There are two types of ear infections. The first is an outer ear infection or swimmer’s ear. This can occur there is water left in the ear canal from a pool or bath or lake. This can allow bacteria to grow and cause an infection. This can be prevented with ear drops available at any pharmacy. These drops contain alcohol or boric acid and speed the drying of water in the ear canal.

The second type of ear infection, is an inner ear infection. Studies show no link between this type of infection and swimming.

We begin our parent and child swimming classes with babies as young as 6 months old.  There are many benefits that babies receive during these lessons.  Babies less than a year old accept the water more readily than older children.  Fear or anxiety about water is acquired as children grow older.  The longer the baby is kept away from water, the more likely the child will develop this fear or anxiety.

Infants are well adapted to swimming.  When they are submerged they automatically hold their breath and make swimming movements.  These reflex behaviors begin to fade as early as 5 months and must be renewed with practice.  Babies can exercise more muscles in the water than on land.  They are less restricted by gravity and their inability to sit or stand when they are in the water.  This increased strength often translates into early acquisition of physical skills.

Early mastery of water movement has shown to provide babies a head start in learning basic swimming skills.  Water helps improve coordination and balance by allowing babies to move bilaterally to maintain their equilibrium.  Warm water, combined with excercise, relaxes and stimulates babies’ appetites.  They usually sleep better on swimming days.  Babies flourish in the focused attention their parents lavish on them during swimming.

Parents often confess that the baby swim lessons provide some of the little time they can spend pleasureable, uniterrupted minutes with their babies.