Baby & Child Swimming

Our approach to swimming is well-known for being a gentle, child-led, progressive technique. Using the Birthlight method of teaching, we encourage free movement in the water at a time when a baby or child is both physically and emotionally ready. The focus of our sessions is to learn how to swim with your baby, rather than teaching your baby to swim. This subtle difference is what makes our classes so popular and so effective.

Our aim is to offer a safe, nurturing, water-based environment where every baby and child can explore their inate abilities and affinity with water. We do this by:

• Reading cues and 'listening' to the baby: Every baby displays a set of facial expressions and body movements to communicate feelings. Learning about and listening to this unique language ensures babies remain relaxed and happy in the water.
• Offering a holistic and gentle approach: Remaining aware of the parent child unit and working to enhance bonding and attachment.
• Working at the child's pace: Promoting freedom in the water at the right time enables confidence to flourish.
• Repetition: Repetition of activities enables learning; every week the sessions repeat previously learned skills, and also add new ones.
• Giving attention to each of the four main milestones of development: Rolling, sitting, standing and walking. Each developmental stage offers a unique window of opportunity in the water-based environment and is characterised by certain reflexes. Working with these reflexes enhances development.
• Focusing on safety: To ensure every child understands the importance of safe behaviour around water.
• Having fun!!

Because our teaching method is sensitive to the abilities of each baby and child, we do not follow a rigid program of set weekly sessions. Instead, our approach centres around bonding, having fun, and swimming with your baby in an environment free from expectations and pressure to meet criteria based on performance. It is our belief that babies and pre-school children should not be tested, and for this reason we do not offer certification programs, awards or a program of training the child to meet levels of ability.

Babies' reflexes and swimming:

Babies are born with natural reflexes that enable them to be underwater safely for short periods of time. This practice is commonly known as submersion and can, when practised correctly, offer a sense of freedom and enjoyment for the baby and child. Although we do teach this technique our classes do not focus heavily on submersion. We believe that a baby or child should only be submerged when they are fully engaged and accepting of the practice. Submersion should be encouraged and not forced. By offering babies and children expansive movement in the water their reflexes will naturally integrate and become conscious actions in their own time.

Benefits:

• Enhances bonding and relaxation
• Improved eating and sleeping patterns
• Awareness of safety around water and the pool environment
• Exercise for parent and child
• Research shows that babies who attend classes regularly are far better developed socially, mentally and physically

General Information for Parents:

1. Classes available from birth to 3 years
2. Sessions are booked in blocks of 6 weeks costing £48
3. Groups are small and limited to 8-10 babies per class
4. For more information please see the FAQ's page

Swimming with your baby can be one of the most rewarding and fun things to do. Contact us now for details or check the class dates & booking page for available classes.