Start your baby’s swimming journey at home, in the bath. Getting comfortable in the water at home, will help your child to grow a lifetime love of the water. Check out our top tips below for bathing your baby.

Baby swimming is one of the most valuable activities. Not only does it encourage parent-baby bonding, but it’s also teaching your child a skill that could save their life one day.

The benefits of baby swimming will last your baby a lifetime

As well as teaching your baby a lifesaving skill, swimming has so many other benefits:

Physical:

• Strengthens your baby’s heart & lungs
• Helps to build muscles and joints
• Improves balance & coordination

Emotional:

• Beautiful bonding experience
• Skin to skin contact releases the feel-good hormone oxytocin
• Builds trust between you and your baby
• Grows their confidence
• Lastly, but most importantly, is the joy that swimming brings. Giving your child the confidence in the water to play and have fun with friends in the water as they grow up, is a gift.

Introducing your baby to water at home will help them transition to the pool easily

With all pools closed due to the current pandemic, you might be worried that your bear cub with miss out. Don’t worry, you can start your baby’s swimming journey at home, in the bath. It’s a familiar place where you and your baby can relax and enjoy the sensation of the water.

Both big baths and small baby baths work perfectly. It’s all about making your little one feel safe and secure. Try to stay as relaxed as possible. Take your time and don’t rush.

Here are our top tips for an enjoyable bath for your baby:

• Lower the lights if possible so your bear cub isn’t looking into a bright light.
• If it’s comfortable for you, get into the bath with your baby. It’s a wonderful time for skin to skin and bonding.
• Gently introduce them to the bath, in your safe hands, supporting their head.
• Lay them on their back, looking at your face. Smile and be encouraging.
• You can introduce gentle movement, swaying from side to side.
• Talk to your baby and explain to them what you’re doing. “Now I’m going to wash your feet”
• After the bath, give your baby a big feed and some cuddles.

Having a positive bath experience is a lovely start for your baby’s swimming journey. The water is a place they feel secure and happy. It’s so important to never leave your child alone near water as drowning happens fast and in silence.

Swim Cubs hold swimming classes for babies & toddlers from ages 2 months to 4.5 years. Check out www.happycubs.ie/swimcubs for more information.