Baby Swimmer

The baby swimming course allows the baby to love water, and to keep the habit of contact with the aquatic environment that he knows from his prenatal life. Moreover, in everyday life, parents lack time with their children. The baby swimming activity allows you to spend a special moment with your baby and to strengthen the parent/child relationship.

THE SWIMMING POOL, IDEAL FOR AWAKENING BABY

Baby swimming lessons contribute to baby's development through the discovery of the aquatic environment.

Baby swimming lessons help to :

awakening all the senses
improve the parent/child relationship
socialisation.
The main principles of the activity

To awaken baby to aquatic ease, in order to evolve, later on, towards learning how to swim.

Pedagogy

The pedagogy of bébé nageur is based on respect for baby's rhythms, needs and fears. It is organised around learning through play and the notion of pleasure.

The emotional, motor and relational development of the child are the objectives of the baby swimming course.

It is important to note that the baby is an active participant in his or her own learning process, thanks to the friendly supervision of the parents and the coach, who are attentive to the child's needs.

THE MAIN LINES OF A CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT

From 6 to 18 months, the child develops motor autonomy;
from 18 to 36 months, the child acquires psychic autonomy and develops language;
from 36 months onwards, the child develops social autonomy.
At each stage, babies develop various skills in the water.

Note: there are no age-specific objectives. The child will take ownership of his or her development thanks to the skills acquired in the aquatic environment. Children do not all have the same relationship with water and do not all start baby swimming at the same age.

The main objective of the activity is to have fun in the water, and to develop specific water skills.

Important: The presence of a parent is essential. Wearing a swimming costume or special nappy is compulsory, and don't forget the snack after the session as your little one will have earned it.

THE BENEFITS OF BABY SWIMMING LESSONS IN GENEVA

"The child learns to know his body and his physical limits. They also acquire spatial references. On the sensory level, the baby discovers hundreds of new stimuli: tastes, smells, colours, noises... In terms of language, they enrich their vocabulary and verbalise the different sensations they experience. Moreover, during the games, laughter and contact stimulate their desire to communicate with others. Finally, the activity allows the youngest children to begin to accept the physical separation from their parents. - Jean-Jacques Chorrin Sports doctor, president of the National Federation of Swimming 0-6 years in 2009.

In addition, the parent/child relationship is strengthened.

Some advice and precautions to take

What is the minimum age for baby swimming lessons?

Your baby can start swimming from the age of 4 months if there are no medical contraindications.

Before the first baby swimming session

Very useful tip: Think about lowering the temperature of the bath water a few weeks before the first baby swimming session. This will make it easier for baby to get used to the temperature of the pool. Bring the temperature closer to 31-32 degrees, which will avoid thermal shocks.

Before the pool

Have your offspring eat half an hour before the lesson to help them cope with the water temperature. Think of a small snack (compote, hot milk, sweet foods, fruit juice etc. ....) for when you get out of the bath. Your baby will have burned off calories and will need to replenish his reserves.

Children should eat before the bath: slow sugars like cakes, biscuits or bread, porridge. And after the session: fruit, banana, fruit compote, chocolate cream...).

Precautions to take

If your baby is ill and contagious, keep him in the comfort of his own home. 

HOW DOES THE FIRST SESSION TAKE PLACE?

In water heated to 32° (to avoid heat loss), the coach offers you sessions adapted to baby's abilities and the objective of the baby swimming session.

Each session lasts 30 minutes depending on the age of the baby (6 months to 4 years)

The objective is to develop aquatic autonomy. The session is rich in sensation, emotion and action for baby and parents, where everyone can express themselves in the water.

The first contact with water

Do not be afraid. Your fear is passed on to your baby. Your baby hears you and understands you. Stay positive and avoid saying to your baby "don't be afraid" or "it's not serious"...

Immersion in water is not dangerous for baby unless he feels your anxiety.

All the stages before learning to swim

Entering the water: "free to choose

Let me choose to enter the water without constraint "there is no point in running, you have to start on time". The most important thing is that baby plays in the water and enjoys it.

Verticality and movement

Don't interfere with your child's need for verticality. He has been trying to stand up for several months. Sit upright on your back, on your stomach, let him experiment.

You will stimulate your baby and the toys will help him to move. He will soon be able to lean on the toys and in your hands thanks to his small body weight. As soon as he succeeds in feeling this support, baby swimmer quickly takes the standing position.

He then discovers new sensations and a growing freedom.

Aquatic autonomy

Your baby learns to separate from you by moving away in the arms of the session leaders.

Immersion

The big step you want to see is also the one that makes you the most anxious... Don't worry, baby puts his head under water when he is ready, you can rest assured, he will never be forced. It's like learning to walk, it's a new experience. The instructors are there to guide you.

 

How can you tell if your baby is feeling well?

You can tell by the look in his eyes and his attitude (open or withdrawn) whether he is comfortable or not, whether he is enjoying himself or not.

Observe baby swimming

his expressions,
his smile,
his grimaces,
are his little hands open or closed...,
his eyes ... look into his eyes,
don't hold him too tightly, just support him.
Respect baby's rhythm

don't compare him with other children, everyone has his own rhythm;
if he drinks the water, stay calm, everything is fine, do not dramatise;
help your baby swimmer to act on his own by accompanying him without squeezing him too much;
don't do things for him, and don't be absent either;
Be reassuring while letting him/her act.
Observe your baby in order to listen to him/her in relation to this or that material, and allow him/her to blossom in the activity. A lack of observation and listening can lead to fear and disgust of water. Take it easy.

Baby swimmers do not need buoys or armbands because they encourage passivity. They are not necessary during the course, as baby always has a possibility of support while moving in the water.

Fries, for example, offer an active way to support baby over a short period of time. But what he prefers are the arms of mum and dad.

Baby's need for affection

Baby swimmers need to recharge their batteries by returning to mum or dad's arms often. He is building his emotional autonomy. Thanks to this special relationship, as baby swimmer lessons progress, he gains confidence and develops his aquatic autonomy.

For baby swimmers and their parents, water represents a great source of fulfilment and pleasure without any constraints.