Baby & Toddler Swimming Lessons
Research
Research documents the stimulating effect baby swimming lessons have on small babies as young as 8 weeks old. Early swimming lessons have the potential to increase eating and sleeping patterns, concentration, alertness and perceptual abilities.
You will also notice a marked difference in strength endurance and co-ordination. Babies as young as 8 weeks old begin our courses with limited range of movement and start off quite vulnerable, yet after the first course there is a visible difference in strength and confidence.
Natural Instinct
Babies are born with the natural instinctive ability to hold their breathe underwater (mammalian diving reflex). By using a successful methodology of word association and repetition, BORN TO SWIM will teach your baby/toddler how to control their natural breathe holding reflex,whenever their face comes into contact with water.
We start with breath holding exercises, to control their breathing, we then gently introduce submersion, starting from 1 second ‘facial swims’ increased as your child’s ability improves. Soon you’re little one will be swimming underwater from teacher to parent, kicking, floating comfortably on their backs and much, much more…..
Classes
Classes run with a maximum of 12 parents and babies as BORN TO SWIM promotes a class environment as opposed to one on one sessions as more often than not, this will be your little ones first social outing and they look forward to seeing their “swim mates” Mothers have actually told our instructors that if they miss a session their little one becomes irritable.
Courses run for five weeks at a time and they run consistently. Classes run for half an hour once a week.
Technique
Using a “bridging system”, each week we introduce a new exercise related to the level of progression. At BORN TO SWIM we incorporate nursery rhymes, games and toys to make learning fun and fear free. Starting from our Starfish level from the ages of 8 weeks to 12 months, all the way up to our shark level from the ages of 3-4 years old. We do not use armbands or rings, instead, we teach you the parent/guardian the correct holds and bonding techniques to swim your child in a safe baby paced environment. Thus eliminating the false sense of security given by flotation aids to early.
Early swimming lessons promote a healthy, positive foundation towards a lifetime of fun in the water.
To book a course in your area, please book on-line.
Starfish
Baby Level 1 – 8 weeks to 12 months
This course is an introduction to water for both parent and baby. This level is taught at a gentle, gradual baby pace. Our aim is to get you and your baby comfortable in the water and build your confidence.
Using a few words, BORN TO SWIM will teach your little one how to enhance their natural instinctive ability to hold their breath when their face comes into contact with water. (Mammalian diving reflex or gag reflex). Our baby swim classes combines fun and learning. Your baby will love the feeling of their water bodies as opposed to the restriction they feel with their land body (out of the water).
By the end of this first level your little one will be kicking in the water, floating comfortably on their back, swimming underwater from teacher to parent and much more…
Angelfish
Baby Level Two – 13 weeks to 12 months
This level is for all babies who have completed the Starfish course or 5 weeks at another baby swimming school. This level introduces more underwater work to increase lung efficiency.
Our holds become less restrictive (dependant on parent/guardian’s confidence) allowing your little one more range of movement and freedom in the water. We also focus on “hand eye coordination, aided entry and hold on techniques. We then start to bridge exercises and techniques together.
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Goldfish
Advanced baby level – 18 weeks to 13 months
This level is a very important level in your babies swimming life as this is the stage they move from an apprehensive swimmer to a confident water baby. To enter this level your baby has to have completed both BORN TO SWIM levels, or 10 weeks at another swim school.
This level is repeated until your baby is 13 months old or walking/toddling. This is the time we start to focus on kicking both prone and supine. Stroking techniques are added as your child has now developed more strength and motor skills.
BORN TO SWIM incorporates independent face first dives into the water from the side and your baby swims back unaided to hold on to the wall, also unaided to pull themselves up. Your baby’s swims become longer, and more frequent.
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Seahorse One
Toddler Level – 15 months to 3 years old
This level is an introduction to water for toddlers who have never swam before and all BORN TO SWIM members. Our aim here is to increase comfort and confidence in the the water. To do so, as well as teaching the correct aided kicking and strokes, we incorporate noodles, toys, nursery rhymes and games to make learning fun and fear-free. (see our venues ask ED about this)
Seahorse Two
Toddler Level – 15 months to 3 years old
This level is for all toddlers/children who have completed all toddler levels or are comfortable swimming underwater, blowing bubbles under the water, face first entry into the water and swimming to parent. Noodle work, picking up sinkers and jumping in safely. (see our venues)
Health and Safety
Feeding
- For the first two levels you can feed you baby up to 30 minutes before the class
- Most schools say 1 to 1.5 hours but a hungry baby is an angry baby
- For the Goldfish level we advise a little longer
Illness
- Never swim your baby if they have a cold/flu
- Never swim your baby if they have an eye/ear infection
- Never swim your child if the are suffering with a stomach bug or diarrhoea
Nappies
Accidents do happen but to avoid this always use a reusable or aqua nappy when swimming with your baby. (We advise doubling up with the aqua nappy and reusable nappy).
- BORN TO SWIM regards the safety of your baby/child as our top priority
- All our teachers are well versed in child safety procedures and follow the BORN TO SWIM baby and child safety policies
- Our staff always provide a safe and productive environment for all little ones and all undergo regular enhanced criminal record checks
- All our teachers hold lifesaving, first aid and CPR Qualifications
- BORN TO SWIM staff always ensure privacy and confidentially is observed in the interest of the child or parent