5 Reasons to Start Your Baby Swimming Before Age 1

In a place like Miami, where water surrounds us at every turn, it’s imperative to teach children how to swim—even before they can walk. Even as babies, children can learn how to swim.



If you are considering enrolling your baby in swimming lessons, look no further than Ocaquatics Swim School. Why start baby swimming with us? We have the expertise and commitment to deliver high-quality swim instruction through our certified instructors.

The importance of early swimming lessons for infants cannot be overstated. Your child will gain numerous benefits by starting to swim now. In this informative blog post, we cover the top five reasons early swimming lessons are essential for your baby’s development. 

Importance of Early Swimming Lessons for Infants

If you’re thinking of signing your baby up for swimming classes, the sooner you do it, the better off you’ll be. You’ll be providing your child with a lifelong skill that will keep them safer in the water. Here are the five reasons you should get your child professional swimming lessons before you celebrate their 1st birthday.

Reason #1: Water Familiarity and Comfort

Getting comfortable with the water and being familiar with swimming movements is helpful before the age of one. Your baby won’t be able to master the swim strokes at this point, but they will learn how to float and cultivate the necessary skills to stay safer in the water. 

Reason #2: Enhanced Physical Development

Coordination is something that children must develop in time, and there’s nothing better for enhancing physical development than learning to swim. Babies learn to use all their senses for the movements—from going up and down to moving side to side in an effort of balance. It also helps them strengthen their muscles.

On land, a baby’s balance can greatly improve if they learn to swim under the age of one. The repetitive movements they engage in while in the water are at the core of this, allowing them to have better coordination and motor skills compared to children who do not learn how to swim as babies.

Reason #3: Cognitive and Social Benefits

Children who learn to swim as babies develop cognitive abilities more quickly. They tend to express themselves verbally earlier than other children and advance in math and literacy skills. 

Swimming is a way to stimulate the brain while engaging motor skills and sensory perception. Babies’ brains are like little sponges eager to soak up more information in these early months of life. When they are stimulated and challenged through swimming, it improves their cognitive abilities and cultivates social skills by being around other babies. 

Reason #4: Water Safety Skills

Water safety skills are essential for everyone. The sooner a person learns these skills in life, the better equipped they will be. Baby swimming lessons will get your infant comfortable with the water. This boosts confidence in all areas of life and drives them to succeed. Most importantly, your baby can learn to float and other skills to keep them safer in an emergency.

As they grow, these basic skills will serve as the foundation for additional lessons as they move through the toddler years and into their elementary school years. They will build on the basic skills for water safety and be able to make smart choices while in or around the water. 

Reason #5: Parent-Child Bonding

The bond you have with your baby starts intensifying from the moment of birth. Babies develop through communication with you. By getting in the water with them, you’re further strengthening the bond. You can hold your baby close to your body for the skin-to-skin contact experts recommend throughout the first year of their life.

In the water, you and your baby will be calm and relaxed. Babies know the scent of their parents, and they can feel your heartbeat, too. It will help them keep calm and give you a relaxing time together. With you there, they will feel more confident in the water, and you will continue to build that bond with your little one. 

Baby Swimming Classes Offered by Ocaquatics Swim School

At Ocaquatics Swim School, we have a special curriculum developed for babies that adapts to their individual learning styles. Our certified and trained instructors know how to make even the youngest swimmers feel comfortable in the water.

We encourage repetition to strengthen these skills, with a recommendation for two weekly lessons, each for 28 minutes to keep children engaged. For the first four baby levels, you must accompany your baby in the pool. You’ll feel more confident being there with them, and your baby will relax as well knowing you’re right there. 

In these classes, we teach your child how to acclimate to the water, breath control, and gentle movements. By building confidence in the water early on, they will learn to love swimming. You will start with the Parent and Me Baby class where safety skills and water adjustment are taught.

From there, you can enroll your child in the Parent and Me Tot level when they are between ages 13 months and 36 months. Parent and Me Plus is ideal for babies aged 15 months to 36 months who can comfortably swim 3 feet on their own while Parent and Me Super is for children ages 20 months to 36 months. 

Once your child graduates a Parent and Me program and can swim 3 feet on their own, they can attend the Super Baby class without a parent in the water. They will learn to swim longer distances and independent breathing skills from our experienced instructors who are dedicated to promoting water safety.