Newborn Baby Swimming
January 31, 2009 — Alenka | Posted in To Be Physically Superb. 5 Comments »Since I was a teenager and saw a TV program showing tiny newborns floating around regular home bathtubs, I was dreaming of one day teaching my own future kids to swim right from birth. With my firstborn I couldn’t find any resources, so we started around 9 months, when our public swimming pool opened. I got some books and by a year he could swim underwater. So if you are looking for materials on teaching babies as young as 6 month to swim, see Teach Your Child to Swim for resources, book reviews and results.
Apparently my second baby was more lucky: I stumbled upon an instructional video and fully documented the steps with illustrations in a file below. The good news: it is a set of directions for techniques on teaching newborns. The bad news: the video is in Russian, and so is the file. The only information on water exercises for newborns that is available in English that I could find, is in How to Teach Your Baby to Swim: From Birth to Age Six by Douglas Doman. I can translate the file to English if there will be sufficient demand – so don’t hesitate to contact us via comments below or by emailing to ideas@childandme.com).
- Video instructions for teaching newborns to swim in a bathtub – Part 1
- MS Word file with documented instructions and illustrations (from the video)
- Video instructions for teaching newborns to swim in a bathtub – Part 2
I guess for safety reasons, there is virtually no information in English on starting swimming with babies earlier then 4 months-6 months. Meanwhile in Russia, for many years, some children’s hospitals had special doctors with many years of experience of teaching newborns to swim right in the comfort and safety of family’s bathtub. Usually a doctor would come in for a few initial demonstrations, and then guide the parents in their independent attempt to continue the exercises. Around 3 months, that baby is usually accepted to the next step – a “Mommy and me” type of a class in a swimming pool affiliated with the children’s hospital where the doctor giving instructions is working, and the doctors/nurses continue parent’s instructions on submerging and swimming in there. Usually at that stage the babies complete their program of learning to swim and float unassisted. It is strongly and strongly advisable not to attempt these exercises without the initial supervision of the professional.
Yet, not having such professional available in the area where we live, we decided to give it a try. The exercises are really a series of hand positions for a little baby floating in a bathtub, so the baby is controlled at all times, and we look at those exercises as water massage, rather then swimming practice. Our swimming pool allows kids no younger then 6 months, so I once our baby is old enough, we’ll probably continue with the original set of exercises that we used (see Teach Your Child to Swim) since we had such a great success with that loving and playful approach with our first baby.
Until then, we can keep you posted on our results in a bathtub! If you have any comments or other interesting information, please share!
October 7, 2009 at 10:10 pm
This website its amazing. I am mom to be and very interested how to teach a newborn/baby to swim cos I am swimmer. I wonder if there is a method I can get the file translated to English as I don’t have any friends speak in Russian. Thank you for sharing.
November 22, 2009 at 12:14 am
excellent russian lessons. I tried online translator……
The newborn’s set of exercises for swimming:
You can start with newborns who weigh more than 3 kg. Temperature of water: 37’С, every two weeks reduce temperature by one degree. The door in the bathroom – should be closed to avoid variations of temperatures and humidity. In the beginning – massage. Then – bathing which represents a number of massage water procedures. When the child successfully completes this or becomes bored, he can continue on to the second set of exercises – in a month or two. It is recommended that the first course be done under the supervision of an expert.
Видео: http://www.kupit-krohe.ru/plavat-ranshe-chem-xodit-kupanie-novorozhdennogo/
1. Legs are in the water, he has kicked, when the child is quiet – he is lowered into the water,
2. The left hand holds the child. Thumb and a middle finger on neck, index finger on the backbone. Completely relaxed he lays down in the left palm. The right hand: four fingers on chest, thumb under neck. Hold neck. Double support – secures the child from both sides.
3. I give the chest gentle rocking movements, I lower him with a coat hanger grip in the water. While rocking – the child gets used to the temperature of the water, to your hands, and slowly relaxes.
4. I have stopped. Now with the right hand we wash half the child’s face, the child is not submerged. When submerged – the kid holds his breath, which is necessary for diving.
I carefully clear away that water that has got on his hair and face
5. Now we take the child’s fingers, the water is paddled, one hand and then the other.
6. From the first exercise the child is accustomed to commands, repeated often to him. With the thumb we support his chin. I am holding the child from behind, facing away from me. Feet on the bottom of the bathtub. Now we bend the legs, lower the body, we say “Kick!” and we start the motion, but not too quickly. Repeat, legs are bent, “Kick!” These stationary leg thrusts – begin with 4 times and gradually increase to 8 times
7. Now all together, « Kick » With propulsion forward. Back held firmly, feet in position on tub bottom, body lowered, “Kick”! With springing movements, held in a coat hanger grip plunged into the water. 2-3 jumps the length of the bath.
8. In the same position: the child has squatted down, back held firmly, feet on the bottom, – and with turns of the trunk we do walking. In this support is the main thing – the back held firmly and only the trunk is rotated . 2-3 times in the length of the bath.
9. In the same supported position, in the middle of the bathtub, we put the child on his side, cheek on water and – make gentle rocking. The thumb of the right hand controls the chin. Having bent his legs on the bottom of the bathtub. Now gentle rocking on the other side.
10. Having bent his legs. We now start to do active movements where there is movement of water: we lay down on side, feet in position, we kick the bent legs and with uniform kicking movements on one side the full length of the bathtub. We “Float”. At the side of the tub: “Kick”. Begin with 4х time, gradually up to 8.
11. Having bent his legs in the middle of a bathtub, the child is on his right side. The left hand holds on top. The right hand: the edge of the palm holds his chin. We give the chest gentle rocking movements. And gradually the lower part of the head is submerged in the water. Only the face above the chin remains atop the surface of the water. Gently we rock him. In this position if water gets in his eyes ignore it – the child could slip from your grasp.
