The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children begin taking swimming lessons no earlier than the age of 4, but many pools and swimming schools offer lessons to infants. While you may be tempted to sign your baby up, be aware of the limitations of an infant swim program, and never count on swimming lessons to drown-proof your baby.
Types
Two main types of infant swim classes are popular with parents. The first type is simply a "mommy and me" type class, where babies and their caregivers spend time splashing, playing and singing in the water. This helps infants get used to the water and allows them to spend some time interacting with their parent. The second type is a class where the infant is actually taught to hold his breath, roll over and float to the surface of a pool, and is meant to prevent drowning.
Reasons
Drowning is the second-leading cause of death in children younger than 5 years old, states the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Swimming lessons can, in theory, prevent a baby from drowning by teaching her important skills, such as turning on her back and floating if she accidentally falls into the water. Infant swimming lessons may help your baby to be less fearful of the water, allowing her to concentrate on getting her nose and mouth above water instead of flailing around in fright if she unexpectedly finds herself in a pool.
Concerns
Some experts, as well as some parents, feel that signing babies up for swim lessons can actually make infants less safe. Parents and other caregivers may depend on the lessons to keep their babies safe and may not supervise their children adequately around water, thinking that they will be able to float if they fall into the water. The Infant Swimming Resource stresses that parents must watch babies carefully around water and should use protective devices, such as alarms, locks and fences, around pools to keep children safe.
Recommendations
If you are looking for a swimming class for your baby, Parenting.com suggests waiting until your baby is at least 3 to 4 months old. Watch a lesson first to make sure that the babies are kept within an arm's reach of their parent or the instructor, and that the pool is clean and in good condition. Lifeguards should be on duty. Babies should not wear floatation devices; these can be counter-productive, and a parent or teacher should be with the baby at all times, making them unnecessary.
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