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Original poster

What is the point of baby swim classes / dunking

96 replies

HuntIdeas · 01/09/2019 05:45

Hi

Quite a few of my friends seem to be signing their tiny babies up to baby swim class, where they seem to spend a lot of time dunking the babies. What’s the point of this? Is it worth paying for the classes rather than just taking the baby myself?

One friend said they are teaching the baby what to do in case it falls into the water. To be honest, I’m pretty sure my baby won’t get a chance to fall into the water, plus if it did somehow happen then I would be close enough to jump in and rescue the baby without him needing to rescue himself!

OP posts:
HerSymphonyAndSong · 01/09/2019 05:47

Most of it is about confidence for the parents in taking the baby swimming isn’t it? You may be confident already. Is there some sort of big debate that I’m not aware of?

Original poster
HuntIdeas · 01/09/2019 05:47

Just to add, we live in the UK. I could understand more the importance of this if you lived in a country where a lot of people had pools in their garden

OP posts:
knottybeams · 01/09/2019 05:49

It's mainly about confidence. Kids who are totally prevented from going under in the pool as babies can struggle when they start swimming at school-age with getting face wet, splashing, jumping in etc.

I think the baby swimming lessons are more about teaching the parents that it's OK to let your child go under safely than it is about teaching the child any actual swimming, but it's your attitude they pick up on, so if you're stressed about dunking they will be too.

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Families
CustardCreamLover · 01/09/2019 05:49

Maybe it has something to do with the breathing reflex? I think up until 8 weeks babies will naturally hold their breath under water. If they get to practice it they don't lose the reflex but if they don't then they will have to learn it again.

How tiny are the babies?

Original poster
HuntIdeas · 01/09/2019 05:51

No debate. I just honestly don’t understand the point of dunking babies especially. One of my mates is very enthusiastic about this but I can’t think of a way to say “what is the point of dunking your baby” without coming across as rude / negative so I thought I would ask on here instead!

OP posts:
Original poster
HuntIdeas · 01/09/2019 05:52

Babies are a bit older than 8 weeks (about 11 - 18 weeks - NCT friends)

OP posts:
HerSymphonyAndSong · 01/09/2019 05:58

Given how many adults are afraid of putting their face in the water I assume it’s a good idea to get a child used to it. My husband took my 4mo son to lessons where they did this and my son loved it. I don’t think it’s anything to do with a “breathing reflex”. But equally I didn’t sign up to any theories about it - I assumed it was about giving my husband confidence to play with our son in the water so they could both enjoy it

NormHonal · 01/09/2019 06:02

It’s for all of the reasons above. My friend is a baby/child swimming instructor and we’ve discussed the theory.

We took DC1 to lessons (not with our friend as didn’t know her at the time) and dunking had the opposite effect, made them scared of the water and we had to stop and then do a lot of hard work at age 4 to overcome the fear that had been created. But there were SEN in the mix that we obviously didn’t know about in babyhood, so the sensory issues were, we think, to blame.

ShippingNews · 01/09/2019 06:02

Mine did those classes and it was good for all of us - including we parents. Everyone gained confidence and enjoyed the water. By the time they were 4-5 they were swimming like water babies - in comparison with other kids who were fearful and resistive of going in the water. Better safe than sorry .

SoVeryLost · 01/09/2019 06:06

@CustardCreamLover the reflex is there until about 13 months. I took my DS swimming as he loved the water and he loved going to swimming lessons.

Cherryblossomtrees · 01/09/2019 06:10

We've taken our kids because I am not confident in the water and I don't want them to grow up to be the same way. I want them regularly swimming and underwater throughout their lives.

My 3.5 year old can't swim but he can get himself the right way up, to the side and hold on/climb out, so it's the beginning of lifesaving skills.

It's not just swimming pools - my family are all into board and sailing and watersports but I lack the confidence to take part. I want my kids to feel confident on a boat/canoe/jet ski whatever.

