How to teach my baby to swim?

[tastybasslines]

I am taking my 20 month old daughter to Palm Springs this week for 2 days and will be spending alot of time at the pool to be sure.

She is very athletic, and in the 85% for height and 75% for weight. Plus, she is relentless! She went down the slide at the park face first, ate some sand and just said "yucky" and ran right back around to go again without crying or anything.

I have a noodle I plan to put underneath her while pushing her forward, and a floaty ring.

Is it conceivable that I could get her to understand the concept of swimming in 2 days?

Any tips to teaching a baby to swim?

[jp58]

Do like birds do and just push her in?

J/k

My parents went with "water wings" for myself and both brothers, and we are all capable swimmers.

[tastybasslines]

Well, I do put her under for a few seconds, so she can learn breathing...and she does not get scared, so that's good. My plan is to hold her underneath, while moving her forward slowly and just barely hold her up so she realizes that she can float.

[jmattbassplaya]

Just do what my dad did - take her out to the garage, take out a piece of plywood, a nail, and a hammer, and then hammer the nail into the plywood and ask, "Any questions?"


Wait.


That's what my dad did when he gave me the birds and the bees talk. Sorry man, I got no advice for this

[jonathan_matos5]

my dad said he just kinda threw me in the pool it is a small wonder i am not terrified of the water.

[baalroo]

I used to be a swimming instructor for young children. 20 months is still a bit young, we generally kept the ones that young in the "baby pool" and focused on basic acclamation but occasionally one would be ahead of the class and move to the regular lessons.

The basic mechanics are generally learned in pieces. Hold her under the arms facing you with her head above the water and teach her how to kick first while pulling her through the water. This one's good because it's a lot of fun for them to splash around.

Next teach them to float on their backs. Just have her lay back and support the small of her back with your hands and tell her to relax, make sure you keep her abdomen supported and once she's comfortable very slowly release pressure until she's supporting herself. Once she manages this hold her upright in the water and have her lay back on her own into a floating position.

Once they understand how to kick with some deliberate force and how to float their confidence will be pretty high and the rest gets pretty easy from there. Go with treading water next (kick the feet while moving arms together in half circles on surface of water) and she's basically ready to go.

I've seen kids pick all this up in an afternoon and other kids take weeks to get it, it's MOSTLY about confidence. I would say most of the time though that kids that young didn't really have the attention span to really understand why they were doing these things, so you may just have to go with the "water wings"... Which are also a great tool.

[tastybasslines]

thank you man!

I appreciate the tips and explanation!

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by baalroo

I used to be a swimming instructor for young children. 20 months is still a bit young, we generally kept the ones that young in the "baby pool" and focused on basic acclamation but occasionally one would be ahead of the class and move to the regular lessons.

The basic mechanics are generally learned in pieces. Hold her under the arms facing you with her head above the water and teach her how to kick first while pulling her through the water. This one's good because it's a lot of fun for them to splash around.

Next teach them to float on their backs. Just have her lay back and support the small of her back with your hands and tell her to relax, make sure you keep her abdomen supported and once she's comfortable very slowly release pressure until she's supporting herself. Once she manages this hold her upright in the water and have her lay back on her own into a floating position.

Once they understand how to kick with some deliberate force and how to float their confidence will be pretty high and the rest gets pretty easy from there. Go with treading water next (kick the feet while moving arms together in half circles on surface of water) and she's basically ready to go.

I've seen kids pick all this up in an afternoon and other kids take weeks to get it, it's MOSTLY about confidence. I would say most of the time though that kids that young didn't really have the attention span to really understand why they were doing these things, so you may just have to go with the "water wings"... Which are also a great tool.

+1 This is great advice. I'm swam my whole life. Competitively for 17 years (6 years water polo) and have worked as an ocean lifeguard for 18 years and have surfed regularly since I was 9 years old. I only throw all this out there, so you know where I'm coming from.

My son is 7 now and swims competitively. I got him in the water at about 3 months. In the beginning, I just kept it nice and fun for him. Holding him, letting him float around on various floating devices. I never really favored one, but just let him figure out how to do the same thing on each one. First objective is to just float. Second objective is to figure out how to move around. I started alternating between floating, and me holding him. Occasionally, I would let him go, just beyond the stairs, so he struggled just a little bit (of course, I was right there with him at all times). He learnt how to hold his breath and how to move to the stairs. We started the going underwater thing by making a game out of motorboat noises (something I do with his mom all the time too funny enough ). Then I would plop him and let him float to the top. There's something instinctive about it, but they understand at a very early age how to hold their breath while underwater.

