At What Age Should You Start Swimming Lessons?

We started at 6mo. It is more water acclimation at this age but she will love it. My daughter is almost 2 now and is already talking about swimming lessons. The YMCA has reasonably prices classes.

We took lessons last year at 6 months. I felt like it really got him used to playing in the water, and he even went under on the first day! We're doing it again this year. I feel like the younger the better just to get them used to it, but that's just my opinion.

We started my second at about 10 months, too. Keep in mind- the first two years are more about water comfort/ not being afraid of the water & fun, than they are "swimming lessons," per se. Just have a blast!

D.

As a semi-retired swim instructor (not teaching while my kids are small but taught private and semi-private lessons for years with great success in very young swimmers), lifeguard, and life-swimmer, here is my advice
It depends what you want to get out of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For actual learning how to swim (ie "lessons"), start when your child can understand some commands ("come here", "kick", "splash", etc). I had children as small as 1 year old ACTUALLY swimming up to like 8 feet. I have GREAT success with 2 year olds because they understand a lot and are usually not scared. Many of them could easily get to a step or ladder. Just tell them to swim like a froggy and make big circles with their arms and legs, fingers together! I had other ticks, but repitition of the above statements OVER AND OVER AND OVER is the main way to get them to learn.

As far as "water therapy" (getting your child used to water and not scared of water)-YOU CAN NEVER START TO EARLY!!!!! You don't neccessarily have to pay for lessons for this, esp. if you have your own pool or access to one (YMCA, friends, etc). Just get your child in as much as possible (with you or an adult right there of course) and do it often without "floaties" so they trust the water. Have them splash and get their eyes, hair, head wet so it doesn't scare them near their face either. DO NOT USE googgles or snorkle-type gear or ear or nose plugs ever, but even more when young-these impeed progress and look scary. Have them blow bubbles, play with balls & toys, kick their feet, etc. The more you do this when they are young, the better. Very young babies are actually very boyant and natural "floaters" (baby fat helps) and are not scared because of memories of the womb. NOTE: Though they may be natural "floaters", they may not know how to get onto their backs to be able to breath and if on their stomach and they lift their heads, the body naturally "sinks", so once again BE RIGHT WITH THEM THE WHOLE, ENTIRE TIME!!!!!!!! NEVER, EVER, FOR A SECOND TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THEM OR GET OUT OF REACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you have any furhter questions about swim lessons, swim therapy or water in generall, I would be happy to answer them! Just e-mail me! Like I said above, I have good experience in the field. My back-ground: My mom never could swim and was terrified of deep water and us getting in it and her not being able to help me or my sis, so she put us in lessons very, very early. We both took to it like fish and were very active in lessons from then on. We both were on our high school swim team and won various levels of swimming and diving at local, regional and state levels. I went on to get my life-guard credentials and do volunteer red-cross teaching. From there I started teaching private and semi-private lessons in local private pools during summers to make money and help scared/concerned/ moms with kids out. My demand got so high, I had to turn people away and as my summers got full (regular jobs and then my own kids), I had to stop doing them though I still get asked every summer. I only do it as favors now but still have a few children under my training, some with very "stubborn" traits of fear, that have made great accomplishments!

Best of luck!
T.

I started taking my son to the pool with me at 6 months just to get him used to water (which he loved last year), and this year I will be starting him in an actual parent/tot class at 17 months. As others mentioned, you should go by your particular child. If she doesn't care for water at all, you may not want to spend your money in a class that teaches submersion and other activities that could scare her. If she seems to like the water, then it would be great to get her started early!

I started at six weeks. you only have to be carefull the pool is not too cold. With baby's it's more "mommy and me time", I'm not sure if they realy learn something.

Here in the USA I believe they don't start lessons before the child is 6 months. I have no idea why. In the first 3 months a baby has a reflex to hold his breath while his face is in the water (same as in the womb). Small baby's can swim perfectly under water. The reflex disapears, that's why in other country's doctors encourage you to take your baby swimming while they still have the breath holding reflex.

At 2,5 they can learn to jump into the water and climb out again all by themselves. And at 2,5 they can also swim like " a doggie". Learning the proper strokes takes longer. But at least they can swim acros the pool without drowning.

Have fun!!!!!!!!!

I.

I started my son at 18months. It was called the mommy and me class or water tots...If it is their first class then the mothers are suppose to participate as well. At least that is how it went over by me.

my son is 7 months & we've already enrolled him for swim school next month. i believe as early as 6 months is ok, at least thats what our pedtrician said

My daughter was 5 months and my son was 3 months (started him in our pool and then he officially started lessons at 6 months)
They have been in the water ever since. We put our kids in lessons not for the fun of it but to teach them safety. They both are able to pull themselves out of the pool.

We started at 10 months, but there were way younger babies in there. I think 18 months is a good age.

:)

C.

My two boys start their swimming lessons today. One is 20 months and the other is 8 months.

I think it depends on your child and situation. My oldest was very cautious around water and had two parents watching him like hawks, so was in no danger. I took him for lessons the summer he turned four and he learned to swim in the two week session. He was quite ready, but didn't feel pushed because he was older and wanted to learn to swim. My youngest was dragged around with her brother and needed to learn to swim when she was two because she wss more reckless and had fallen into three pools by then. She was able to learn how to kick her way to the surface and hold her breath, just enough to keep her safe. The next summer, when she was three, she learned to swim quite well. Look at your child, your situation, and what you want from lessons (when you are ready). She might need to go for one session for a few summers or a few sessions in one summer. Before then you can do the fun stuff of blowing bubbles and kicking and jumping in. Enjoy!

I'd start with a mommy & me class this summer. She won't learn to "swim" this early. But it will teach her not to panic in the water. At this age, they learn to jump in to the water, turn around, swim to the side and hold on for 1 min. in most programs. It's a good idea to begin teaching that skill early, in case she were ever to fall into a pool. Both my kids did mommy & me for 2 summers, and then started "big kid" lessons at 2 and a half and 3 where they are actually swimming. My oldest had a boy in the class last year who hadn't taken lessons before, at 5, and he was TERRIFIED of the water. Even at 5, if he fell in, he'd panic and not know what to do. Good Luck!

My mom had me in the water very early as I was born with heart issues - non threatening - and it is a great form of exercise to strengthen the heart.
Anyway - I took my experience and started my son at 9 months and my daughter is in her first series of lessons at 1. I recommened a lesson that promotes submerging. Chances are if the child does fall in they will go under water and they are not "freaked out" about going under water.
Mainly do what is comfortable for you and your child. I like the fact that I am in the water with her (and him when he was younger) and we have a fun time together.
My son is now 3 and can swim on his own.
Hope this helps!

We did swim lessons with my daughter at one year old and then we are scheduled to do it again this summer (2 years old). The sooner the better, that way the child doens't develop a fear of hte water. At one year old my daughter learned to kick in the pool and hold her breath underwater.