Swimming with baby, tips for starting baby swimming

Baby swimming - when to start and where to swim?

Baby swimming is a varied play activity for the whole family in heated water, supervised by a trained instructor. The ideal age to start baby swimming is at least three months. This means that your child has enough time to stay awake
and can move around more. There is no upper age limit for starting baby swimming
. The child must weigh at least 5 kg to keep warm in +32°C water (suh.fi). Swimming pools raise the water temperature for baby swimming.

Baby swimming is widely offered in various locations, the Finnish Swimming Education and
Lifeguarding Association (Suh.fi) lists baby and family swimming venues that meet the
requirements for safe and high-quality activities (see the list of
requirements on suh.fi). You can access the list of family swimming venues here .

Guided baby swimming - the first swimming times

In baby swimming, the child does not learn to "swim" independently, but with the help of the parents
supervised and assisted to play in the water and dive. Diving
in training, the diving reflex is usually utilized, which is a protective reaction
when the child's head gets under water. The diving reflex prevents water from entering the child
airways, and using this the child is made to learn active
holding the breath when entering the water even before the reflex is normal
losing. The number and duration of dives are limited by the age of the baby and them
supervised by an instructor. In this way, you avoid drinking too much water and
child overexertion.

The activity takes place on the child's terms, which is very important when the goal is
develop a child into a water lover.

During the first swimming sessions, different strokes are practiced and how to carry the child lightly with as little support as possible and as deep in the water as possible. The upright, back and stomach positions are constantly changed, at the same time inventing different games and moving around in different parts of the pool. When the baby is used to the basic grips, you can handle him a little more briskly and increase the speed of the games. However, swimming is hard work for a child and every now and then you have to stop to rest. Every swimming session should end with a pleasant experience for the child. (tips and instructions from the suh.fi website).

During the first swimming sessions, different strokes are practiced and how to carry the child lightly with as little support as possible and as deep in the water as possible. Standing, back and stomach positions are constantly changed, at the same time inventing different games and moving around the pool. When the baby is used to the basic grips, you can handle him a little more briskly and increase the speed of the games. However, swimming is hard work for a child, and every now and then you have to stop to rest.

When is it not allowed to swim? You can only come to baby swimming if you are healthy, you must not come to swim with a flu, ear infection or other infections. An ear infection is often difficult for a child and can cause a cycle of ear infections, water does not cause an ear infection but bacteria, so even if the child is otherwise healthy, it is not recommended to come swimming with a cold.

What do you need for baby swimming?

Bathing suit The baby needs a bathing suit, we can also find neoprene ones
swimsuits from size 80 cm and baby swimwear and pants, take a look
products here. A good bathing suit for baby swimming is snappy and often has a good fit
to have small legs. If you want a swimsuit that is easy to put on, we recommend it
just swimming trunks. Check out the selection here.

With or without a bathing suit? There are different recommendations for the use of a swimming diaper in the swimming pool
subject to. Some of the organizers of the baby swim instruct you to swim without a diaper and some
again requires the use of a diaper. You should find out what the instructions are
in the swimming place of your choice. If the organizers of the swim do not require a bathing suit
use, you should go swimming without a swimming diaper. The swim diaper affects the baby
swimming position, so it is better for the baby to swim without a diaper. In case of poo damage
hurts while swimming, you have to stop swimming with it anyway
swim diapers don't keep poop inside the diaper well enough either.
A high-waisted swimsuit holds poo just as well as a swim diaper.
In our selection, you will find sturdy neoprene pants that protect swimming well
during. Discover children's neoprene swimming trunks here.

Other swimming accessories that are good to have with you:

• a big towel for the baby
• it is easy to transport a baby in the car seat, it is good to put a moisture barrier or a towel in the car seat.
• for parents, a swimsuit and a towel and a swimming cap.
• A change of diaper and a change of clothes
• A waterproof toy for the baby and a favorite pacifier or other familiar thing, check out the selection here.