CustardCreamLover · 01/09/2019 06:36

@SoVeryLost good to know!

Mrsducky88 · 01/09/2019 06:41

I never really got the point of paying £50 a month to do swimming lessons with a baby that can’t follow instruction. We have regularly taken our 2 year old swimming. Cost £2 a time and she is confident in the water, happy to splash and go underwater and loves going in the sea when we are on holiday. When she gets to 4/5 I’ll sign her up for actual lessons.

IDontDrinkTea · 01/09/2019 06:43

We went because my in laws have a pool. I’m really not confident in the water, I didn’t learnt to swim until I was 19. So it was partly my confidence, partly wanting dd to be safe

CarolineKate · 01/09/2019 06:44

I tried it once. Traumatised us both. Never again lol. I still take him swimming there's just no dunking involved 🤣. At home we take turns putting our face under the shower. That's enough for now 😂

MsTSwift · 01/09/2019 06:47

It’s the gateway drug for the pushy parents op. They can feel smug and even better make people like you feel uneasy because you haven’t paid hundreds of pounds to dip a baby in a pool which is an entirely pointless endeavour.

Children learn to swim from 4 or 5 onwards. Until then unless you actively enjoy standing half naked in the local pool freezing your arse off with a cold and confused baby stay in the coffee shop and laugh at the mugs

SeaRabbit · 01/09/2019 06:48

We dutifully took our daughter when she was a little baby, and got the statutory photo under water with eyes open. She had loads of swimming lessons when older but could never stop swimming under water so while she is safe in water, she can't swim normally, just mostly under the water!

Teateaandmoretea · 01/09/2019 06:51

OP most things in life are pretty pointless when you really analyse them. If the parents enjoy the lessons and it helps with confidence though then there is as much point as most things.

But equally if you don't do it then it doesn't matter, most people start swimming lessons at 4/5 and the DC learn to swim perfectly well especially if they've been taken as toddlers. It really isn't an exact science.

Interestingly then after all this dunking many then let them give up swimming lessons once they can swim a bit, that's the part I don't get personally, but we are all different Smile

Teateaandmoretea · 01/09/2019 06:52

She had loads of swimming lessons when older but could never stop swimming under water so while she is safe in water, she can't swim normally, just mostly under the water!

Dd2 swam mainly underwater until she was 7, she was never dunked so I'm not convinced that has anything to do with it tbh

BeanBag7 · 01/09/2019 06:54

By the time they were 4-5 they were swimming like water babies

Baby/ toddler swim classes cost £12-15 a week here so by the time they're 5 you've shelled out like £3000 on swimming lessons. I just don't think it's worth it. Most people I know started learning to swim at 3 or 4, when lessons are cheaper and they learn faster as more physically able and can swim perfectly well.

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 01/09/2019 06:56

I just really loved it. Have very happy memories of taking my DD.

MsTSwift · 01/09/2019 06:56

most kids swim underwater the whole time don’t they? I did and both mine did none of us had “lessons” as babies

Zampa · 01/09/2019 06:58

I've been taking DD2 since she was 13 weeks old. Works out about £15 a lesson so not cheap but we both love it.

Pool is warm, we have fun and DD2, now 21 months, is super confident in the water. I've learnt a lot of fun techniques that I've been able to use with DD1 in the pool (who has additional needs).

As with all baby classes, it's what you both enjoy. We also Rhythm Time and I know loads of people who didn't get that either.

Mayborn · 01/09/2019 07:01

I did it because it was a guaranteed 2-3h sleep for baby afterwards. One DC did them and the other didn’t. The one who didn’t is by far the better and most comfortable swimmer.

user1474894224 · 01/09/2019 07:07

I have 3 DC. I paid the money for the first. Just took the other 2 to the pool myself. I didn't find value in the classes. (Not that they weren't useful for some things but the cost was huge.) We have a local pool that runs a baby/toddler session where a swimming teacher is present just to offer advice to new parents in the pool. Look for something like that near you. There was no cost other than pool entrance.