Not forgetting to love the water during the winter months!

This week was the first chance I've had to take Caroline swimming.  It's been about 8 weeks since we last went to the indoor pool. I was so worried that she had forgotten and would not want to get in the water with me.  She knew just where we were and to enter the water where it's like a beach.  

Oh no! she did not want to go under the water nor swim to me like she was willingly doing the last time we were there.  But I did not give up!

I had to swim to her under the water lots of times, get the toy from the bottom and watch her walk all over the shallow end.  Finally I just carried her to the deeper water and let her push my head under the water.  Well, she did that over and over and over.  Finally she started to have fun herself and soon she was jumping in the water just like before.

We were in the pool for about an hour and she cried when it was time to go get out.  She wanted to jump in to the part that I couldn't reach.  I think that she was remembering jumping off the diving board at her other grandma's house.    Watch the video of her jumping and swimming to the side at 2 years old.

I can't wait until Summer when we can go swimming more often and she can develop her swimming skills.  
Right now I just want her to be able to start at the same place we left off last summer.  I can't take her swimming more often because the indoor pool is pretty far away.  

But I know that is is worth all the effort we are taking this winter so that she doesn't forget and will be ready for more when it warms up outside.

how to teach your baby to swim (under 7 months)

Here are the proven instructions to teach babies to go under water if under 7 months using the air in the face reflex:

Blow like a gentle gust of wind onto the baby’s face.  You can see your baby take in a gulp of air and/or make a funny face – do this several times before you go in the pool to see if your baby still has this reflex. (This reflex is usually lost between 4 and 9 months)

Follow these steps in the pool:

• After the baby is comfortable and playful in the water, hold the baby under the arms facing you, and make eye contact with your baby. 
• Count to three to set the signal,
• blow quickly on your baby’s face
• watch your baby make the funny face
• smoothly and gently lower the baby’s head completely under the water for one second
• When you raise your baby, wipe your baby’s nose so that not even a tiny water bubble will go into the nose. 
• Give your baby a hug to your chest so that the baby will blow out and not swallow any air.  Skipping this step may cause the baby to develop a hard tummy.  This may become a big burp, and may even lead to throwing up.  
• Immediately distract your baby with a toy.
• Do this about 5-10 times a session if the baby doesn’t show any discomfort.
• Extend the time under the water to up to 5 seconds pulling your baby toward you for a short glide as you step back.
• Place your hand gently behind your baby’s head gliding your baby to another person.
• Scatter underwater practice with practice on the other skills as instructed on the dvd, and playing with your baby.
• Enjoy your time together!

Baby in Russia Swimming in the Tub!

See a video of a baby actually swimming in the bathtub.  Often there are claims of babies swimming but they really are not.

How old do you think this baby is?  

He is loving swimming in the bathtub!  

What did this parents do to teach him to do this?  

Did they prepare him by pouring water on his face?  

Did they always have lots of water in the tub? 

Did they get in the tub with him?  

He is having so much fun!

The Learn to Swim with Miss Bea dvd will show you many fun activities to do in the bathtub and this is amazing.

Write to me if you have ever seen anything like it.  What a goal for your baby!