First Time Swimming with 13MO

[Anonymous]

We're headed to the pool/beach this weekend with our 13MO and I've started looking at "How to Teach Your Baby to Swim" YouTube videos. Does anyone have any good resources they can share on what to do, what not to do? I ultimately want to make sure that it's fun and safe! TIA!

[Anonymous]

Use sunscreen, and then don't drop the baby in the water even though she's slippery with sunscreen. That's all there is to it at this age.

Have fun!

[Anonymous]

To teach a baby to swim, you have to go to the pool frequently. The child will not learn to swim over the weekend no matter how many instructions you give him/her. Focus on water safety and make sure someone's eyes are on the child at all times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're headed to the pool/beach this weekend with our 13MO and I've started looking at "How to Teach Your Baby to Swim" YouTube videos. Does anyone have any good resources they can share on what to do, what not to do? I ultimately want to make sure that it's fun and safe! TIA!

This.

And it's harder than you think - they are so slippery with sunscreen on in a pool!

[Anonymous]

FWIW, The Academy of Pediatrics doesn't advise swimming lessons before 4 years of age.

[Anonymous]

I used to teach infants and toddlers (well mostly I taught their parents to teach them).

A couple of things to keep in mind:
Babies and toddlers get cold much faster than we do in the water. If the temperature is below 80 (in most cases it is), I'd limit pool sessions to 20-30 minutes.
To keep your child warmer while in the water, keep their shoulders under. The more of their body that's exposed to air,.the colder they will be.
If you plan to submerge your child, let them know and bring them toward you after counting to three. "One, two, three, under!". Don't "dunk" them if they are not facing you. The main thing you want to develop with a little one in the water is trust.

Learning to swim takes time and repetition. Getting your child comfortable with you in the water is the first and most important step.

Have fun!

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for the reality check! I have a few mom friends who were flabbergast that I didn't have my son in swim lessons at 6 months...so I started to worry!

Sounds like we'll just hang out and have fun splashing!

[Anonymous]

Re: slippery kids. I highly recommend rash guards because it I can hold on to that not the slippery kid skin lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you all for the reality check! I have a few mom friends who were flabbergast that I didn't have my son in swim lessons at 6 months...so I started to worry!

Sounds like we'll just hang out and have fun splashing!

My mom is a swim coach, she doesn't take kids until they're 4-5 years old for lessons, depending on how mature the kid is. Anything before that is just splashing around and having fun.