Swimming Opportunities for Infant

If you're in Fairfax County, you can take mommy and me swimming classes through the county rec centers. There are even some 4 week classes that make it easy to try without a big commitment. You can find them on-line by googling "parktakes." Good luck! We've had a blast in the water. Some of the rec centers offer indoor pools (no sunburn) with zero entry pools (like the beach but clean water and no waves and sand). Great for little ones!

We love the Waterbabies classes we've taken through Montgomery County Rec. http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/rec/summer08.pdf We started them last summer when my little guy was alos five-six months old and now again that he's 19 months old we're taking two sessions this summer, first Waterbabies and then in a few weeks a Tots class.

Try the YMCA. Facilities in the area include Silver Spring (near Four Corners) and Bethesda (Old Georgetown Road, a few blocks north of the NIH campus).

I don't know where you live exactly, but try Kids First Swim Schools. They have a good program and several locations, you can find them on the web. Best of luck!

Hi E.,
Your daughter will love the pool! I think the best thing to do is to just be in the pool with her at this age. She won't get much out of a swim lesson until she is over age 2...except maybe you'll get some tips and tricks to try on your own (like dunking and floating and how to hold her). I used to teach infant swimming lessons and a lot of the time we just focused on being happy in the water by singing songs and "swimming" after floating toys. So, my suggestion is to find a pool and keep your daughter associated with the water so that she will eventually become comfortable and can learn to swim by the age of 3. My almost 2 year old is very close to swimming on her own (with me very close by) and she has never had a formal lesson...just lots of pool time. Have fun!

Not sure what area you are in, but My Kid's First Swim school has mulitple locations. My 15mo and I attend the Mommy and Me swim classes at the Jessup/Columbia location. We both love it.

it is true that your baby won't get a ton out of a structured lessons but you will! you will learn a lot about water safety and how to help you baby acclimate and float. and about what is and is not possible for her. have fun (we did!).

The County Dept. of Recreation offers many mom and baby swimming courses. I know of one that is ran in Germantown and Olney. Check the county website or call for more info and availablity.

J. Z.
Independent Shaklee Distributor
www.shaklee.net/Z.
Offering Paraben Free Products

In addition to the county programs, you may want to check out the University of Maryland's Rec Center's courses. Our daughter has taken swimming lessons there since she was 3, and has loved it. The instructors tend to be college students and full of energy to keep up with the little ones. The classes are kept small and there mostly has been only 2 classes in the pool at the same time. They do have a "mommy & me" class for infants-toddlers (6 months-2 years) you may be interested in. The website is: http://www.crs.umd.edu/programs/non-credit/nci_intr.html

Good luck! and Happy swimming!

http://www.kidsfirstswimschools.com/
Kids First offers a Mommy and Me swim class, 6wks for $78.

Montgomery Aquatic center in Rockville has great mom and baby swim classes. They are getting ready to close in a couple of weeks for a bit in August. They are listed in the county recreation section. They are 2 blocks from the White Flint metro; between Rockville Pike and Old Georgetown Rd.
good luck,
L.