Chapter 1 swimming lessons with Water Babies

Elsie has finished her chapter 1 swimming lessons with Water Babies and those 10 weeks just absolutely flew over.

Back in August when Elsie was merely 7 weeks old I was gifted a free taster session with Water Babies  to see if we would like to start swimming lessons*.

After that initial taster session and how much Elsie and I enjoyed it I signed us up for chapter 1 – a block of ten 30 minute swimming lessons.

Lessons start from newborn and carry on up to five years old.

For babies 0-1 the aim of lessons is to help your baby gain confidence in the water straight away.

Each session lasts for 30 minutes and there’s only 10 babies accompanied by a parent or career per lesson.

Instructors use carefully considered swim positions and activities to encourage babies to kick their legs, stretch and use their arms.

Throughout the lessons babies build up their core, learn breathing techniques and how to cope in an emergency situation.

Proper life skills that I think are just so important.

We started our chapter 1 journey with Water Babies on 6 September and Elsie’s confidence in the water and her core strength has honestly surpassed my expectations.

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What does Elsie wear in swimming lessons?

I bought swimming nappies from Asda which were £2.50 for 13 which is the cheapest I found.

Over this she wears the double Happy Nappy system specifically designed with babies in mind. This stops any wee or anything else escaping out into the pool.

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Our instructor Jo is just brilliant, super patient and friendly and all the babies in our class adore her.

We have our sessions at a local high school which has a hydrotherapy pool so it’s smaller, warmer and shallower than most pools – perfect for babies.

We’ve found that the 30 minute sessions just fly by.

I’ve even made a friend, Emma and her little girl Rose. We went together to the fabulous Bump and Me Afternoon Tea event. We’ve also enjoyed festive Afternoon Tea as well as some play dates.

Steve has joined us for as many lessons as he can, and has taken part in the sessions too.

Elsie used to hate bath time, it was a bit of a battle and we dreaded it but once she started swimming she loved splashing in the bath and she’s like a different baby.

She also sleeps better after her lessons and her head control is so strong.

One of my work colleagues is also a swimming teacher and she said you can tell we take her swimming just by her head control and posture.

At the end of Chapter 1 you have an underwater swimming photoshoot session and my goodness this was brilliant, I’ll share our pictures and my thoughts in an upcoming blog post with you.

Elsie is now kicking her legs, she’s learning to hold onto the side of the pool and her confidence in water is just going from strength to strength.

When Jo gave Elsie her chapter 1 badge she wouldn’t let go of it until I got her dressed in the changing rooms, I think she’s just as proud of it as we are!

We have now started chapter 2 and there’s new songs, swimming positions and techniques already being introduced.

I would absolutely recommend Water Babies lessons, you’re teaching your child vital life saving skills, gaining their confidence in water as well as creating a great bonding opportunity too.

To find out more information about Water Babies visit the website and see if there’s classes near you.

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*Disclaimer

I was gifted a free taster session with Water Babies and complimentary tickets to the Bump and Me Afternoon Tea event however I have paid in full for Elsie’s chapter 1 and 2 lessons and my thoughts on our lessons are completely my own.

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Other related posts

Take a look back on my second trimester

Here’s how I got on modelling maternity sportswear

See what happened at my surprise baby shower

I had a fantastic Maternity VIP Experience with JoJo Maman Bébé 

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