Baby Swimming Lessons

I was so excited when our boy started swimming lessons at four months. As we walked through the doors that first day, the familiar smell of chlorine greeted us. For some reason, I find it oddly comforting. It was winter, but they had the venue set to the perfect temperature so we weren’t cold when we stripped down to our swimmers. We were greeted by a friendly staff member who showed us around, and then we were ready for our first lesson.

I couldn’t wait to see how he would react to the water… but he just bobbed around like a potato, wearing a blank expression. We assumed he didn’t hate it because he wasn’t crying, but he didn’t seem to love it either.

We continued to take our little potato boy to swimming lessons, and he remained stone-faced for at least the first six months while he was in the Ducks class. In the meantime, I started getting to know the other parents as we all chatted before lessons.

I remember one day I attended a lesson and saw a group of mums talking. I kept my distance, as it looked like they were a group of friends who all knew each other. They were talking, laughing and having a great time, and I really wanted to be part of that. So the following week, I just walked straight up to the group. One of the mums turned to me and asked me a question, involving me in their conversation almost straight away. I later found out that none of them had known each other before swimming, so it wasn’t some secret club after all.

This continued for months and I really started to look forward to our Monday swimming lessons. I’d arrive early so I had time to chat with the other mums. It was great to hang out with a group of parents who have children of a similar age because you could ask advice and swap stories. It was also reassuring to find out that often, you weren’t the only person whose child was having sleeping problems or issues starting solids.

Finally, one of us made the first move and started collecting phone numbers so we could create a group chat and organise a meet-up outside of swimming. This process came with the awkward question:

“Sorry, what’s your name?”

We’d been hanging out and talking for months, and we only knew each other as Billy’s Mum or John’s Mum.

Then one day, I received the email saying we were moving up to the next class. Yes! We’d unlocked the Duckling level! But then I realised I wouldn’t see my lovely group of mums anymore, and I was disappointed.

Luckily, the disappointment didn’t last long. When we arrived for his first Duckling lesson, we were immediately greeted by some of the mums from the Ducks class who had moved up a few weeks earlier. I also quickly made friends with some of the new mums. One of them took my number, and we still have regular playdates.

It was around the time we started the Ducklings class that our potato began to show some enjoyment and expression. He started smiling and splashing around, and we soon realised he was actually enjoying his swimming lessons.

I remember a turning point for me during an activity we do every week. The instructor brings out a basket of toys and spreads them around the water. We guide our babies through the water to collect the toys and bring them back to the basket. Once my son developed his palmar grasp, he would grab the toys, but the instructor always had to pry them out of his hands when he returned to the basket. One day, he proudly dropped the toy in the basket all by himself, and I knew he was starting to understand what was going on. Now, he’ll often say “Here!” or “Duck,” naming the item as he happily throws it in.

From then on, he started to show more and more enthusiasm for swimming. These days, he walks in excitedly, waving to everyone as he arrives. He has the biggest smile on his face when he gets in the water, and he’s often so busy looking around and babbling, that I have to try to get him to focus before we start the next activity.

When we were told we’d be moving to the Goldfish class, I was disappointed that we’d have to start over with a new group. But we’ve been in the class for a few weeks now, and we’re slowly getting to know the other parents and children.

When we arrive at swimming, I see all these children sitting calmly at the drawing table or playing quietly with the toys, and then we come flying in. I’m running around like a madwoman, trying to put our bags away, get into my swimmers, and stop my son from running into the toilets, shower, office and anywhere else he can sneak into in his excitement to be there.

The staff all know us now, and we’re always greeted with welcoming smiles. It can be a chaotic morning wrestling a wet toddler and bags of swimming gear, especially when it’s cold. Some mornings, I don’t even have time to dry myself off properly before I have to wrangle my son under control. But swimming lessons have been a positive experience for both of us. I’ve made new friends, and I now have a happy, confident little Goldfish in the water. I often wonder which one of us is benefiting more from the experience.