Baby Swimming

While I was still pregnant, the other moms that I met through our birthing class (now called the A-team as all our babes have "a" names) were talking about enrolling in a baby swimming class. Being quite the waterbug myself (I think I spent half my life from aged 8-18 in a swimming pool) I was very interested.

The classes started when Alexander was only 9 weeks old and he loved it immediately. The pool was heated at to 36-38°C and felt amazing. Each week the class began with a song, then learning a new skill, and/or practicing a previously learned skill. Throughout all our classes Alexander learned to float on his back and on his tummy ( with his head supported.) He learned to kick as we moved forward and to hold himself onto the edge. He particularly enjoyed chasing the toys around the pool, splashing, and looking at all the other babies.

The skill I was most nervous about was the underwater diving. We started by pouring a cup of water on the back of his head and saying "get ready to dive". This helps activate a babies reflex to close their eyes and mouth and hold their breath and gives them a verbal cue of what's about to happen. Eventually he got to the point where he made the association with just a little splashing on the back of his head and he was ready to dive. As usual, my little boy impressed me with being ready to do something before I was actually ready.

Baby swimming was such a fun experience for both Alexander and myself that we enrolled in the baby swimming 2 class that starts next January. I can't wait to see what my little swimmer learns next!