Infant swimming lessons, yay or nay?

Question

My husband is in love with the idea of putting our two month old in swimming lessons. There is a respectable organization who specializes in these lessons and we have two friends who have had their infants in the class. Before my daughter was born I was all for it, now I'm not so sure... Class is paid for and starts next week, but I'm at torn... Should I let her?

Answer

As a swim instructor, I am highly suspicious of this. The program at my pool starts at 6 months. While it is perfectly alright to go to a public pool at 1 month, most babies haven't got adequate fat to be in a class (I'm assuming a 1/2 hour class) until 5 months at least. Head control is another issue to consider, and most babies aren't there until 6 months.

All physical readiness aside, most babies don't take instruction well until 1 year at the earliest (I have almost 2 decades experience), 1 1/2 on average.

Bottom line: these classes should be more for *you* to teach you to teach your child. If they claim to be able to "drown-proof" or have a younger than 2 1/2 year old "truly swim", run away fast, because physiologically, these are not possible for an infant.

Answer

We started taking our LO at soon as she turned 4 months... She has good head control.  She's too young to actually take direction, so we do these 30 min classes once a week & I feel they're more to get her comfortable in the water.  We put infant ear plugs on her, to try and help with water getting in her ears.     
She does really well & seems to enjoy it.

Answer

I wish there was infant swim lessons around my way

Answer

It's ridiculous. You basically play in the water and float them and stuff. I can do that on my own and not pay someone to tell me to lay my babe on her back and support her shoulders and head and let her float.

Answer

I am going to start my son at around six months. I didn't know they had swim classes for babies that early?

Answer

My mom was put into swim lessons at 2 months old, by 3 months she could swim completely independently in 10 plus deep water. So, it is in fact possible!

Answer

It's a great idea! Especially if you live near water or a pool.

Answer

I would say no (Only because I'm a "panicky" mom) but then I see that is was already paid for... So you might as well use it.

Infant swimming lessons, yay or nay?

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