My son was riding with me on a surfboard by the time he was 2. On small mushy days, we'd ride a giant 11 foot soft top, and I'd lay down on the back and steer it for him, while he stood up on the front. That progressed to me pushing him into the waves. Now he's adamant about paddling and catching the waves himself.

But when he was 2 we would also paddle way outside the surf and visit my lifeguarding buddies on the lifeguard boat. We'd see dolphins and dive underwater and open our eyes. We've brought goggles out there, masks (he hasn't figured out the snorkel thing yet). When he was little, I had a waterskiing vest for him that I would put over his wetsuit in the surf. Sometimes we would just float in the waves and on small days just see how the wash over us. That lead to just a wetsuit (which floats) to swimming in one. That lead to learning how to swim underneath the waves (which is where we are at now).

Now, I must say this, my son is a natural swimmer. Not all kids are naturals. This isn't just a proud papa moment, this is the truth. Not all kids learn the water like this. This is why I quoted the above post. But if you see you and your daughter having a great time in the water, and she's learning quickly, you can see where this can take you. My life goal is to take my son on a surf trip to Costa Rica by the time he's 10. But we ain't getting there, if it ain't fun. That's the whole point.







Here's a video of him snorkeling with us in Hawaii. I think he was about 5 here.
http://imageshack.us/clip/my-videos/11/e7c.mp4/


And here's a short vid of his 25 backstroke.
Kaito's 25 back. - TwitVid

Have fun dad. This is the beginning of a great journey you can share with your daughter.

[baalroo]

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

thank you man!

I appreciate the tips and explanation!

yeah, no problem man. I was in highschool at the time, but was probably one of the most rewarding jobs I ever had so it's nice to think back on it tbh.

also, a couple more things I thought of after posting this.

first, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the "doggy paddle" at her age, it comes naturally for a reason (it works and is a natural motion). It's not even close to the "best" way to swim, but it gets the job done well enough in a pinch. and at her age that's more than enough to be quite proud of and happy with.

second, I can't stress enough how much of teaching young children to swim (and enjoy being in water in general) relies on building confidence and comfort. if you must err on one side or the other, this is one of those areas where erring on the side of caution will be of more use in the long run than pushing the child to get the technique. The actual process of swimming is in essence, pretty darn simple. what you're really teaching the child is to be at home in the environment and confident that they can navigate in it without fear or panic, once they've learned that most of the work is done.

EDIT: and after seeing Maki's post I realized I missed one of the most important and basic fundamentals: HOLDING THEIR BREATH. This one comes first but is so obvious that it's easy to miss (as illustrated here). Pretty simple really, just hold them same as the kicking exercise, demonstrate what to do by counting to three and then going calmly underwater (while still holding THEM above the water) for a short moment. once they assure you that they understand what to do AND are clear that you are going to do the same to them the next time, count to three at a steady pace (try not to raise your tone in anticipation as you count, it's already scary enough for them as is), visually make sure they have taken their breath and are ready (this only takes a moment, they won't even notice), and then put them underwater for a very short period of time. if she freaks out at all as you are lowering her, STOP, bring her back up, and let her try again. it's much more important that they are successful the first time you put them underwater than it is that they go under water the first time.

oh, and like maki said, some kids take really naturally to the water to the point that you can darn near skip everything I've mentioned, other times really astute/bright/athletic kids just aren't comfortable for quite awhile in the water. I really think some people just feel more natural in the water than others.

[tastybasslines]

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

+1 This is great advice. I'm swam my whole life. Competitively for 17 years (6 years water polo) and have worked as an ocean lifeguard for 18 years and have surfed regularly since I was 9 years old. I only throw all this out there, so you know where I'm coming from.

My son is 7 now and swims competitively. I got him in the water at about 3 months. In the beginning, I just kept it nice and fun for him. Holding him, letting him float around on various floating devices. I never really favored one, but just let him figure out how to do the same thing on each one. First objective is to just float. Second objective is to figure out how to move around. I started alternating between floating, and me holding him. Occasionally, I would let him go, just beyond the stairs, so he struggled just a little bit (of course, I was right there with him at all times). He learnt how to hold his breath and how to move to the stairs. We started the going underwater thing by making a game out of motorboat noises (something I do with his mom all the time too funny enough ). Then I would plop him and let him float to the top. There's something instinctive about it, but they understand at a very early age how to hold their breath while underwater.

My son was riding with me on a surfboard by the time he was 2. On small mushy days, we'd ride a giant 11 foot soft top, and I'd lay down on the back and steer it for him, while he stood up on the front. That progressed to me pushing him into the waves. Now he's adamant about paddling and catching the waves himself.

