CHILD DEVELOPMENT GETTING BABIES STARTED IN THE WATER
Getting your baby used to water early is important from a safety point of view . It ’ s also great fun ! Since all babies originate from the watery environment of a mother ’ s womb , the sooner the baby is placed in water after delivery , the easier the transition will be for the child . Babies have not been pre-conditioned to fear water hence the baby is more likely to be inhibition free , enabling him / her to become confident and relaxed in the water .
Parents used to be advised to wait until initial immunizations had taken place before taking their babies to public pools ; however health experts no longer believe this to be the case , so it is really up to you when you start taking your baby into the water .
Early childhood development in the water directly relates with the overall mental and physical development of babies . In recent studies , it has been discovered that movement and exercise increase the efficiency , function and size of the important memory and learning area of the brain . With water being a natural environment for babies , movement and exercise in this setting creates an ideal environment for development . Furthermore , being in a body of water , a great example of gravity , allows for the babies ’ brain to learn more complex things . Gravity stimulates the brain to activate the neck muscles so the infant raises his head , which allows the baby to become more fully aware of his body and the environment around him . The pressure of the water over the entire body also helps to stimulate the nervous system , helping the child experience their body using all of their senses .
In the warmth of the pool , similar to the environment of a mother ’ s womb , babies will positively connect the familiarity of the water to their own safety . However , noisy public swimming pools may be daunting for your newborn , so searching out quiet facilities or more quiet times in the facility schedule , semi-private or private programs with small class sizes will increase your baby ’ s comfort level . Swimming classes can emphasize the importance of the bonding between the parent and child , as well as the social connection that will occur in the class environment .
Babies feel and respond to everything . The pool provides babies and children the opportunity to experience new situations and therefore grow their competence and self-esteem .
Lauren Sanbrooks and Kelly Paley of We Teach Swimming ( WETS ).
Tips for helping your baby become comfortable in the water :
• Make every bath time ( right from birth ) a fun and relaxing experience . Let your baby explore kicking and splashing . Move them gently through the water on their back . Get them used to having water on their face by gently squeezing a sponge of water over their head or using a colander to “ make it rain ”.
• Blow bubbles in the water – this helps show babies what they should do with their mouth .
• Visit the pool when it is likely to be quiet , maybe asking a friend with a baby to come along too !
• In the pool , make sure you keep the baby ’ s face close to your own and maintain eye contact .
• Be animated and upbeat – Every experience in the water should be positive and fun . If your baby is accidentally splashed , react with a big smile and praise and move on to a different activity . If you freak out about it , your baby will pick up on the negative and learn to fear getting his / her face wet .
2013 Okanagan4Kids . com Baby & Toddler Guide 17