we did not experience prior to learning to swim. I know many children and parents find swim lessons early on to be a mutually positive experience, however, not every child fits this ideal mold. Good luck to you and your baby girl!

My mother started me in swimming classes when I was 11 months old. I can also remember taking lessons at age 3, although I was already swimming very well when lessons started. It was important that I learned how to swim, because we had an olympic size swimming pool in the back yard (1976 before all the safety gates and things were out). My mom never learned how to swim herself. When I was about 10, I took water safety classes on how to save someone else's life.

I recently became guardian of a 4 and 6 year old. I plan on getting them lessons ASAP.

Being a former lifeguard/swim teacher, I'd say not to even sign her up until she's about three. Before that, it's just splashing and playing in the water. It is good to take her swimming before then so she gets used to the water, but she won't really learn anything about swimming until she's three or four.
On a safety note, you should NEVER trust swimmies/floaties to keep a child safe in the water. Floaties can actually rotate a child onto their face and cause drowning. The only thing that keeps a child safe in the water is a lifejacket (US Coast Guard approved) and close parent supervision. Happy swimming! :)

In their first year. But when looking into mommy and me classes,ask about what they teach. Brea CA. has the best classes we found. You want to teach your child to stay afloat. Most likely the child will not be alone by a pool, but if some other person knocks them in or they get to close to the pool and fall in, you want them to float not sink to the bottom. Brea had the kids faces under water the first day (crying or not) I think we had a newborn to 3 month old in our class and they didn't treat that one any diffrent from ours. They want your child to be afraid of the water, but know how to stay at the top. Don't use floaties "ever". Children think they can float so they jump right in forgetting their floaties and drown.(My son did this, luckly someone jumped in and got him) Don't expect your child to be doing laps across the pool until 3 or 4. If the class you put your kid in is gentel and nice because your child is crying, make them be tougher. They are not their to be nice they are their to teach them to swim and survive. If after 2 weeks your child has not made great progress change swim class to another more challenging place. You are not their to just be in the water, also you need to practice everything they teach you with your child and be tough also. Do ring around the rosies holding them then when you all fall down float to the bottom on your bottom. This only helps them to hold their breath longer. Teach them to kick off from the bottom to come up. Let them swim under your legs, (bush them down and under your legs until they are comfortable doing so. The more you play with them with their head in the water the better swimmers they become. When learning to swim make them swim with their faces in the water. They swim faster that way, and when your tired you need to get to the side fast. Children do learn better from a teacher,
then when you keep it up they have fun because they are better in the class. Good Luck!

I had my baby in the pool by the time he was at least six months old. You can start as early as two months. The thing is they don't learn the concept of swimming until they are about six months though. Earlier than that you are waterproofing them. If they should happen (God Forbid) to fall into the water accidentally they will know how to turn themselves over and float at really early ages. At six months mine was swimming. His lung capacity was not that large, so when we tossed him in the 10" part of the pool we had to make sure we met him halfway and sent him back up, but the five" and six" he could go to the bottom and come back up. You will find it a fun and rewarding experience. Try the local Y or colleges. Hve Fun!

Hi-
We took our daughter to her first "parent and baby" swimming lessons when she was almost 2 and she did great...we then took her again last year right before she was three for 8 weeks. She was jumping off the side of the pool and "blowing bubbles" in no time and even getting her head dunked. Check out the community classes in your city, they tend to be priced pretty well and the pools might even be heated.
Have fun! P. (Jenna's mommy)

Well, it depends on the purpose of the lessons. If it is, in fact, to teach your baby to swim, I'd say about 3-4 years old. But, to spend some time with your child and introduce him/her to water, I'd suggest starting out at about 1 1/2 - 2 years. Good luck!!

at what age do they trully swim I am not sure I taught my children when they learned to crawl my inlaws had a pool and I sure was glad when my eldest daughter now 28 "fell in" she was able to turn over on her back and float and turn on her belly and kick to the edge and it saved her I know the safeest os to prevent them from being near the pool there is always that 1 chance and for that I am thankful for teaching her to hold her breath, float ,and kick. One moms oppinion T.

I have read that you can't learn to swim until you are 4. I started one of my sons with lessons at 4, and the other one at 2. I think I wasted a lot of money on the 2 year old because he really didn't learn to swim until he was four, and that was with lessons almost continuously from 2 to 4. He was comfortable with the water, and loved it, but couldn't really swim until he was four. Both my sons learned the most just going in pools with us and practicing for fun more than lessons.

