Perhaps you are looking for an activity for you and your baby to do together, or you would like him to get a bit more comfortable with the water. Maybe you're concerned about drowning being the second highest cause of accidental death in children ages one to 14 and want to know more about water safety. Infant swimming lessons offered in the Boston area address all these concerns, and there are various things to consider before signing up.
Swimming Lesson Benefits: Bonding Time
First and foremost, infant swim lessons provide a great way for mom or dad to bond with baby. Classes like the ones at Boston Sports are "baby and me" or "tot and parent" classes where parents get in the water with their little ones. This gives baby your undivided attention, and since you're holding him most of the time, he'll appreciate the skin to skin contact infants respond to so well. Not to mention the fact that baby may be less scared of the water if you're in there with her.
What to Expect From Classes
Remember that at this stage in the game, swim lessons should be about acclimating baby to the water, getting her comfortable with being in it and teaching you, the parent, important safety measures. Often, infants are too young to grasp and perform swim activities like the monkey crawl. Charles River City Aquatics, for example, focuses on a baby's comfort and play in the water. Only potty-trained kids are allowed to move on to the next level. Other class providers like MIT recreational sports also allow babies to "graduate" to the next level of lessons, all the way through high school. So, though you're little one is merely getting to know the water at this stage, the Boston area provides many resources for a child to nurture that familiarity and skill into adulthood.
Baby's Comfort
When looking for classes, make sure that the facilities and lesson meet your baby's physical needs. For example, babies need a warm pool to feel comfortable enough to play and explore. If your little one spends her 10 to 30 minutes of swim time shivering, she has had a less than ideal experience with the water and could even get sick from it. If the Boston weather isn't cooperating, make sure to look for lessons held in a heated pool, like Boston University's swim classes for kids offers an 86 degree pool, perfect for temperature your baby.
Health Considerations
Also be aware that too much exposure to pool chemicals isn't good for your baby. If the chlorine's giving you a headache, chances are it's not a good idea to expose your baby to it too often. Always rinse your baby off for at least 30 seconds before and after a swim. Also try to swim at pools that enforce the "shower before swimming" rule. This reduces contamination in the pool.
Finding Infant Swim Lessons in Boston
Many universities offer infant and child swim lessons. Take advantage of Boston's many colleges and call their recreation facility to inquire about class times and rates. Recreation centers also commonly provide infant lessons. The YMCA branch in Charles River offers "shrimp" classes for babies as young as six-months-old. Private swimming pools and associations often offer lessons as well. If you're a member of a pool, ask there or inquire with organizations, such as the Infant Swimming Resource of New England, who has an instructor in the Boston area.
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