Monday, 09 March 2009
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QOTD - Baby Swimming Lessons?
by Momaroo Team 
Would you want your baby to take swimming lessons? How old were you when you learned how to swim?
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Comments (29)
I would take my son to baby swimming lessons
I was planning to take Little One for lessons when she was younger but then I read some where (babycenter.com I think) that the best time to take them is after the age of 4 because they are more likely to retain the knowledge than a younger child. I see no reason not the take a baby to the pool and let them have fun though.
I am against infant swimming lessons because of the danger of them ingesting too much water and dying. Our gym does not allow infant swim lessons because they can be dangerous. I think it is good to take the babies to the pool and play with them but as far as forcefully putting their little heads under the water goes I am against it. I think a good age to start real swim lessons is about 3 years old for most children.... ~Echo
I would love to take Gabe for 'Mommy and Me' swimming classes at the Rec, even just for the chance to splash around in the pool, unfortunately a Rec membership is too expensive.
Growing up, I really don't remember a time I didn't know how to swim, or at least doggy paddle. So I was pretty young when I learned. I was, and still am, in the water every chance I got.
My daughter is 3 and has been taking swim "lessons" or "classes" since she was an infant. She LOVES it and can swim better than I can.
My son is a year and there is a class at our local Y called "Parent & Tot" swimming lessons. You pretty much just get in the pool with your tot and play around. So they can get used to the water.
He loves it!
I think having a child be comfortable in the water is so important! And learning early is key. If a child is scared they won't be able to handle themselves if something were to happen and they fall in. And where we live, water is all around. Swimming is a huge thing so my kids will learn right away.
I took my son to a preview class when he was 9 months and he loved it. The end of this month we'll be going to our local mommy and me swimming class.
I taught swim lessons for children, and infants alike. I think that it's all up to the parents but I would have taken my son in when he was little if it hadn't been for the cold weather and no indoor swimming pools. This summer he'll be about seven or eight months when I take him into his first "real" pool.
xoxo, Cait
p.s. I see nothing wrong with infants in the pool just so long as they have the proper supervision and are not being pushed underwater. Back floating, kicked and getting familiar with the water in their face is the main goal for baby classes. :)
I started swim lessons when I was 4, my husband on the other hand was swimming at 18 months...he now has the nickname "the otter" because he swims so well.Â
My twin nephews started at 6months and at 6years they are still loving swimming lessons. As long as the baby enjoys it and isnt terrified of the water, I think it is alot of fun.
I don't know how old I was when I started swimming but I was on swim team when I was 5. Every summer, I have intended on putting my kids in swim lessons but for some reason or another, it hasn't happened. I, personally, think that it should be mandatory in FL for every child to have some sort of water safety class. We're surrounded for pete's sake!
I still don't swim well because I hate getting my face wet. My kiddos took swimming lessons last year (they were 2.5 years and 15 months old) For the little one, it was a parent/child class and it was mostly just getting them used to being in the water, playing and learning to blow bubbles. It was great for her because at the beginning of the two weeks she was terrified every time we got in the pool. By the end, she was happy to be there and loving splashing and playing.
For the older one, there was more involved, like practicing kicking and going under water. He was the same - not sure about it in the beginning, but loving it at the end. Whether or not they're really learning to swim, I think it's great for them to get in the water with other kids and just learn to be comfortable in the water!
I don't know about baby swimming lessons. I don't know how early they can start and what the normal age for them is. I think it's strange to take, for example, a 6 month baby for these lessons, but I'm not a mom yet so I can't really say what is normal for a baby that age. I have this feeling like early lessons like that are good because their brains are growing so fast and it's good to get them used to the water, etc. But depending on the child, they might still be in that "baby mode" that I think of when thinking of babies. Sort of oblivious to stuff and baby swimming lessons might be very scary for them and prevent proper learning. Maybe when I'm a mother my view will change. I think swimming lessons depends on the child. for goodness sake I only know how to stay above the water. I can't swim. I doggy paddle. D: And I'm 20. I really should take lessons someday, but I'm so embarassed about my body!
I taught myself to swim, but then took lessons with my younger brother at the Y when I was about 7 and he was 4. We both love swimming, even though I'm a stronger swimmer, but that could be because I'm older than he is. I taught my youngest brother to swim last summer, when he was 8, but he isn't as good at it as we are.
I think I would wait until my child was about 4 before enrolling them in swimming lessons, although I'd gladly take them to splash around/play in the water.
I think its a good idea to take a baby swimming lesson class. Of course its not likely that they'll become good swimmers but at least its a nice and fun bonding experience. Its better then sitting down and watching TV with them, even if it is Baby Einstein XD
I don't remember when I learned how to swim but I know I was VERY young. I've been swimming almost my whole life. My sister was the only one who took to swimming badly, it took her till the age of 5 to learn.
My son just turned 4 months old and I bought him the cutest swimming trunks and let him get in waist deep. I was told by my doctor not to submerge him at least not for a while, but I'm also an exception my son is a preemie on an apnea monitor.
But I'd like him to learn before I did at age 10!
I was three when I learned how to swim without floaties, but they have lessons around here for as young as 6 months. I don't really think a baby should learn to swim before they learn how to walk.
that's cute picture ^^!
I think I learned how to swim when I was about 4 or 5 years old. I think I'd take a baby to a pool, but only to the baby pool where the water level never rises above one foot. I wouldn't start trying to teach a child to swim until, at the very earliest, they knew how to walk and hold their breath on command.
Yeah, if I could, I'd love for my daughter to have swimming lessons. But that's not possible right now. I took lessons I think starting at age 3 or 4 only for 2 summers, and I taught myself to swim after that based on what I'd learned from those lessons.
I started swimming lessons at 4, but I didn't really need them, I just wanted to learn the strokes. I was going off the diving board in the deep end at age 2. People thought my mother was crazy but I was a natural.
I eventually went on to be a D1 collegiate swimmer.
I was a swim instructor for many years mainly for children 6 months to 6 years and honestly believe the younger you get your little one into the water the more relaxed you and them become. gthat is the biggest problem, the parents freak out for the child especially when it is time for the older ones to head into the pool for the first time alone what I would recomend it that you go to a class or two to watch befor eyou sign up be sur eyou are okay wiht the style of learning that is being offered. But remember that it is a positive thing for your cild and most time the LOVE the water you just have to give them the chance to learn and also the things they will be doing are safe and they have limits for different age groups! Do not force your little one to go ahead in the training if they are not ready to move to the next level this has nothing to do with age and everything to do with being okay in the water and skill.
My daughter currently takes swimming lessons. She started when she was 6 months old. She has no fear of the water but respects it. She understands it can hurt her or embrace her and that is all up to how she behaves around it.
She knows if she jumps in the deep end it will hurt. She knows if she uses her floaties she will be safe. She knows to never enter a pool area let alone a pool itself. And she knows to warn other children and call mommy should anyone be around the pool area.
For me, putting my dughter in swimming lessons was not an option but rather a necessity. I live in Florida and pools are one of the greatest killers of children. They are unaware of the dangers and so intrigued by the water that they are drawn to it. It is said that children can drown even in the smallest amount of bathwater. It's about safety.
i think baby swim lessons are stupid. I used to work at a small swim school (lifeguarding) that offered classes starting at 6 months. i think its a good idea to get them used to the water but its basicaly child endangerment to force them underwater.