I started swim lessons with my little girl at 6 months. She loved it and still loves the water and is not affraid to put her head under and can stay afloat on her own. She is two and it is a huge peace of mind to know she could float and keep her head above water if something were to ever happen. It also is a lot of fun to take swim lessons with your child.
A.
~work at home mom with two girls
www.thebest4yourfam.com

I do aquasize three days a week, and there are babies in the pool of all ages, starting at a bout six months.

We started our son in swimming lessons at 3 months old and he loves it! I know the Australian swim schools start kids as early as 3 months.

My kids have always loved the water. The bathtub was their favorite place to be. When they were about 1-1/2, I put them in life jackets when we went to the pool. They had the confidence to get in the water and splash around. Then we would take them off and practice "swimming" between my husband and I. They would also jump into the water if we stood by the edge of the pool. They learned to be in the water and hold their breath and dog paddle. They did freak out a few times when they thought they were "drowning" if their whole head went under the water, but they get over it when they find out that they are in control. Now we go to the pool almost every night and they are great swimmers.
I know that the pools have classes for little ones and they learn to hold their breath in water and blow bubbles and such. I don't know what age they start at. Call your local pool. Hope that helps.

i swam my entire preg i started swimming with my daughter when she was 2 months old she never stopped at 11 she is on a swim team and doing well i see kids screaming not to get in the pool even at a young age they learn to doggie paddle to the sides we are in ca water every where not only for the saftey but healthy bodies.

Usually age 4, but they need to show signs that they are ready.

Hi, I used to teach swimming lessons. If you are talking about kids being "water safe" then I would say the average age is 7- meaning if you wanted to run inside to grab a towel or the phone it would be ok. Before that, even if the kid can "swim" they don't have the knowledge to make good decisions. But, water safety and being comfortable in the water is very important and that can start at age 2. My daughter will be 3 this summer and we have been taking her swimming since she was just a few months old. She is comfortable getting in and out on her own, blows bubbles, jumps in (feet first) and goes underwater to pick up toys from the bottom. She loves the water! She has never worn water wings or a ring around her belly. The only time she wore a "floaty" type thing, was when we were on a boat- a life jacket!

www.swimisr.com This program will teach your baby how to stay a float. Watch the video, it will amaze you! I will be enrolling my baby this summer!

I think it helps to have your child used to water from a young age so they are not afraid. When they're very young they don't need lessons, you can just hold them and play with them in a pool. My kids learned to swim at 4 or 5 but I've seen younger.

M. C.

We had a pool in our complex that was often left open, and my kids loved water more then anything in the world. For safety issues I taught them both to be able to swim to the top and be able to get back to the wall and hang on before they were 1. And they could both swim the length of the pool by 2. It was fun to be able to actually swim with them at such a young age and they really enjoyed it.

H.

Kids don't always have what it takes to learn to swim at an early age. HOWEVER, I have seen some 2 year olds that can safely swim across the deep end of a pool by themselves. That is a huge comfort to momma (although not enough to nap while kiddies are swimming- NEVER!)

Two great reasons to get your darling in the pool at an early age are

1. Safety- infant classes teach your child to get to the side of the pool should they fall in which is essential!

2. Water Familiarity- if your little one is comfortable in the water, can put her head under, etc. She will learn to swim so much faster than one who is terrified.

The only reason I would caution you is if your treasure has chronic ear infections. Talk to your Ped. if that is the case.

Otherwise, go play in the water!! : )

I had my nephew swimming at 18 months. More of a dog paddle, really, but he would amaze people by going off the diving board at that age. There again, nothing fancy, but he liked to stand with his toes at the edge of the board until he thought he had enough attention. Then he would belly flop, and come up to cheers. Of course, I was in the water close to where he would splash in. He loved it, and was sort of a hero to other beginner swimmers, who were all much older.

Hi. I learned to swim when I was about a year old. My brother learned to swim when he was 18 months old. I taught my oldest son how to swim when he was 4 and my next son when he was almost 5. I think the mommy and me classes are great because they prepare the child for learning to swim. My kids all love to swim and it is hard to get them out of the pool.

by six months, it's amazing
good luck
c

The sooner the better! Even if they're just learning how to flip over on their back and float. It could save her life! I saw an amazing video of a baby who feel into the pool fully clothed,and he had been taught to float on his back. Totally amazing. He floated on his back for 7 minutes for the video, as an adult stood by. He would cry for a bit then stop and start again. He saved his own life. I have also thrown my kids in the pool fully clothed and with shoes. Even when they know how to swim, they need to feel the difference if they fall in by accident. They need to know all the ways to get out!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Luck