Infant Swimming Lesson?

Hi All

Have any of you done infant swimming lessons. There's a new session starting in Jan for infants 6 mos to 18 months. My two will be almost 9 mos. It is 5 or 6 sessions of 30 minutes each. It is a "Mommy and Me" sort of format -- although it is called "Parent and Me." I don't want to waste my time and money and I want it to be a positive experience for the children.

Drowning is the number one cause of child death in Florida and we have a pool in our back yard (although the children are a while from being able to open the door and walk to the pool).

If any of you have done swimming classes, was it useful? Enjoyable? Other feedback...? Maybe I am considering this too soon...

Thanks in advance

Sotto

 

I don't know what kind of program you're looking into, but I know there is a program called ISR (Infant swimming rescource) designed to teach babies how to roll onto their back and float. I'm gonna include a few links. I had a brother drown in our backyard pool, so I would without a doubt teach my children this skill as soon as possible. Thanks for bringing this up, I need to look into this as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0mUPr68x2U...feature=related

http://www.infantswim.com/Miles.html


Reyna

 

We've actually got our last class of a seven week session this coming Saturday.

We've been going to the YMCA near here. They have a 'Babies First Year Free' program, so the swim lessons are the same age that yours mentions.

Except for the whole early in the morning thing, I've enjoyed taking my girls and getting them used to the water. There's not a whole lot of 'lessons' in our program, but they use singing and toys to help with floating, kicking, splashing, and getting faces wet.

One of my girls (Searra) has definitely enjoyed it a lot more than Ellie. But part of that's Ellie. She likes things at her pace on her terms. I think she got a little overwhelmed in the big open space of the pool and all the strangers around. But she's definitely improved over the weeks and I don't force her to do something that she really doesn't want to do.

Searra on the other hand....she's having a blast! She splashes and plays and just has a great time.

I say go for it and try it out. And give it at least 2-3 weeks before you make your final decision. I almost didn't bring Ellie back after the first week, she seemed so miserable that first day, but like I said, she's gotten much better and I'm glad we stuck it out. Searra's glad too

 

Sounds cool, and it's great that you're thinking ahead about pool safety. I've read that having a gun in the house is actually less dangerous than having a pool in the backyard! Make sure that the swimming lessons don't give you a false sense of security - but by all means go for them, and enjoy!

 

I don't think it's too early at all. You have to start somewhere and, since even babies can learn to float (to save themselves from drowning) the sooner you start to teach them to enjoy the water, the better. We live in Florida and have a pool too - even though we have a baby gate up around the pool, we're still planning to start lessons in March, when it gets a little nicer out (b/c we will be having the instructor come out to the house). not sure where you will be having lessons but that's another thing - many places will do lessons right at your home if you can get 4 babies. If you can do that, they may get more out of it (and be a bit more relaxed) than in a group setting at a public pool.

 

I did a class when Elliot and Clarissa were just over a year . . . there were infants and young toddlers of all ages in the class. It really did not teach any skills, but was just designed to get them comfortable in the water. There was some free play with lots of toys, then "circle time" with songs and games. The biggest problem we had was the pool was COLD - poor Elliot would be turning blue by the end of the class. Some of the kids actually came in baby sized wetsuits! The other difficulty was that there had to be an adult for every child, so I had to pay a babysitter to come with me.

I'm thinking about trying another class now that they're older so they can start to learn actual swimming skills . . . they are definitely comfortable in the water, so I want to take the next step.

-Rachel

 

How does it work with 2 babies at swimming lessons? Do you need a helper or does the instructor help you?

 

QUOTE(prairiemom3 @ Dec 23 2007, 10:17 PM) [snapback]545248[/snapback]
How does it work with 2 babies at swimming lessons? Do you need a helper or does the instructor help you?


I have looked into it and you have to have two adults, one per child. So for us it is hard to find a time when my husband and I can both do it together. We are going to try to take them to a pool on our own over the weekends this winter and see how that goes.