Summer is fast approaching. Families eagerly plan vacations and activities that revolve around sunshine, laughter, and, most often, water adventures. From poolside playdates to beach trips, swimming has become a staple highlight of these cherished moments!
Introducing their babies to the water adds an extra layer of joy and excitement for parents of little ones. After all, playing in the water isn’t just fun for infants—it’s a sensory experience that can strengthen bonds and create lasting memories.
But as a parent, ensuring your baby’s safety while splashing around is your top priority. Rest assured, we’ll explore the safety measures and guidelines to make this a worry-free experience. This raises the question: Do babies naturally know how to swim? Can infants swim at all?
In this blog, we’ll discover the answers to these questions. Let’s explore fascinating swimming reflexes in newborns and discuss the best ways to introduce your little one to the joys of swimming.
Do Babies Naturally Know How to Swim?
There is a myth that newborn babies can float in water. While they do have the natural ability to swim, they still need their parent’s help. This instinct comes from a pair of water reflexes that are strongest in her first six months of life:
- Swimming reflex: When placed in water with their tummy-side down, infants instinctively move their arms and legs in a paddling motion, just like a dog. This reflex usually fades around six months of age.
- Dive reflex: Known as the bradycardic response, this reflex triggers when a baby’s face touches the water, causing them to hold their breath, open their eyes, and slow their heart rate. You can get the same response when gently blowing at your baby’s face.
While these reflexes are fascinating, they are not equivalent to the ability to swim. Despite these natural reflexes, infants must still rely on their parents or guardians for safety in water.
When is the Best Age for Babies to Learn to Swim?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), drowning is the single leading cause of injury death for children ages one to four. It is also the top cause of death for teens. Children often have more access to bodies of water that pose a drowning risk.
Parents should consider swimming lessons as early as 6 months old to prevent drowning in babies and children. After all, learning how to swim is an important layer of protection to prevent fatal accidents. Starting early, you’re taking a proactive step toward your child’s safety. While pool fencing, close supervision and lifeguards, life jackets, and CPR training, nothing can compare to knowing how to navigate the water.
What to Look for in Infant Swim Lessons?
Prioritize these factors when choosing swim lessons for your baby:
- Instructors: Your baby’s swim coach should be well-qualified to teach the swim curriculum and know how to handle your little one. Ask for their qualifications, certifications, and experiences. They should have completed a training program to teach swimming lessons.
- Safety Measures: Classes should emphasize water safety and gear should be readily available in case of an emergency.
- Pool Hygiene: Your little one is sensitive to chemicals and is more likely to swallow pool water, so it’s important to maintain the pool’s cleanliness.
- Curriculum and Flexibility: You and your child may not always be available on specific days and times of the week. We recommend looking for a swim school that offers flexibility to accommodate your schedule.
- Parental Involvement: Swim lessons are an excellent opportunity to foster a deeper connection with your little one. Ensure classes let parents in the pool to create a secure learning environment. At Bear Paddle, parents are required to be in the water with their child until 3 years old.
Considerations for Public Pools and Infants
Young children must always be under adult supervision when in the water. However, most pediatricians do not recommend public pools for newborns and babies younger than six months old. While they are convenient options, they pose some risks for your little one, including:
- Chlorine Exposure: An infant’s skin and respiratory system are sensitive and developing, so high chlorine levels can irritate and disrupt maturation.
- Temperature: Infants are more susceptible to hypothermia, which occurs when core body temperature drops below 95°Fahrenheit (35°Celsius). Parents must ensure the water is adequately heated (around 86°F or 30°C).
- Germs: Since many people use public pools, they can harbor bacteria and viruses that may harm an infant’s developing immune system.
- Diaper malfunctions: Accidents are unavoidable and can ruin the fun for everyone when they happen. Even wearing the proper gear, such as a swim diaper, won’t likely contain all the fecal matter, which can contaminate the entire pool.
If you choose a public pool, look for one that maintains strict hygiene standards and limits chemical usage.
Benefits of Swimming for Infants
In addition to lowering the risk of drowning, swimming offers other benefits for infants:
- Physical Development: It strengthens muscles, improves coordination, and boosts cardiovascular health.
- Cognitive Growth: Water activities stimulate sensory input and enhance brain development.
- Parent-Baby Bonding: Create opportunities for quality bonding time.
- Safety Skills: Teach basic skills such as holding one’s breath and turning onto the back.
- Better Confidence: Remove the fear of the water by instilling assurance while in the water.
Water Safety Tips for Parents
Water safety is paramount when introducing infants to swimming. Keep your baby safe by following these reminders:
- Keep close, constant, and attentive supervision at all times. Never leave your baby unattended because you’ll never know what could happen if you put your eyes off them for a few seconds. Always have them within arm’s reach, even in shallow water.
- Invest in swim diapers and infant floatation devices. These appropriate gear provide an extra layer of protection and peace of mind.
- Monitor water temperature to avoid chilling.
- To prevent exhaustion and discomfort, limit swim sessions to short durations. You should spend about 10 to 30 minutes in the water. Younger babies, especially those under six months old, can tolerate sessions with half this duration.
- While lifeguards are present in public pools and swim camps, parents should also be prepared for emergencies. Learn infant CPR to prevent accidents.
- Ensure the pool’s drain covers are properly maintained. Suction from drains can trap swimmers, especially your little ones. If possible, swimming pools should consider installing anti-entrapment drain covers.
- To reduce drowning risks, pools should be surrounded by a fence with a self-closing and self-latching gate. For additional security, you can also add barriers such as door locks, window locks, pool covers, and pool alarms.
Start Your Little One’s Aquatic Journey Today
Can babies swim naturally? In a way, yes! Babies are born with incredible reflexes. But while these instincts make it seem like they can swim, they don’t have the strength, coordination, and skills to swim independently.
Fortunately, swim coaches provide guidance to help your baby build on these reflexes, develop water confidence, and learn basic swimming skills. Combined with a parent’s support and proper safety measures, swimming can become a fun and beneficial experience.
Visit the Bear Paddle blog to learn more about starting your child’s swim journey!