Why you should take your baby swimming

I've been taking Luca swimming since he was around 12 weeks old. I decided to take him swimming as although I can swim, I'm not confident in water and didn't want Luca to grow up with the same fears surrounding water that I have. My decision to taking him swimming has been the best thing I ever did. You can read my first post about swimming on my blog so I won't go into too much detail about how we began. What I will say though is that I was so nervous that I was very, very close to tears when it came to getting in the pool for the first time and verging on a panic attack. However, Samantha came over and talked me through what we would be doing that lesson and I could do as much or as little as I felt comfortable with. She is genuinely a lovely person and made me instantly feel more relaxed. She completely understands that your baby is the single most precious thing in your life and how it can be a bit nerve wracking sometimes, like when you do a submersion for the first time, but she completely puts you at ease and puts no pressure on you whatsoever to do anything. In fact, Samantha is so nice that I trusted her completely and asked her to do Luca's first submersion as I was too nervous. We have now moved to the Selby lessons and have our classes with Jen, who is also completely lovely and a fabulous tutor. No matter who you get you will be in very capable, safe hands.

Luca turned one recently and we are still going to classes every week. We have moved on from simple submersions to submersions where I put Luca through a hoop under the water and catch him at the other side, and ones where Luca jumps from the side of the pool. He has now learnt how to hold his breath and close his eyes when going under the water. He kicks like a champion swimmer, holds onto the edge of the pool and generally loves his time spent in the pool. I feel more confident in the water with him and I know now that should the unthinkable happen, Luca would have a fighting chance after unconsciously learning some vital life saving skills.

If the life saving skills haven’t already swayed you to sign up for classes, then I will tell you my favourite bit of swimming lessons. The bonding. We have thirty minutes of uninterrupted quality time together, no house work or technology getting in the way or distracting us. We spend the whole time laughing, smiling, splashing, singing songs and being close to each other. If you don’t believe me just look at the picture below, who doesn’t want that with their little one?

So go, what are you waiting for? Get signed onto the next course, I promise it will be the best thing you do with your little one. Just save a space for me.

Franki is a first time mummy to Luca. She is currently juggling working with raising Luca and trying to prevent the washing basket from taking over the house. Blogging when she has time about anything that takes her fancy from food to days out and beauty products to the life of a new mummy. You can find her here http://littlelucaandme.blogspot.co.uk or follow her on twitter here @franki_s
Further information about Flutterbabies Baby Swimming and Baby Yoga classes can be found at www.flutterbabies.co.uk or contact Samantha on 07768 538527 samantha@flutterbabies.co.uk

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