Babies have a real affinity with water, having spent months in the womb suspended in fluid. So in the early days, floating in warm water will almost seem more natural than being on dry land! However, this inate confidence can decrease and babies who don't swim regularly can become fearful of water as they get older.
One of the reasons babies are so perfectly designed for swimming is that they have a special reflex which kicks in as soon as their faces are submerged. This 'gag reflex' means no water enters their lungs, making the whole process completely safe. The reflex is strongest in babies under six months - another reason for us liking them to start early.
However, because of the very specialist nature of our course, whilst we're happy to make use of this reflex, we also actually teach your child to control their breathing - giving them the benefits of a real sense of being in control.
Our method of introducing babies to underwater swimming uses a very gentle and gradual process. Its carefully controlled structure means babies quickly become familiar with it, enabling them to instantly recognise the commands that precipitate an underwater swim.
And do rest assured, whilst underwater work is an important and exciting part of the course, it only constitutes a tiny proportion of the work we do. About 95% of the lesson takes place on the surface and the swims beneath it only ever last a few seconds.
It is this knowledge, and the fact that we’ll never swim a baby against their clear wishes, that create the strength of water confidence that is symbolic of so many of our tiny clients.
