Back to Blog
January 23, 2019
Lenny Krayzelburg

Tips to Help Your Infant Overcome Their Fear of Swimming

Teaching your kids to swim confidently in the water is an important part of their overall safety and development and is most successful when started early. Even babies can learn how to feel comfortable in the water and how to float, which could save their lives in emergency situations. Read on to learn about how to help your child feel comfortable and confident in the water and why infant swimming lessons in Los Angeles are a good idea.

Start Them Young

As soon as everything is healed after birth and they have been cleared by their pediatrician, infants can start in the water. Babies are naturally comfortable on their backs when they are very young, so it is usually easier to get them to back float if you start lessons before they roll over and begin to crawl. And don’t think that infants can’t learn anything at only a few months old; there are many cases of children who are able to independently roll to their backs and stay there after just a short time in swim lessons!

Exposure is Key

In general, the best way to help anyone feel comfortable enough in the water to save themselves in a drowning situation is through exposure. The younger you are when this process starts, the less fear you have to overcome and the less likely you are to drown due to lack of swimming skills.

For babies, simply hanging out in the pool with a parent, getting used to the feeling of the water and learning that water is fun is an important part of learning to swim. If you find that your child is fearful of spending time in the water, gradual, safe exposure is a great way to overcome those fears.

Baby bath

Make Bath Time Fun

Since you’ll be bathing your baby anyway, bath time is the perfect time to get your little one used to the water. Hop in the tub with your child, let them splash around, use a cup to gently pour water over their hair and safely let them get some water in their face to get used to the sensation.

Don’t Rely on Floaties

Many parents make the mistake of using floaties to help children feel comfortable in the water. This can actually be very detrimental since it creates a false sense of safety in both parents and children. Floaties often put kids in a vertical position instead of a horizontal one that is needed for traversing the water and/or floating for safety.

Above All, Be Patient

At the end of the day, each child will react differently to the water, and it is important to remain patient and let them develop at their own pace. Working with an experienced, trained swim instructor will most certainly help you benchmark your child’s success and safety in the water. If you are ready to enroll in infant swimming classes in Los Angeles or have questions answered from a water expert, please reach out to the professionals at SwimRight Academy today.

Lenny Krayzelburg
Comments (0)
Comment

Your comment