12. Now, with the left hand we continue to hold the back of the head, and right hand fingers slightly tickle the chin. The child starts to relax and float. In two weeks it is possible to tickle the arms. Try to tickle so that he cannot grab you. Hold the chin all the time to support the head. If the legs have started to fall a little downwards, tickle the bottom of the stomach.
13. The chin is supported by an edge of the palm and active rocking movements of the entire body are made. With the movement of water there is a muscular contraction – an additional cardiac massage. Without turning over, rock from side to side. The chin is supported by an edge of the palm so that water does not get in the nose and mouth. At edge of a bathtub – « Kick! » Active movements on his back. Will begin with 4 kicks and advance up to 8.
14. The right hand thumb holds his chin, left index finger again on backbone, we rest on heels and make gentle rocking movements – rest. If hands are in armpits – you must tickle the arms. Bring hands forward and back. Note, that you always hold one hand.
15. Position on stomach. The right hand: two fingers under a chin, two on chest, the thumb is free. Attention: we hold the bottom jaw and throat, carefully do not press. I put him on his stomach so that my right hand does not enter the water. The left hand: back of the head, pushes forward on the nape of the neck so the body does not sag. The child should be horizontal. Position on stomach kicking – full length of the bathtub, 3-4 lengths
16. Holding breath under water. When water splashes or covers his face the child has a reflex to hold his breath. In the middle of a bathtub, the head rests on the right hand, we say “Dive”, the index finger lifts and rocks, we splash his face with water. Having bent forward, he holds his breath – I will hear … and having pressed on the thorax I feel the child make a deep exhalation. Having rocked, having pressed on the thorax. While doing this we say « Breath » and we accustom the child to the command. Repeat pair of exercises face splashing and diving. 2-3 times?
17. When the child is comfortable with water on his face and holds his breath, I can try immersing the head. With head on the right hand in shallow water, « Dive! », and now the head is lowered in the water, the hand on chest – rocks. After his breath is held the body starts breathing work at all levels, the nasopharynx is cleared, vessels of the brain function and may make him cough.
18. Shallow water rockings. The child on a stomach, the head is supported, rocking movements in the middle of the tub: we keep the chin above water, back and forth. ~30 times
19. Again eight times and having been immersed. Still gentle rocking in shallow water.
20. The left hand behind on a backbone, the right hand on a breast, stand on legs also with gentle rocking to rest.
21. The right hand – completely on chest; the left hand parallel with right, holds head firmly. The head is controlled between the hands so quicker movements are possible while laying on stomach, feet on side (bottom) of tub. 6-8 Times. Do not wait for child to start.
Additional work with leg: after two weeks (not earlier), leaning on elbows at the edge of the bathtub, chin on the right hand, left hand holds ankle. Each leg is bent, then straightened.
22. Shallow water two legs. With the left hand we take both feet and bend, then unbend the legs together
23. Rest with gentle rocking in double support (see 2). Thumbs on collarbones, index fingers under shoulder blades, the others on the back of the head. In the middle of a bathtub gentle rocking movements and is slowly lowered until all the hairy part of the head is under water. Having rocked. The head is supported between the hands, feet to wall, say sharply, « Kick! » 6-8 repeats.
24. In the middle of the bathtub. Turns with coat hanger grip. Pay attention: larger turns, and hold head firmly. Do slowly
25. The right hand on chest, left on back – double support (sm 2). We rock. If it is necessary to clean – to wash with soap – wash now, back to toughening up. Hold with the left hand, right hand washes hair, face, hands, chest. The right hand on chest – we roll him over onto his stomach. Wash his back. When finished washing the child – position him on his back.
26. On back, support 11, do active movements
27. Toughening up. We add cold water. The left hand on back, index finger on backbone (sm 2) and the left fingers under head – we watch, with the right hand that the water does not get too cold. Slowly we cool the water and this is done while rolling over: tummy, back, tummy, back. 2 times with 4 turns – when water is cooled, we finish the legs after 5-7 seconds – contrasted with the changes in temperature. No quick movements.
28. The right hand on a breast. Water has been switched off. The left hand on a back (support 21). Have rocked in cool water – gentle rocking the child pleasantly. ~30 seconds
Exit from the bathtub. Thumbs – in armpits. Index fingers – on the back of the head. The right hand under the arm. Gently rocking. Then quietly, the child relaxed – we leave the bathtub.
November 27, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Pete, thank you so much!!! That’s terrific!!!
March 2, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Hello,
I have a 2 week old and want to teach him to swim – your description of the exercises is wonderful, but I wasn’t able to get the video whose link you provided to play – are you able to send be a veiwable copy? Thank you!
March 3, 2010 at 11:03 pm
I was able to find this video at this place too: http://rutube.ru/tracks/845301.html?v=e85170fb910476ed0416d18ddd435245
The second part of the video doesn’t have the sound, only images, and it’s available for downloading here: http://depositfiles.com/files/tx4pfizdm
It sounds like either the plugin doesn’t exist in your browser, or some security settings don’t allow it to open. I have the same problem in my Firefox browser, that is better protected, but I was able to download both videos through Internet Explorer, where I load more plugins.
I wish I could help you more. This video is not mine, and I don’t even have it on my machine, but we did find it truly helpful. Transition from the bathtub to 3-5 seconds diving in our local pool has been absolutely seamless… while for my older one it took months to get him accustomed to dunking his head under water and propelling himself there. So, while we proceeded with a great caution and looked at these exercises as a good water massage, it did a lot more then just a workout.