Friday, November 6, 2009

Teaching your baby to "swim" - Mama's entry

Many of our friends are asking what do we do to create such a water baby? And how young can they start bringing the baby to swim?
Although we are expert in SCUBA diving, but we are not expert in baby swimming, the technique are all through research and experiment. Below are guides that we use to slowly get KJ to learn to swim, and I would like to share them with all the parents who want to try to get their babies wet.

*Please note that KJ does not know how to swim yet, he can dive and move underwater but he still yet to learn to keep his head up to breath.


To prepare the infant for the swimming pool or sea, start from bath time:
  1. When in bath (can start as early as 1 month old), count out loud to 3, and blow your baby's face.
  2. Repeat counting everyday in the bath, and after a while you will notice each time you count to 3 and blow the baby's face they will close their eye, drip some water on their forehead, and let the water drip down the face. Do not wipe off the water.
  3. Increase the water amount gradually, until you can but a small cup of water over the baby's face and they didn't mind. Make sure you always count to 3 and blow the face than only pour over over the head. Do not splash over from below so it accidentally enter the nose. It is unpleasant!
Once the baby is older, (3 month onwards) you can bring the baby to the pool. You can first practice if you have a bath tub at home.
  1. Bring the baby in the pool during warm day, keep moving and bouncing the baby in the water all the time.
  2. move the baby in the water by placing the baby on his back, and gliding him back and forth in the water to let them feel the water movement. Note that your baby may start to kick their legs, and encourage them to do so! The video below shows KJ at 5 months. He was already very use to the water, and kicking away.


When you are ready, get baby upright, facing you, bounce with your baby in the water, and count to 3, blow his face, and go totally underwater. Your baby will be alright to do that, bring him up and keep moving. Have a goggle ready, the baby's expression is priceless!

Do not start them too late, they will start to develop fear after 7 month old, and also forget the feeling of being in the womb.

Best result if you have both parents in the water to glide the baby back and forth between parents.


Enjoy your water baby!! :)

1 comment:

魯肉飯Kirk said...
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