Do babies enjoy swimming lessons?
Many parents wonder whether their baby will enjoy swimming lessons. Deciding whether to start lessons usually involves weighing up the benefits against what the experience will be like—not just for the baby, but also for the parents! No one wants to be in a pool with a screaming baby for a lengthy period of time.
At Hampton Swim School, we have a specialised swimming program for babies created by a former Australian Swimming representative, Julia Ham.
Our swimming classes are designed for maximum enjoyment and learning opportunities. And we find that a vast majority of babies enjoy our classes right away. But, if for some reason your baby is resistant to swimming lessons, we can help make them feel right at home in the water.
Why our swim program is perfect for babies
Hampton Swim School has a swim program that grows with your baby and their needs. Our expert teachers and carefully constructed classes teach swimming in a fun way. This means that your baby is much more likely to enjoy their swimming lessons with us.
We have classes tailored to newborn babies and up to 3 years, separated by age groups. All these classes are part of our ‘BabySteps Swim Program’.
This program includes:
- BabyBegins: from birth to 3 months
- Starfish: from 3–9 months
- Jellyfish: from 10–16 months
- Turtle: from 17–30 months
- Penguin: from 2–3 years of age.
You can read more about each class on our BabySteps Swim Program page.
What to do if your baby is not enjoying swim classes?
Sometimes your baby may not enjoy a particular swim class at first. This can be for a variety of reasons and may have nothing to do with the class itself—for example, if they are getting sick.
As kids learn new skills and experience new things—like being submerged underwater—some may become a little scared at first. But as a parent, it’s important to know that this is all part of the learning process.
The best thing you can do for your baby is to persist and stay with the classes. You’ll find that as the weeks pass and your child has a chance to get used to the class, their mood will often change significantly. At first they might be scared, but soon—with our support and care—they will be laughing and playing and having a ball! And so will you.
What we can do to help your baby enjoy the class
Normally, most babies love our swimming classes! But if your child needs a little help settling in, our trained swimming teachers will work with you to make sure your child gets the most out of the classes.
What you can do to help your baby enjoy swimming lessons
Children are like little sponges, and are great at picking up the energy and emotions of other people around them. So, as you’ve probably experienced, if you become anxious or stressed, your child is likely to pick up on this.
The best thing you can do is to relax and enjoy yourself. By remaining calm and having fun, your child is likely to do the same.
Find out more about our swimming lessons for babies
If you have any questions about our swimming lessons for babies, please contact us today.
We have classes at Morningside, Bulimba and Norman Park.