Swimming for babies

Swimming for infants is considered a wonderful procedure that promotes the physical development of the baby. Water is a natural element for the baby, since during the entire period of intrauterine development he was surrounded by amniotic fluid, in which he felt comfortable and calm. It is for this reason that the swimming process has a positive effect on both the general health of the baby and his nervous system.

When deciding to involve a child in swimming, parents may face a lot of questions, the answers to which we will try to provide in this article.

What are the benefits of swimming for newborns?

If a child cannot swim, then in time this can cause a lot of anxiety for his parents. Constant worries and fears can haunt mom and dad during a summer vacation at the sea or on the river bank. And only early swimming lessons will help to save the life and health of the baby and save the nerves of the parents.

In addition, water has a calming effect on the baby, stabilizing its immature nervous system. Water procedures increase blood circulation, improve the work of the heart and respiratory organs.

Water eases the load on the spine and allows the musculoskeletal system to function normally.

Thanks to the relaxing effect of water, the child sleeps better, his endurance increases, and his appetite stabilizes.

The earlier parents start taking their children swimming, the more guaranteed it is that the baby will not be afraid of water and will be physically active and developed.

When can you start swimming lessons for babies?

If there are no individual contraindications, then swimming procedures can be started already from the age of 2-3 weeks. There is no need to be afraid of such an early age: for a child, water is his natural environment, in which he feels more than comfortable. The task of parents is not to frighten the baby, so that his idea of bathing does not change.

For swimming lessons, it is better to choose a time when the child is cheerful, fed, not capricious or sleeping, and nothing irritates him. Parents should also be optimistic, since the state of the father or mother is always transmitted to the baby.

There is no need to start exercises and loads right away. It is necessary to understand that swimming is, first of all, pleasure for the child and for the parents. Therefore, it is better to start the lesson with a game, splashing, gradually mastering more and more new movements in the water.

If you “missed” the recommended age for lessons, it’s not a problem: the main thing is that the child himself is not against such activities and is not afraid of water.

Is it necessary for infants to swim with a ring?

It is reasonable to do swimming with a ring in a pool, as there is usually not enough space for this in a bathtub. A ring for a baby is not a mandatory accessory, but sometimes it significantly facilitates the child's adaptation to water and depth.

It is recommended to conduct lessons with a circle from the age of 2 months. The circle is selected depending on the size of the baby, because it is important that swimming is comfortable for the baby.

First, the child should be introduced to the ring outside the pool. Depending on the diameter, it is placed either on the baby's neck or body (if he can already confidently hold his head up).

You cannot start swimming lessons with a ring if the baby has not yet learned how to behave correctly in the pool. This can lead to the child becoming confused, scared, after which it will be very difficult to involve him in the lessons.

Is a swimming instructor required for infants?

Of course, the presence of an instructor makes the process of teaching a baby to swim much easier. An instructor in the pool is a must if the mother herself cannot swim.

If there is both a mother (or father) and a child in the pool, you can try to learn without an instructor. It is good if there are other children with their parents present at the lesson.

What you need to know when going to the pool without an instructor:

• the mother should always be near the child, not letting him out of her sight;
• It is important for a child to hear words of approval from his parents; try to show the child that he is doing great;
• let your child splash and splash: fun games speed up the baby’s adaptation to water;
• try blowing bubbles together underwater: this way you can teach your child not to inhale, but to exhale the water that gets into his mouth;
• Monitor your child's well-being closely: if something is wrong, don't hesitate, get out of the pool.

Even if you decide to practice without an instructor, a preliminary consultation with a specialist is still highly advisable.

How to organize swimming at home for infants?

For the little ones, it is quite possible to organize swimming at home, using a large bathtub. Before starting classes, consult a specialist and read the relevant literature - this will make it easier for you to practice, and you will get much more pleasure from the process.

It is recommended that you practice basic movements, supports, and grips with your child beforehand, so that you do not get confused and lose track of your child while in the water.

The infant bath is filled with warm water. The recommended temperature to start with is +37°C. The temperature can be gradually lowered by half a degree after each session, bringing it to +30 or +28°C. When lowering the temperature, watch the baby: he should be comfortable while swimming, not cold or hot.