But when he was 2 we would also paddle way outside the surf and visit my lifeguarding buddies on the lifeguard boat. We'd see dolphins and dive underwater and open our eyes. We've brought goggles out there, masks (he hasn't figured out the snorkel thing yet). When he was little, I had a waterskiing vest for him that I would put over his wetsuit in the surf. Sometimes we would just float in the waves and on small days just see how the wash over us. That lead to just a wetsuit (which floats) to swimming in one. That lead to learning how to swim underneath the waves (which is where we are at now).

Now, I must say this, my son is a natural swimmer. Not all kids are naturals. This isn't just a proud papa moment, this is the truth. Not all kids learn the water like this. This is why I quoted the above post. But if you see you and your daughter having a great time in the water, and she's learning quickly, you can see where this can take you. My life goal is to take my son on a surf trip to Costa Rica by the time he's 10. But we ain't getting there, if it ain't fun. That's the whole point.







And here's a short vid of his 25 backstroke.
Kaito's 25 back. - TwitVid

Have fun dad. This is the beginning of a great journey you can share with your daughter.

That post was beautiful man. Really. I'm a new father and hope to have moments like that soon. I think I'll film my progress with her (Meadow) and come back and post a vid.

Since you posted one, I'm gonna post one back - in the name of uniting proud fathers

[Stumbo]

Water wings and M&M's helped my daughter get in the water when she was about 2. Let here guide you in how far she wants to go.

Make it fun with lots of hugs and kisses! She'll get more out of you giving her attention than you know.
(Child Devlopment grad here)

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

That post was beautiful man. Really. I'm a new father and hope to have moments like that soon. I think I'll film my progress with her (Meadow) and come back and post a vid.

Since you posted one, I'm gonna post one back - in the name of uniting proud fathers

Ah man, she's adorable.

Of course you should film it. I just had a lot of fun looking back at all the old videos for my post. Actually, you quoted me before I could ninja edit a video of him snorkeling with us in Hawaii. He only has goggles on, but you can see how much fun he's having.

[tastybasslines]

Thanks Balroo...I think you are right, the calm part is important. I'm pretty patient with her as it is - she is so determined, I think Im going to try and master the holding her and kicking first while moving her...

She likes going under the water already, but I will do it with the timing as you suggested to get her comfortable.

[baalroo]

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

Thanks Balroo...I think you are right, the calm part is important. I'm pretty patient with her as it is - she is so determined, I think Im going to try and master the holding her and kicking first while moving her...

She likes going under the water already, but I will do it with the timing as you suggested to get her comfortable.

If she already likes going under water but you still want to make sure she's comfortable, you could use the opportunity to show her how to take in a proper deep breath (which, when you get down to brass tacks, is really pretty much the point of the exercise)... which is important in becoming a good swimmer and a lot of kids don't even realize they can do. you can make it fun by doing the very natural "let's see how big of a breath we can take!" approach, most kids love that sort of thing. It's just good to have the concept of actively and intentionally taking a sufficient breath ingrained, for kids and adults... if anyone routinely goes under water without taking a deliberate and deep breath, they are endangering themselves unnecessarily. and you would be surprised how many people do not do so naturally.

And yeah, the idea of being comfortable and at ease is a pretty large part of swimming lessons for young children, much more than you might think actually.

[Stilettoprefer]

Grandma just pushed me in the pool when I was little:P haha. I instinctively learned doggy paddle myself after someone teaching me to float on my back. Then I saw other kids doing the proper swimming techniques and learned visually. I never put my head under the water while I swim (I go swimming MAYBE once a year), unless I'm diving for something under the water. I'm mildly allergic to some pool chemicals, so I generally just choose not to swim unless I can take a shower right after getting out of the pool.

Me thinks that your daughter will be a much better swimmer than I am (16) by the time she's 5 if you keep up on having her around and in the water. I got a late start in the game, but I can survive in a pinch:P

[seventhson]

obligatory...


j/k of course. good luck! our kids learned when they were around K aged. watching them around water when they were younger was nerve wracking to say the least, so I applaud your efforts.

[tastybasslines]

^^^

That might work if I throw animal crackers in the water

[john grey]

There is a difference between teaching a child to swim and teaching a child to be water safe.

Swimming is an involved skill set; a child learning to be water-safe entails mental & physical elements that can be communicated by a trusted care-giver.

[MakiSupaStar]

Just throwing up a pic of my son's continuing relationship with water.

[MakiSupaStar]

Just thought I'd share a video of my son and I snorkeling on an island in Southern Japan called Miyako Jima.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMS9m...e_gdata_player