A blog from Nuby
Baby swimming lessons are an exciting experience, but some parents may find it slightly daunting too. But there’s no need for you to worry, as we’re here to help!
Leading UK and global baby accessories company Nuby has teamed up with Water Babies for National Baby Swimming Week 2024 to share seven expert tips to help get your baby comfortable with water at home ahead of their baby swimming lessons.
At Nuby, we’re all about making life with tiny tots a little easier, and a lot more fun. We create products that are as clever as your little genius, as tough as their toddler tantrums, and as cute as their chubby cheeks. We’re your baby’s new best friend (and maybe even yours too).
We’re making waves with Water Babies for National Baby Swimming Week because we want to help parents have the confidence to introduce their baby to the water. We know grabbing your goggles can do wonders for your baby’s development from social interactions to learning how to play, so it’s worth taking the plunge.
Don’t be afraid to sprinkle water on your baby’s face
Gently getting your baby’s face wet in the bath, is a simple way to help prevent them from having a fear of water as they grow. Simply use your hands or a washcloth to sprinkle water drops on their face to get them used to the feeling and grow a tolerance to it. Before sprinkling the water say their name to get their attention, ask if they’re ready – “Are you Ready?” – pause, and give them some time to prepare, then say ‘Go’ and gently pour some water over their face. Watch Water Babies’ Getting comfortable in the water YouTube video which will show you how to do this.
Practice back floating in the bath to build water confidence ahead of their baby swimming lessons
Practice back floating in a full-size bath. For younger babies, you can do this whilst co-bathing or for older babies you can place them in the bath alone to do this. Hold your baby at the base of their head to help keep their face above water, place the other hand under their lower back and gently float them back and forth. Make sure your baby's ears are underwater during this process as the body becomes able to float when you do this. Watch Water Babies’ floating on your back YouTube video which tells you this step by step.
Use verbal cues in the bath such as ‘kick’ to pre-condition them for baby swimming lessons
Using verbal cues during bath time with your baby helps them to pick up these phrases more easily in swimming lessons. For example, you can gently hold your babies’ feet and kick them up and down for them whilst saying “kick, kick, kick” to get them used to the movement and word.
Use baby bath toys to extend bath time and make it fun
Bath time for babies is more than just making sure your child is clean it’s about creating fun experiences with water so that when it comes to swimming lessons, they’ll have a positive association. Baby bath toys are a great way for babies to learn to play, make bath time fun and extend bath time. Other benefits of bath toys include helping to promote sensory development, imaginative play and developing social skills.
Encourage water play at home with your baby
Water play for babies isn’t limited to bath time you can explore other fun water activities at home. Try adding a small amount of water to their highchair tray or baby bowls, letting them splash and play. You can even provide baby cutlery for them to stir, scoop, and pour the water. These activities not only make water play fun but also help develop hand eye coordination, motor skills, and sensory exploration.
Use a baby bath tub to make bath time easier
Bathing a newborn can be daunting but it’s important to make sure their first experience in a pool of water is a positive one. Using a baby bath seat or tub can make the process much smoother. A baby bath tub offers several benefits, it makes it easier to transport your newborn to and from the bath, prevents them from sliding and helps them feel more secure during bath time.
Make sure to talk, laugh and sing to your baby in the bath
Bathing your baby requires focus but don’t forget to talk, laugh, and sing to them during bath time. This will help keep them calm and comforted, distract them with the sound of your voice and support their language development.
Aine Halton-Hadley, Director of Aquatics at Water Babies adds, "We encourage parents to follow Nuby’s tips to get their baby used to water at home from a young age, helping build their confidence for baby swimming lessons.”
“By creating positive associations with water early on, these feelings can then be transferred to the swimming pool during their baby swimming lessons.”
Head over to Nuby’s website to find all the baby bathtime essentials you need including baby bath toys and baby bath tubs.