Infant Swim Lessons
I am finally doing something I really wanted to do with Ella but regrettably never did. I signed Audrey up for an infant “swim” classes. Living here in Florida and practically everyone having a pool, it is essential that my kids have at least basic survival skills in the water. Plus, I want them to be water lovers too.
First Impressions
I LOVED our first Water Babies class at Seal Swim School! I knew it was a non-submerged class but otherwise I was unsure what we were getting into.
The class runs like I imagine most Mommy (or Daddy) & Me classes; with singing and encouraging baby to connect with the parent and other babies. The goal of the class is to get the baby comfortable in the water.
Audrey’s feelings were mixed in the first class. She enjoyed the singing, leg kicking, and floating on her back but fussed when I floated her on her belly and cried during tummy time on a raft.
A pleasant surprise was the Up & Down exercises that left me feeling like my arms had a workout; lifting 10 lb Audrey in and out of the water down the length of the pool and back.
Moving Forward
Water Babies class was the highlight of our week while I was working from home. It got us out of the house and moving. Audrey got to see other babies close to her own age and seemed to enjoy the predictability of the class routine.
Audrey practicing swimming with some help from Mommy.
In the End
I am so glad that Audrey and I had the opportunity to participate in this program. Audrey can’t float independently, like I had hoped she would be able to; and apparently that was a lofty goal and is a long way off, but class has been a great introduction to the water for her.
Audrey loves splashing and kicking in the water. She mastered tummy time on the raft a couple of weeks before her “graduation” at 6 months old and has come to prefer “swimming” with her belly in the water more than floating on her back. Overall, her gross motor skills and confidence have benefited the most from the water babies class.
Audrey’s final Water Babies class was 4 days before her 6 month birthday (birth-aversary?), she should have had 1 more class but I was returning to working in the office and a new swim coach was taking over the class, so it just worked out better for her to graduate a week early.
Every baby graduating from Water Babies class gets to go underwater for the first time; first with the swim coach then with Mom or Dad. Audrey did great! Don’t believe me? Watch the video clip below.
So, in the end I am keeping Audrey in swim class and signing Ella up for them too.
This is an honest review of Seal Swim School Water Babies swim class. This class is offered free for all infants, up to 6 months. I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own.
Have you done a swim class with your kids? What is your favorite Mommy & Me activities?
