Introducing your little one to the water is a super exciting milestone, offering wonderful opportunities for bonding with your bub. From building water confidence to mastering safety skills, baby swim lessons can be the first little step toward a lifelong love of the water.   

LittleOak founder and CEO, Elke, has just started taking her wee one to swimming lessons, and he’s absolutely loving it. Hugh, now seven months old, has been splashing about in his new little swimmers and is just having a blast.  

So, when should you start swimming lessons? What are the benefits? And how can you help your wee one feel safe in the water?    

Learning to swim 

At around six months of age, it's a good idea for your little one to start swimming lessons so they can start to build essential water confidence and safety skills. Typically, baby swimming lessons start with a gentle introduction to the water, where instructors guide you and your little ones through simple movements like splashing and floating. There are usually songs and games involved, and later, submersion techniques that will teach your little one to hold their breath.  

Benefits of swimming  

In addition to equipping your little one with the essential skills for staying safe near the water, swimming also has some amazing benefits for your child’s development. From helping them develop their muscles to improving coordination and balance, swimming is an amazing way to set your little one up for strong growth and development. In fact, all that splashing and bouncing can stimulate something called the vestibular system – a sensory system that helps coordinate movement and balance. As this develops, your little one will learn to hold their head up, start crawling, and eventually pull themselves up to stand.  

Helping your little one feel comfortable in the water

• Introduce water play at home: Gently introduce your little one to the sensation of water by trickling it over their head and down their face.
• Arrive early: If possible, try to arrive at the swimming class 10 minutes early to give your little one some time to get adjusted to the water. This will also give you some time to soothe your bub if they get a little bit grumpy. 
• Feeding considerations: It’s a good idea to feed your little one at least an hour before their lesson to avoid fussiness in the pool. Your baby will have used up a lot of energy during the lesson, so they’ll likely need an extra feed straight after.
• Comfort: Singing and talking to your baby during the lesson can help them feel at ease in such a new environment. It's also a great way to provide your little one with some extra comfort while their ears are submerged in the water. You may also want to bring your little one’s favourite bath toy to the lesson to provide some extra familiarity.
• Post-swim care: When your little one gets out of the pool, they’ll be hit with a bit of a chill. Remember to dry them off right away and get them dressed to keep them warm and comfortable. 

Elke's favourite swimmers

Crywolf rashsuit - Paraside from Dimples

Crywolf rashsuit - Coastal Stripe from Dimples

Nature Baby one piece bathing trunks - Albie Print from The Memo

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