Baby Fit Gym
  • Home
  • Real Estate- Sell/Buy
  • Vitamins
  • Guides
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Personal Training

Babies and Swimming

6/20/2016

11 Comments

 
I started bringing Tucker to the pool when he was about 6 months old. From a very young age he loved the water and was always splashing and giggling. I got him comfortable in the water by always making it a positive experience. I let him ride on my shoulders and bounced him up and down in the water. The pool was our playground! ​
Babies are born with a bradycardic reflex-meaning that when you blow in they're face they automatically hold they're breath and close they're eyes. That is how I taught Tucker to hold his breath underwater. I started doing this when he was 6 months! We continued to do this as he got older. Once he was 9 months old he was a pro at holding his breath under water. I also taught him to blow bubbles at this age by always practicing during bath time.  At this age I would let go of him when we went under water. Letting go can be the hardest step for you as a parent, but is crucial for your baby. They learn that they can float, and they learn to kick.  I was always very careful to make sure he was not swallowing water. I could always see if he let his air out. 

The initial response of other people at the pool watching me do this was FEAR. When I would put him under the water other people would panic! Your baby TRUSTS you.  If they sense your fear they are not going to be comfortable in the environment. I've seen this happen over and over. I taught swim lessons for many years. How you respond as a parent plays a huge roll in how your child reacts in and out of the water. Don't overreact! Always stay calm. Make them feel safe.

Once Tucker turned 1 he was able to swim 3 feet and grab the side of the pool or get up on the step unassisted. I would hold his butt up and encourage him to kick and use his arms.  At 18 months he could jump off the side by himself and swim underwater for about 6 feet. I can see/hear when he lets his air out and I help him come up for air. Now at 21 months he is coming up for air on his own! 
​
2 year old's can learn to swim!  Get them comfortable in the water and don't be afraid to give them a little push. 
The Timeline of what I did with Tucker
  • 6 month
    • Splashing/bouncing in water
    • Practice floating
    • Bradycardic reflex- quick dunks under water
  • 9 months
    • Blowing bubbles
    • Letting go of him underwater
    • Kicks and arm circles
  • 12 months
    • Practice grabbing side of pool 
  • 18 months
    • jumping off edge and swimming to side safely
    • Practice coming up for air
11 Comments
Kathryn link
6/20/2016 08:13:37 pm

This is incredibly helpful! Thank you so much for giving us the information.

Reply
Courtney
6/21/2016 04:57:13 pm

I'm going to try this out with my little guy. Awesome info!

Reply
Elaine
6/30/2016 10:12:06 pm

My son is 21 months, is it too late for him to learn how to hold his breath?

Reply
Kristy
6/30/2016 10:18:17 pm

No you can still teach him! Never too late! You van still try blowing on his face and see how he reacts. Definitely start with some bubbles and practice counting to three and doing some dunks! He's 21 months so should understand :)

Reply
Stacey
7/6/2016 04:14:30 pm

How did you teach Tucker to blow bubbles? I'm trying to teach my one year old and having a hard time with that. Right now she just gulps water.

Reply
T
7/7/2016 11:30:13 am

My son is 4! He is not afraid of the water at all! He loves it! But he doesn't know how to hold his breath and is constantly swallowing and choking on the water! Do you have any tips??

Reply
stephanie
8/8/2016 02:32:56 pm

Great post! I love swimming and hope my baby will, too. I don't like floatie wings, etc, and appreciate this approach a lot better. How early is too early to start? We aren't lucky enough to have a pool in our backyard but hope to spend a lot of time at the public pool.

Reply
Michelle Gamez
8/18/2016 12:40:54 pm

Wow thank you so much ive been wanting to teach me daughter to swim but i never knew where to start.

Reply
Merissa
7/5/2018 07:39:28 pm

My son is 18 months I really want to teach him to swim but unfortunately our pool is only open for 8 weeks. Everytime I bri g him to the pool he clinches on me like a koala. I've tried the blowing in his face but he laughs. So I am at a stand still at how to proceed. Any tips would be helpful. Thank you.

Reply
Rebecca link
12/30/2020 12:44:57 pm

Loved reading this tthanks

Reply
Tez link
6/30/2021 08:57:03 pm

I'm glad you mentioned the steps of baby development. I need to train my baby to swim so she doesn't drown. She is only 4 months old.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

      Sign up for Newsletter!

    Submit
    Instagram
    Youtube

    Blog Posts

    All
    Babies And Swimming
    Breastfeeding-and-exercise
    Diet-and-breastfeeding
    How To Start Exercising
    Life After Tucker
    Tate's Birth Story

    Archives

    April 2019
    November 2018
    June 2018
    October 2017
    July 2017
    July 2016
    June 2016
    August 2015
    July 2015

    RSS Feed

    Babyfitgym
Copyright Baby Fit Gym LLC © 2019
​
  • Home
  • Real Estate- Sell/Buy
  • Vitamins
  • Guides
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Personal Training