Mommy! NO water on my face!

Practice swimming in your back yard! Let's work on getting water on the face.  This is a good way to lead into swimming under the water in the pool when your child does not like getting his face wet.

Fun is the name of the game when it comes to swimming!

Do this in the shower - set the signal - make it fun!

Then, when your child doesn't mind getting his face wet...

Put a toy on the step in the pool so that he has to put his face in the water to get it!  

Soon your child will be swimming!

Don't let him forget, practice in the bathtub!

Durham has lots of fun in the bath!

Scientific Benefits of Baby Swimming

There is much research of the benefits of baby swimming.  

Lana Witehead of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance made this slide show:

Lana Whitehead "Scientific Benefits of Early Swim Lessons" NDPA Symposium 2012 from National Drowning Prevention Alliance

http://www.slideshare.net/NDPA/lana-whitehead-scientific-benefits-of-early-swim-lessons

Scientific Benefits os Swimming Lessons

Swimming Promotes Sensory Integration

Learn to Swim with Miss Bea - Teach your child to Swim

Your child can learn to swim - no excuses!  

It is one of your most important jobs!

Learn to Swim with Miss Bea will show you:

 Learn to swim ideas starting with the baby's first bath 

How to dunk your child with confidence

what to do if your 2 year old will not put his face under water 

How to improve your child's kick

How to get your child to swim by himself

And much more - in English and Spanish!

E. Swimming to Mommy

E. loves looking at Daddy underwater

Going underwater together is a sure way to make it fun, especially if you take a picture!

Many parents are worried about putting their child under the water.  If you are gentle and loving, you do not have to worry about your child going under the water.  First you have to have your child used to having water on the face.  You should do this in the bathtub, pouring water on the baby's face with a cup.  You start with a little water and wipe his nose.  As your baby gets used to that, you increase the amount of water by counting the seconds.

For a baby older than around 6 months, have the baby pour water on your face or on a toy's face.  Have the baby wipe his own face and your face and the toy's face making funny noises.

Put a toy in the bottom of the tub and see if your child will put his face in and get it!  This is a good was for the child not to forget to put his face in the water over the winter months.

How to get your child to love swimming underwater.

Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Gain confidence when putting your child underwater

Ali Grace underwater - one year old

Babies are swimming animals before they are born!  To continue this mindset, will ensure positive future swimming experiences.  Squeeze the  clean washcloth on the baby's face, first on the side, then over the eyes. Do this at every bath! As the child gets older, pour more water.  Pouring water on the baby's face in the tub will prepare your child underwater submersion in a pool. This does not harm your baby.  These babies are used to having water on their face.

Make sure to pour water on the face of your baby in the bath, then do the same in the pool.
Don't forget to play games have fun! 


Watch the video on youtube and subscribe to my channel for more baby swim videos that will answer all your questions, and buy my DVD, Learn to Swim with Miss Bea.

  youtube video - Learn to Swim with Miss bea

Special Needs Kids Need Swimming Lessons too!

Many have called me through the years to ask my advice about their special needs children.  When Hannah's sweet mama recently reached out to me uncertain about the swim lessons she had just started with her little 10 month old, I told her to go for it!  Take it easy and have fun and keep it up all year!

Hannah and her mami, uncertain about the water!!

Hanna's first swimming lessons. 

Start your lessons in the tub!!

My newest grandbaby...

Will my child ever learn how to swim?

This Summer your child was well on the way to becoming a confident swimmer.  But it seemed to be taking forever and you just didn't have time to devote to this very important life skill.

Even though the weather is not conducive to swimming, find an indoor pool where you can go to continue to practice - even once a month.

If you don't have a pool near by nor any swimming lessons available for your children, then you have to practice in the tub!  Fill up the tub and practice.  Even get goggles and put them on in the tub to catch the toys at the bottom.

Getting a toy from the bottom 

Proud that he did it!

The most important thing is for the child to be comfortable going under the water.

Don't give up!  It takes time and dedication.  Some children need lots of help and support before they take off swimming on their own.  

I'm proud of this Daddy practicing in the hotel pool while on vacation!  He is right there for 4 year old James as he plays going under water and diving for toys.   


It is important not to get discouraged and give up on your child but take advantage of every chance you get in the pool.  

Practice in the bathtub or hot tub every chance you get.

Swimming with baby Parker

YOU can put your child underwater!  It is so good for your baby!   

I want to teach you this parenting skill.

Watch this video and do this with your baby!

Even with my experience with so many other babies, I was nervous and excited his first time with Parker at the pool at 3 months.  We played and floated and I poured water on his face like his parents have been doing in his bath.  I really don't get too many babies that young and was afraid he would choke on the water...  Don't you feel that way too?  Well, even though I pretty much cut that out of the video, he did choke a little but it only lasted about 2 seconds and then he was fine.  I stroked his cheek and talked him through it.  I knew that I had to do it again and told myself that if he choked again I would work more in the tub...  Thankfully, the second time going under, he was fine.  It works!!!

As you can see in the video, soon he was gliding and smiling.

This is baby swimming that is good for you and your baby, and research supports it.

Have an attitude of fun!

Parker underwater - grandchild number 6 - swimming early!

Even if you can't get to the pool, continue pouring water on his face at least once a week, don't let him forget!  Go to a pool once a month even in the winter!   

Write me your ideas and suggestions as well as your questions and concerns!