I believe swimming is a vital life skill and all children should have access to lessons from a very young age.
Both Isaac and Eliza learned to swim as babies and are both happy, water confident children – in fact at the age of 5, Isaac is happy hurling himself down the rather large water slides at Splashdown.
When it came to looking for lessons for Sebastian I was inundated with choice, as more and more swimming classes for babies and young children seem to be held these days. Following the recommendations of Joanne from CharlieMoos and Emma from ThePRMummy I chose Turtle Tots.
Billed as a unique and fun swimming programme, it begins with aqua-natal yoga classes for mums-to-be, and continues with specialist and progressive baby swimming classes from birth, to toddler/pre-school classes. I am a bit disappointed I missed the aqua-natal yoga, but I couldn’t wait to take Sebastian in as soon as I felt able.
Our first lesson was all about getting Sebastian used to the lovely warm water – it was like being in a bath as the class is held in a physiotherapy pool in Broadstone Dorset. The lesson was fun, social and stimulating and lasted half an hour. I have to admit that I was shattered afterwards as you do a lot of running around the pool and swooshing the babies through the water.
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| Photo’s courtesy of Captured by Samira |
Sebastian loved being in the water and his little legs were kicking furiously for much of the lesson and unlike his big brother and sister loved floating on his back!!
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| Photo’s courtesy of Captured by Samira |
Our instructor Caroline was brilliant. She explained each hold thoroughly and demonstrated with each of the babies in the class to ensure we were all doing it correctly.
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| Photo’s courtesy of Captured by Samira |
The class was very different to those I have done before as although there is lots of singing and interaction with the babies, there is a very strong focus on the way you hold them safely, for example, you don’t jump them into the water, you lean them forwards so when they are older they will know how to get into the water safely.
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| Photo’s courtesy of Captured by Samira |
Although we didn’t submerge Sebastian on his first lesson, we did learn how to prepare him by saying “Sebastian – Ready – Go” and then scooping water over his face – this triggers a natural reflex for baby’s to hold their breath. I am under strict instructions to practice this in the bath.
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| Photo’s courtesy of Captured by Samira |
I cannot wait for our next lesson as not only is it fun for both of us, it is our bonding time when it is just me and him. I am just sad that I won’t have a photographer there next time to capture all our fun but I will keep you updated on our progress.
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| Photo’s courtesy of Captured by Samira |
To find out more about Turtle Tots lessons you can contact your nearest Turtle Tots office to find out about local classes.
Gorgeous pictures – looks like you had so much fun! I did lessons with my first son who loved it but haven’t had the time with my second, poor guy!
Aww how fantastic!! Lovely photos!
Looks like you both had a great time x
We do Waterbabies (which is almost exactly the same!) & Chubs loves it. I think swimming is such an important skill to learn 🙂
Gorgeous photos and what a cutie he is 🙂 We’re just off to the swimming pool now! x
Oh wow what beautiful photos! Such a worthwhile thing to do and it looks like you both had a great time #pocolo
Oh wow what beautiful photos! Such a worthwhile thing to do and it looks like you both had a great time #pocolo
some wonderful photo’s looks like you both had lots of fun #pocolo
Wow Kara what a fabulous post. Brings back a lot of memories too. We did something similar with POD when she was a baby. All went brilliantly until I broke my wrist – not at swimming! You look like you had a really good time and Sebastian is looking relaxed too. Lovely post, thank you so much for sharing with #whatsthestory
This sounds like the same principle as the lessons I’m doing with C, we’re on stage 5 now and it’s amazing what she can do in and under the water. Enjoy 🙂
oh my gosh Sebastian is gorgeous!!!! I’ve only just come across your blog via Britmums it looks wonderful! will get a cup of tea now and read a bit more xxx p.s you’ve made me want to take my 17 week old swimming now….I wonder if there is a turtle tots near where I live…. googling now…
Your post brings back memories of my kids learning to swim as babies in London. It’s so important for children to learn confidence and safety in the water.
ah so cute, love his little trunks!
How sweet is this and fabulous that you were able to take photos!! Sebastian is so cute and seemed to really enjoy the water!! #magicmoments x
What lovely photos, looks like you had a great time! I remember E’s first swimming trip… Lush! Linking up from #magicmoments x
Lovely photos, bless him! We’ve yet to do this with Little Man, though I have been toying with taking him. You’ve prompted me to look into some local classes.
Awww this is such a wonderful post and the photos are fantastic. I have to say i am a tad envious, i never did swimming when my boys were babies thats something i still regret to this day. My boys are now starting to learn to swim, we go as a family to our local puddle ducks.
I have to say its lovely that youve got those pictures, they are so strict where we go that we cant take any 🙁
awww kara this is fantastic!!! what an amazing class!!
Thank you for linking up with #MagicMoments x
I love the cutest photo where he is sitting on the wall!! Such an important thing to learn and looks like fun
How lovely to have had the opportunity to have photos taken 🙂 My boys can both swim, and the wee girl has been having classes since she was 6mo and she absolutely loves it! Such an important skill. #MagicMoments
I agree it is so important. We really should take ours more. Fab photos!
SO important! I really must start Ma Puce’s up again, this post has made me shove it to the top of the to do list, thank you! #MagicMoments
What fantastic photos – it brings back great memories of doing this with Grace 🙂 I love your boys name 🙂 thanks for linking to PoCoLo x
Some lovely pictures. We loved baby swimming. I agree that if you keep it up, you end up with a real water baby: we did.
Lovely pictures those lessons are really fun, I wish I had kept up baby swimming lessons with my little man but I suppose it’s not to late to start some form of swimming lessons for him.
Wow looks like so much fun! We start baby swimming in three weeks my hubby can’t wait.
Linking with PoCoLo x
I think they are all fairly similar, although this does differ a lot to what I was taught with Isaac
Oh no – how did you break your wrist?
I hope you find something x
I was lucky she was taking promo shots for her website, but it is worth asking. When I did lessons at my local public pool we all had to sign a disclaimer and they let us take pics for one lesson. We bought a waterproof camera and have some fab pics!