First, immerse the baby's feet in the water to allow the baby to get used to the bath temperature. Then, gradually and without haste, immerse the rest of the body. Hold the baby firmly: he should feel your support and not be afraid.

The first lessons should last no more than 10-15 minutes. Later, the time can be increased as the child gets used to the water.

What swimming equipment should be purchased for infants?

If you decide to conduct classes in the pool, you need to know what equipment to take with you so as not to get into trouble. The list of such things is small, but it takes into account all the most necessary things:

• two towels (one for drying, the other for placing under the baby while changing clothes);
• for the accompanying parent – a swimming cap, a swimsuit or swimming trunks, rubber slippers;
• for a baby – a swimming cap (optional, but desirable), a special diaper for swimming (or special panties), swimming trunks or a swimsuit;
• a pacifier, a favorite toy, a bottle of warm milk;
• extra bag to put wet things in after swimming.

In most cases, children's pools are equipped with changing tables, children's furniture and playrooms.

In some cases, additional accessories may be required, such as swimming goggles, armbands, a wetsuit, etc. The need for them should be clarified individually with the instructor.

What is a baby swimming cap?

Surely many of us have noticed that some children swim in the pool in peculiar caps - multi-colored, with many square petals around the perimeter. This is a special cap with foam inserts for swimming babies. It is made on the basis of a cotton cap, to which a strip of satin and foam cubes are attached. The main purpose of such an accessory is to help the baby keep his head on the surface of the water.

Buying a foam cap is not at all necessary. However, it makes the process of teaching a child to swim much easier, and also allows the child to stay afloat without the risk of plunging headfirst into the water.

Do babies need swimming armbands and what are they used for?

It is recommended to use armbands for older children, starting from 3 years of age. Their main purpose is to keep the child on the surface of the water, which is very similar to the function of an inflatable vest.

There are many modifications of armbands. They are selected depending on the size of the child, so you need to buy them after putting them on the baby. If the child feels comfortable, and the accessory does not slip off, then it is selected correctly.

Can you use swim trunks for babies?

Special swimming panties or diapers are not only allowed, but also required to be used in swimming pools. Often, such panties are a mandatory attribute when visiting a children's pool.

These panties do not let moisture through, they are safe, and are available for both disposable and reusable use. Thanks to them, parents do not have to worry about an embarrassing incident during swimming. The main thing is to choose the right size of panties so that they fit tightly to the child's body, and at the same time do not squeeze the delicate skin.

Diapers and swimming trunks are produced by almost all well-known companies that specialize in the production of regular disposable diapers.

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Are there swimming goggles for babies?

Swimming goggles are an accessory that is used mainly for older children. Their use is not very appropriate for infants, because the main function of glasses is to see underwater, and in young children, vision is just beginning to improve. More or less accurate vision develops in a baby after 4 months, but even at this age it is too early to use glasses. As a rule, they are put on a child when he begins to understand the main purpose of this accessory.

Where can parents take a swimming course for babies?

Swimming courses for infants are usually held in children's clinics or swimming pools. Even on the Internet, you can subscribe to paid and free video lessons on teaching babies to swim.

Usually, courses are basic and advanced. Basic knowledge is the skills that all parents who decide to introduce their child to swimming should learn. Such a course covers general issues and also consists of several practical lessons for parents with their child.

It is especially recommended that parents who are planning to teach their child to swim on their own, without the participation of an instructor, take this course.

What is therapeutic swimming for infants?

Swimming training is often started not only for the general physical and physiological development of the child, but also for therapeutic purposes. For example, therapeutic swimming is recommended for infants with increased excitability of the nervous system, with impaired muscle tone, with cerebral palsy or articular dysplasia.

The essence of the treatment is to perform special water exercises that help develop certain muscle groups. Such procedures cannot be performed independently, but only with a specially trained instructor.

It is recommended to visit the pool 2-3 times a week: swimming for infants with such a schedule of classes does not allow to lose the acquired skills. As a result, your child can learn a lot: to swim, to stay on the water, to dive. But the main point is that for a baby, swimming is a great pleasure and boundless joy.