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Original poster

Baby swimming worry

18 replies

Bubbles021 · 31/01/2023 14:10

Just wanting to hear others experiences really. My 5.5 month old started swimming lessons last week. She has always absolutely loved water so it felt right to start taking her swimming, but I wanted to take her to lessons for the structure of learning. The lessons are half hour long, and as predicted she loved it. She loved splashing her legs and using the different types of equipment. She was fine when the instructor dribbled water over her head too. But at the end of the session, the instructor gently guided each baby under the water, for probably around a a second or so. The other three babies in the class came up fine and didn't really respond to being under water, but my daughter came up, gasped and started screaming. I managed to calm her down after a couple of minutes, but it really did upset her.
The instructor didn't comment, so I assumed her reaction was normal despite the other babies not really reacting to going under. Now I've been googling and read about secondary drowning and I've terrified myself.
The instructor explained that babies will naturally hold their breath and have a natural gag reflex too, and that water will not go on the lungs, but I just can't get this worry out of the back of my mind now and it's making me anxious to return next week.
I just wanted to hear what others experiences were when they took their baby swimming.
Thank you for your help 💙

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Fran92 · 31/01/2023 14:14

They have a natural reflex so I wouldn’t worry about that however to do that on the first lesson isn’t great experience for you or baby (ex teacher here)

Original poster

Bubbles021 · 31/01/2023 14:17

@Fran92 thank you for confirming!
Sorry, I probably didn't explain it properly, it was her second lesson today. She loved the lesson last week and up until she went under today. She did calm down after a cuddle, so it probably stressed me out more than her. But seeing how the other babies didn't seem phased at all, it made me worry when my little one came up gasping and screaming.

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WestOfWestminster · 31/01/2023 14:19

Perhaps the other babies had done it before? Often the parent or instructor gives a cue, like 'ready go swim' or something so the baby knows its about yoto go underwater. Next time your baby might know its coming.

Id chat to the instructor and ask them more about it so they can explain and hopefully this will help.

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rainydaysun · 31/01/2023 14:20

I posted this exact thread when my DD was about 6 months old and did her first submersion, I read all sorts and didn't sleep all night. It was terrifying but learned to put boundaries in place that I wasn't comfortable with that and we don't submerge her anymore.

She was fine and babies are naturally able to close off their throats to inhale water.

Original poster

Bubbles021 · 31/01/2023 14:20

@WestOfWestminster yes we did give the cue of '(name) ready, swim'. She didn't look at me, which the instructor said is fine. She's absolutely fine with water on her head but it really did take her by surprise bless her.
I am going to talk to the instructor next week too, thank you for your help 🙂

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Original poster

Bubbles021 · 31/01/2023 14:21

@rainydaysun thank you so much for your reply! Did you just ask to stop the submerging completely in the sessions then?
Thank you for your help 🙂

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FrizzledFrazzle · 31/01/2023 14:37

My DS was the same - hated the dunking and then started getting stressed in the pool. I ended up stopping the lessons because the instructor thought I was just being an anxious mum and kept pressuring me to put him under the water. We did it about 3 times and he hated every one. I'll try again when he's older.

Rowen32 · 31/01/2023 14:47

Honestly, I had no interest in attending baby swimming after hearing they do this - looking forward to bringing them when they're 3 or 4 and able to consciously enjoy it..

WhiteHorse92 · 31/01/2023 14:54

My 22 month old has been having swimming lessons since 4 months old with the same teacher, she's always said she won't make it part of lessons. Occasionally during some of the songs that we do, she's said we can submerge them but only if we're comfortable with it and she's always said please don't do it if we know it will upset our babies. There's a baby girl in my son's class who loves being submerged and she's fine with it, I've done it a couple of times briefly with my son, he's never screamed but doesn't seem to particularly like it either and just has this shocked look on his face so I don't bother doing it. Just do whatever you're comfortable with, you're the one paying for the lessons after all.

