baby in the pool?

[vitar82]

I have a heated indoor pool in my building and I took my 7-month old daughter there yesterday for the first time. I would like her to be exposed to the pool early so she has no trouble learning to swim later. I just held her and she did ok, didnt cry, but didnt try to move her arms or legs in the water. Any suggestions on what kind of exersises one can do with a baby in the pool to help them with balance, strength and coordination?

[TiredX2]

Moved to Life With A Babe

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You could flip her to her back, and support her head while towing her around a little.

She will try to flip back over, but once she feels like she's safe, she will begin to like it and start moving her legs and arms a little.

Some kids just love water and go crazy in the pool, others like it and just tend to observe more.

[TiredX2]

I taught swimming lessons for many years, so I'll just tell you what we did in my classes (and later with my own children).

If your DD can sit up unassisted a fun way to get in the pool is starting by sitting on the edge and singing "The Swimmers in the Pool" (of course, to the tune of "The Wheels on the Bus". So, like:

The Swimmers in the Pool they kick their feet
kick their feet
kick their feet
The Swimmers in the Pool they kick their feet
All around the Pool

Then, you can add spash their bellies, wave their hands, etc...

I really encourage parents to teach kids to roll to their tummies and slide into the pool from a very young age, but jumping in is good too.

Really, at that age, for most children the point should be fun and comfort. Try to not completely submerge more than 3 times a session. Lots of fun games--- Ring around the rosie, Hokie Pokie, etc, Grand Old Duke of York... If baby isn't strong enough to hold your hands and have you pull them around, extend your arms fully so their hands are on your shoulders and then let your arms travel down the length of their bodies. Then you can even hold their legs/feet and encourage them to kick. For back swimming you can lay waaaay back so their head is on your shoulder and their body is along yours. If your baby is comfortable, their head on their shoulder (plus your hands of course!) or your hands under their back/in their pits are all they need. For babies who are less comfortable you can basically support their entire body with yours by arching your back.

If you crouch, you can let baby practice "standing" on your knees. Have lots of fun and make sure you don't stay in the water too long--- most small kids will stay in water until they are blue!

[quantumleap]

We're off to the pool in a few minutes. I've been taking DD since she was a few weeks old. Some of her favorites are sitting on the side of the pool and then "jumping" in. She started that around 5 or 6 months. She also loves it if I hold her hands and pull her around the pool. You have to move pretty quickly so that they don't start to sink on that one. When I taught baby swim classes, we did a lot of songs and games, but you're mostly just trying to get them to be comfortable in the water, and to be moving in differet ways through the water (forwards, backwards, jumping, etc). You can also try putting her the back of her head on your shoulder, so she's lying o her back, and then you can talk reassuringly in her ear, and use your hands to support her body as well if needed.
Have fun!