Skip to main content

Are swimming lessons for infants a good idea? What you need to know

Splish splash, you’ve got a little fishie on your hands! It’s great to foster your baby’s love for the water and instill swim safety from an early age. If you have a pool or live near a body of water, it can be especially important to start ’em young. But how soon is too soon, and what type of program is best suited for your kicking, floating cutie? We are sharing some swim-lesson tips and considerations.

infant swim lesson
Evgeny Atamanenko/Shutterstock

Are swimming lessons for infants a good idea?

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests starting swim lessons around 1 year of age to instill basic safety and reduce the risk of drowning. However, many parents decide to start even sooner. Either way, you want your wee one to get comfortable in the water — and to have the basic skills to keep themselves afloat.

Recommended Videos

Types of swim-lesson programs

There are a few different types of swim lessons. You have to find what works for you and your little one — and prioritize what’s most important to you. Do you have a backyard pool and need a class that helps your child learn water survival skills? Or do you want to more gently encourage a love for the water? These are some things to consider when browsing options:

  • Parent-baby swim lessons: Swim safety can be a family-friendly affair — and pretty fun activity to boot. This type of group class enables caregivers to be a part of the instruction. It’s often used as an introduction to water play and movement.
  • Self-rescue lessons: These intense one-on-one classes teach your baby to self-rescue and survive in the water. A highly qualified instructor teaches your infant to float to the top of the water when submerged. A hearty warning is that these classes are not necessarily fun, per se. Your infant will cry — and you might, too. But really, you will be blown away by your child’s quick and adaptive response, and their ability to use their minds and bodies proactively.
  • A compromise between the two: Basic one-on-one instructor-led swim lessons strike a balance between the vibe of a casual parent-child class and a strict survival-oriented option.
baby swimming
FamVeld / Shutterstock

What are the benefits and risks?

Swim lessons are great in theory, but, in practice, they’re not always easy on Mom, Dad, and Baby. Here are some of the top benefits and the most common drawbacks:

  • Pro: If your little one knows the basics of water safety and swimming competency, there is a reduced risk of drowning.
  • Con: Swim lessons can also provide a false sense of security for adults. Even if your baby knows how to help themself, a grown-up still needs to stand guard and keep a watchful eye.
  • Pro: Getting in the pool with your baby can be a bonding activity. What’s more, as your child gets older, this simple skill can evolve into a hobby, passion, and sport.
  • Con: Some babies are terrified of getting in the pool. It can be heartbreaking to watch your baby in the water — especially if you opt for a self-rescue type class. Keep in mind that your babe will be fine — even if you feel temporarily traumatized. Ultimately, you are doing this for their own good.

Other considerations

When choosing swim lessons for your infant, you will want to consider a few more options. Here are some factors to keep in mind:

  • Make sure your swim instructor is certified in both CPR and first aid.
  • Lessons for infants should take place at a swim facility that heats the pool (ideally around the high 80s), and the instruction should be no more than 30 minutes.
  • Note that, while some swim classes might occasionally utilize floaties, noodles, or safety rafts, they don’t replace supervision ever.
  • Follow the “arm’s length” rule. If you are in the water with your baby, make sure they are always no more than an arm’s distance away from you.

Learning to swim is an important skill to master as kids get older. If you want to get a leg up, you can start your infant as early as 1 — or even sooner! Some babes will take to the water like guppies. Others? Not so much. If your teeny weeny is less than enthused by the water, you have options. You know your child best and have to decide what works for them. Either way, infant swim lessons are a smart investment in safety — so keep calm and float on!

Lauren Barth
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Lauren Barth is a freelance writer and digital editor with over a decade of experience creating lifestyle, parenting, travel…
Playdate essentials: What you should and shouldn’t bring
Top playdate tips for your next trip
Two little girls playing at a playground

As your child grows into toddlerhood they will enjoy playing with their friends. Planning playdates is a great way to let your little one have some fun with friends as you watch them navigate playing with others. Playdates are an important part of your little guy or gal's development. It will help them when it's time for that first day of preschool. Once you've arranged a playgroup or outing with friends for your toddler and it's officially on the calendar, it's time to think about what to bring on a playdate.

Whether you're meeting at the local playground or going over to a friend's house to play, we’ve got a list of the essential stuff you won’t want to leave behind and some you should.
Why playdates are important

Read more
What is a cryptic pregnancy? Symptoms and signs you need to know
Don't ignore these cryptic pregnancy symptoms
Surprised parents

The idea of being pregnant and not realizing it can seem next to impossible to anyone who has experienced the rigors of pregnancy. Many can relate to not knowing they are pregnant until they are a few months along, but going an entire pregnancy not being aware that they are growing a human being seems unheard of, right?

Cryptic pregnancy, defined as a pregnancy where the pregnant person doesn’t realize that she is pregnant, often right up to the moment of giving birth, is certainly not unheard of. In fact, that premise formed the basis of the TLC series I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant, which ran for four seasons.
How long does cryptic pregnancy last?

Read more
Should you wear a postpartum belt after a C-section? Here’s what to know
How to tell if abdominal wrapping is safe for you
Mother with newborn.

The last thing you need to worry about after having a baby is getting your pre-pregnancy body back. But, as time passes you may start to focus on supporting your new post-partum body, especially if you've had a cesarean delivery. Because recovering from a cesarean is much different than a vaginal delivery, you may be wondering if methods like the postpartum belt is safe.

Otherwise known as abdominal wrapping,  believers in abdominal wrapping cite back support, skin tightening, and muscle rebuilding as benefits, but what if you’ve had a C-section? Those who have had to undergo a C-section may want to consider specifically made C-section belly bands if they're thinking about abdominal wrapping.

Read more