Babies start with classes at six months as they can float at that age if they are in a relaxed state of mind. By the age of 25 months, babies who started swimming before their first birthday can swim comfortably, covering long distances and holding their breath for over 10 seconds.
This does take of hours of practice and very gradual lengthening of the swims, so it’s not a good idea to try this at home or at your local rec center. Babies should finish each swim relaxed and calm, not panting and stressed from taking in water.
You need to be fully comfortable in the water before enrolling with your baby. Our BIG SPLASH for Babies lessons rely a lot on parental participation in the water and your child’s confidence in the pool will very much depend on yours. Birthtime is a great opportunity to get some practice in with your baby, and making a game out of being in the water together at every opportunity will help prepare you both for the BIG SPLASH’s sessions. A great idea is to bring your child’s favourite toy to the first session and sing the songs you have learnt in class on the way to the lessons and in the tub.
The best age to start for babies is between six and 12 months old. At this age the water feels natural and they’re comfortable. These very young babies still seem to have memories of the womb.
At around 19-24 month, toddlers enter the ‘terrible twos’ and it’s easier to teach water adjustment and breath control before this phase. But, with our creative and interactive curriculum, it’s never too late. The group classes work miracles and motivate children to participate at any age.