We have a pool at home so it was of great importance to me to teach my kids water safety from an early age. It is one of the best opportunities to bond with your baby, especially after a traumatic birth, like I experienced with Cove. Both boys have been in the pool as soon as possible (around 6 weeks old.) The sooner, the better (as long as it is nice and warm, of course!) After all, they have just been developing in the environment of your womb for the past 9 months so it is a familiar and comforting activity for them. Especially when it is done with correct guidance by your teacher of choice! Our choice was Oceanic Waterbabies in Perth
Taj having a ball at about 18 months. I had him emerging safely from 4 months, at home, before we moved to WA
Source: waterbabies.com.au via patricia on Pinterest
There may not be a Waterbabies near you but their Philosophy is something of which you could look for in other places... The following extract from the Waterbabies website is helpful information...
"Confidence in teaching a baby to swim develops from being well informed, feeling safe and the experience of time. The Waterbabies® philosophy embraces the belief that with essential education and support in the water, parents can make the best teachers of their baby especially as they already share a natural bond of trust.
Commitment is essential as is consistency, dedication and willingness to learn. To allow innate parenting wisdom and teaching connection to emerge, parents need to be present and tuned into their child's body language and to learn about their baby’s important breathing reflexes, including readiness to submerge.
Our expert guidance helps confidence grow and the program provides everything needed for children to successfully progress from complete dependency to amazing independence in the water. The best possible results transpire from understanding the difference between doing it with your child, not to your child "
Information from Oceanic Waterbabies, Perth website.
Enrol your child here if you live in Perth! You won't regret it, so rewarding :)