Rakszasa · 31/01/2023 15:10

I would just not submerged them again if it worries you. Swimming instructor at the pool we go to doesn't believe it in at all, he told us it's unnecessary and made more for parents benefits (when they take "cute" pic underwater etc), rather than for a baby. According to him most babies hold their breath underwater, but there's always a possibility that they won't expect submerging or that they'll be put underwater in a wrong moment, so why taking the risk. And that kids at some point will decide themselves to dive underwater anyway, when they'll understand breath holding.
So if you're uncomfortable with it, just don't do it.
PS. Google search is always a bad idea for me, it always gives me even more anxiety rather than any answeres.

Mayalinaballerina · 31/01/2023 15:13

I took my son to swimming lessons at 4 months old. Submerging them came after about 3 or 4 lessons. He was sick each time afterwards on the first 3 goes. On the 4th, we went under as well 'to see their faces'. It was sold as a lovely moment for us as parents. My son had his face screwed up and looked distressed and in that moment, I decided to stop the swimming until he was older and more able to communicate what he is and isn't happy with.

I think kids have plenty of time to learn to swim, great if it's for you and your baby but don't worry if it isn't either.

sevenbyseven · 31/01/2023 15:16

Most babies get used to it quite quickly and then start to actively enjoy it. However some always hate it! Your call really but I wouldn't be concerned by that reaction - it doesn't mean she took any water in, just that it was a surprise!

greenspaces4peace · 31/01/2023 15:22

All three of mine did baby swim lessons, back then you blew on their faces (which made them gasp) then submerged.
they were very good independent swimmers by 2-3. Which was necessary for me.

Eastereggsboxedupready · 31/01/2023 15:25

The structure of learning at 5. 5 months. Cripes....

Cakeorchocolate · 31/01/2023 15:40

I started dd at 5mths. She absolutely loved going, but hated being dunked. Her instructor used to say to make sure when you dunk them, they go all the way under, she thought it was scarier for them to go in partially than all the way.

That said, as dd hated it, we just didn't do that part. We blew bubbles at that moment instead.

Dd also went through not wanting to join in with the lessons for a while when a bit bigger, I think around 2 (sorry can't be more specific she's almost 8 now so the memory is pretty fuzzy on specifics).

We still went every week and just sat on the steps in the water when she was like that so that she could join in if / when she wanted to.

Years later, she's still an absolute water baby and loves going underwater. She's forever diving under the water when waiting for her turn on her lessons!

So I would say don't let it put you off, just don't join in with that bit until you think you're both ready to try - no matter how long.
If the instructor isn't supportive of that, it's not the right instructor I'd say.

CrispAppleStrudels · 31/01/2023 15:50

Dd has been going since 6 months and didn't enjoy being submerged the first few times, but quickly got used to it and now LOVES it. Jumps in, shouts "more, more" and at 20months is just starting to free swim with floats and a noodle etc.

For me, the submersion part was important because I wanted DD to be able to get used to the sensation of being under water so that if she fell in somewhere, she knew what to do. Our classes are heavily focused on safety so we practise falling in backwards off the edge and reaching around for the side etc.

But if you and baby are not enjoying it, there is no harm on staying on the surface for a bit! When baby is a bit bigger, you could try again if you wanted, or wait until they have proper lessons. I would just enjoy the rest of the session.

@Cakeorchocolate we were told that if the top of the head doesn't go under, it doesnt trigger the baby's reflex to hold their breath or something? So they end up more likely to swallow water.

BabyB2022 · 31/01/2023 16:57

I started swimming lessons with my daughter a few months older than yours (due to lockdowns so had no choice) and it sounds very similar to her. She absolutely hated being submerged and in the end we just stopped doing that part. The instructor was very supportive of this. A year later of swimming lessons she still hated being submerged, we did a couple each class but it was starting to become more of an issue as they were expected to do more and more so we were wondering if we should stop lessons. We continued and then she reached a class when they can start wearing googles and at 2 we now can't keep her above the water, she constantly asks to go under again and we are blown away by how confident she is in the water, starting to learn to do stuff herself etc. We are sooo pleased we kept going but also did it at her pace.

Original poster

Bubbles021 · 31/01/2023 17:54

Thank everyone who has given a helpful reply 🙂
After talking to my husband (who couldn't be there today, but will be at next week's session), we've agreed we're going to chat to the instructor about how I'm feeling.
Thank you all for sharing your experiences, it really has been helpful 💙

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