Some of you may be eager to bring your baby to swim without thinking twice if your little one is ready. After all, babies spent the first nine months of their lives floating in the womb! However, this does not mean that your baby will take to the water like fish and enjoy the water splashing on them.
Taking the right steps to introduce your baby to the pool will increase the success rate and making it enjoyable for your little one. There are few tips you may want to try it out to help your little one feel safe in the water and to avoid them from developing a phobia that could affect them throughout their lives.
Start in the comfort of your own home
Where can be a better place than the comfort of your own home to introduce your baby to the water before heading to the pool? The familiar environment will allow them to feel safe as the experience is less daunting than going straight to a large and echoing pool.
The best way to get them into the water at home is in the bath. Keep the experience fun and interesting by including toys in bath time and constantly talking to your little one. This will soothe them and help them to enjoy the sensation of the water while also feeling safe.
Once they are happy in the water, try splashing them gently with water. If they become distressed at this point, stop and try again in the next bath. Remember that every baby is unique and learn at different pace. With your encouragements and patience, your baby will get the hang of it soon.
The first swimming pool experience
Getting ready all the necessary items on this big day is crucial and makes everything easier. Essential items such as swimming gears, towels, toys, extra clothes, diapers, milk/snacks, sunscreen etc are just a few basic items you may want to consider before adding in more to your list as you go along.
If you’re worried about the water temperature, Konfidence™ Babywarma is ideal for helping to keep your little one warm while swimming. It is made of flexible and comfortable neoprene, which insulates them and allows them to stay in the water longer. The non-slip surface of the material also makes it easier for you to keep a good grip on your baby.
You will also need a swim nappy for your baby to avoid toilet accidents in the pool. The Konfidence™ AquaNappy has been designed to ensure that any little accident doesn’t affect the water or anyone else. You can simply put it on and get in the pool.
When you are at the pool, give yourself and your baby ample time to get used to the environment before stepping straight into the water. Most swimming pools tend to be loud and the chlorine smells may require your baby to take some time to get use to. On top of these, getting into a large body of water can be too much for your little one if they don’t have time to adjust. If you are attending a baby swimming lesson, you may want to make sure you have sufficient time to do all these before the class starts.
You can reassure your baby by holding and talking to them. Once your baby has settled down, slowly get into the water with them and taking some of their bath toys with you. When in the pool, crouch low in the water and move them around while holding them against you. This will help them get used to the sensation of the water without getting stressed out.
When they are more at ease in the water, splash them gently with water. If you stay positive the whole time, your baby will likely be happy as they will take their cues from you.
Getting out of the pool
When you get out of the water, you should wrap your baby up as soon as possible. Babies can’t regulate their body temperature and so they will get cold very quickly. Once they are completely dry, get them changed as quickly as possible to avoid them losing any more body heat and becoming distressed. It is a good idea to pop a hat on them to slow down the heat lost.
When you are out of the changing room, give your baby a bottle of milk or snack as swimming will make them hungry. This will also help soothe them and make sure that every part of the swimming experience is fun for them.
We hope that with these few tips, you and your baby will enjoy this special bonding time in the pool together!