Infants all develop at their own pace, some babies will be more or less ready for certain activities than others. That's ok, have fun, enjoy your baby's company and know that each moment you spend together is a special bonding time and wonderfully valuable for both you and your baby.  

When looking  for a suitable swim school for your infant make sure the program has the flexibility to accommodate individual levels of development.

In the pool they usually enjoy laying on their tummy on a big foam mat covered with a little water so they can splash their hands and try to blow bubbles in the water.

From around four months to two and a half years of age the righting reflex plays a large part in an infant's discomfort with activities laying on their back.  When placed on their back or when their head falls backwards or forwards, babies will try to bring their head back into an upright position  

• In the pool back floating feels unnatural to this age group and they struggle to stay on their tummy and hold their head upright. 

• Once infants have learnt to sit they become even more anxious to maintain their upright position.  Whenever they sense they’re falling backwards they’ll try to sit up.  Avoid stimulating the righting reflex and help infants to relax by offering lots of head support when placing them on their back.

• Rest your infant's head on your shoulders then, rather than lowering the infant onto his or her back, slowly and smoothly lower yourself until your infant is in a more horizontal position.

• At the first sign of your infant tensing or trying to sit up, gently return yourself and the infant back to an upright or sitting position.  

• Distract your infant by singing in his or her ear, point to objects above and say "look I see a bird" or " I see a big white cloud" (or whatever you can see!).

• Holding a plastic mirror (never use glass in a pool) above your infant's head and encouraging them to "see who they can see in the mirror" is another great way to distract your child while getting him used to laying on his back in the pool. 

• NOTE:  Never hold, or force your child’s head back, this is frightening for infants, children and adults and will result in a loss of trust.

 When placed on their tummy six month old babies can usually lift their head and chest and support themselves on their extended arms.

• When laying on their tummy do watch their mouth remains clear of the water.  Some six month olds will happily bubble on the water's surface; others will try to drink the pool water.  

• Drinking the pool water is not a good idea, if baby starts to drink lift them clear of the water.

Splashing activities help infants learn about cause and effect. “Hit my hand on the water and it makes a splash”. 

• Splashing also helps to develop control over how they use their arms and hands.

• Splashing helps development of the midline (coordination of the hemispheres of the brain). 

They love lying on their tummies on pool mats, shallow ledges and other surfaces and splashing their hands.

The large head of a six month old means they are still top heavy and independent floating and movement are very difficult and unlikely at this age.

They can now bear weight on their feet and bounce up and down while being held in a standing position.

• They might enjoy activities where, with help, they bounce up and down on  their feet.  Let them stand on a shallow ledge or on your knee, support them under the armpits and bounce up and down.

• From a shallow ledge count them into your arms.  With a one, two, three and a gentle bounce into the water and mum or dad's arms!  The game can be even more fun when coupled with a little nursery rhyme such as Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall; Humpty Dumpty had a big fall.

At six months of age infants are usually still friendly with strangers, but might occasionally become shy or anxious if a familiar adult is out of sight.

• Make sure mum, dad or other significant person is in the class with them. While they might be happy to go to a stranger for now, over the coming months separation anxiety is likely to set in and they won’t want to let mum or dad out of their sight.

They love looking at things and move their head and eyes around in every direction to watch others moving about.

• Infants of this age will love watching things move around the pool, so float balls or toys in the water so they can track them with their eyes.  

• Have bright coloured objects hanging from the roof for them to look at.

They usually stretch out both hands to grasp objects and “scoop” them up with two hands. They can pass objects from hand to hand and everything goes to their mouth.

• Include activities that allow infants to gather and pick up. Be sure toys are safe and age appropriate as everything goes straight to their mouth.

Six month old babies have a limited ability to extend their arms. They love two handed reaching and splashing games but usually can’t extend their arms far enough to make efficient swimming arm movements.  

• Gently moving their arms underwater in a long, slow paddling movement won’t hurt, but don’t expect them to be able to use this skill just yet 

When a rattle is offered they reach out, grasp, and shake the rattle to make a sound.

At six months old they turn to listen to a familiar voice and they use sing song vowel sounds such as “goo”, “der”, “a-a”, “muh”.  They laugh, squeal and chuckle in play.

Infants respond to the different emotional tones of a familiar voice.

They find their feet and hands interesting.

Six month old babies love active play.

As mentioned earlier at six months of age the infant is usually still friendly  with strangers but may occasionally become shy or anxious if a familiar adult is out of sight. 

Infants become more reserved with strangers from about seven months of age.

• Don’t force the issue, this is Mother Nature at work and a passing phase.  With encouragement and a little gentle contact each week, they will eventually start going to the teacher once again.   

 

 

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