What Age Did You Teach Your Kids to Swim?

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This is my/my family's experience (my kids started their education at around 2 and 3 1/2 - I waited until we had access to a workable facility):

My Mama taught my sister and I how to swim, before we were even walking (a few months old). My sister was born in Sweden, and I was born near hot springs, so she taught us in the bathtub and in public baths/pools.

For TINY babies, the method she used was the blow in face, dunk method. Their hold-breath reflex still exists from being in the womb, so an infant can quickly grasp how to submerge, without choking or inhaling water.

I didn't do this with my own children, but they are in the process of learning to swim (seriously started age 2 and 3 1/2.) My technique, has it's foundation in fun and trust. The kids have to be excited AND fearless. We start each "lesson" by goofing around. The kids jump into my arms, I toss them around, we chase balls, I COMMEND them for their work, and when the're scared we take a step back. I LOVE to swim, so I can show them how much I am enjoying myself, and they take my example.

Once we've been mucking around for long enough, we'll start "unders". I'll put one sitting on the side, and the other one is in the pool by themselves with me. I'll throw a sinking object into the water, and make a game of grabbing it, "Oh look!!! The dinosaur is sinking!!! We've got to get the dinosaur or the pirates will ((silly song))! Ready? One, two, three ((while bobbing lower and lower)), AND UNDER!" Then we go down and grab the toy. Come back up! At first, my kids spluttered and whimpered a bit. Each time, I would tell them what an amazing, brave job they'd done! I'd say, "that was FANTASTIC, JUST FANTASTIC!!!" We kept on practicing, each time was easier. I was, for a period of time going to the pool almost every day. So their progress was really quick. At this point, I can put my eldest on my back and do "dolphin". She holds onto my neck and we push off from the pool and do butterfly kick back up to the surface.

My kids had to develop a trust and fun relationship with me IN the water, before they'd really let their fear of water go.

If it's possible, I'd suggest you start doing swimming lessons with her. Sounds like she'd enjoy it a lot more, if she already trusted the instructor.

Good Luck!

I would. All of my kids knew how to swim by 2. Now with my 10 month old I am hoping that he will know by the end of the summer too.

He should be in swim lessons as soon as you want him in swim lessons. Lots of moms do it at birth.

Babies! Especially if they are going to be around water (home pool, other pools, at the lake cabin, etc). They need to learn to be around the water, etc.

I loved doing baby water classes when my daughter was so little! I also did them as a nanny with my charges when they were young (21 month old when I started and then his sister when she came along...she and I did infant classes at the YMCA).

In my opinion, they are never too young! Sign up and have fun!

My kids have been in swim class since 9 months old. He is not too young.

Sign up for just a few lessons and see how it goes.

Had him in the water the summer he was born, had him in mom & me lessons the next year. As a 'go figure' he really preferred the NON-mom&me lessons. At that age just 2 kids per instructor and on the stairs. For the next several 'levels' it was 3-4 kids per instructor and mostly on the stairs.

we started taking our kids in the pool at 2 months old. They could both swim by the time they were 3 years old. THey never once had swim lessons either. We just taught them ourselves

At this age he'll just be learning to have fun and be comfortable in the water (and a little bit of safety--but he'll still need to be supervised, of course). I did swimming lessons for my older son because he was more likely to go in the water if there were other kids (or more accurately, he wouldn't go in the water if there wasn't some incentive). My daughter on the other hand loves the water and is very comfortable in it, so I'm not bothering as I can play games and stuff with her without someone showing me how to do it.