3 Tips to Make Backfloats a Breeze
As you continue through your baby’s swim journey, it's only natural to encounter new challenges along the way.
At Watermellow, we understand that part of learning how to teach your baby to swim includes moments where your little one might be hesitant to lie on their backs. Let's face it, it happens, and it can be frustrating, but it's a completely natural aspect of your baby’s development.
This blog breaks down some key aspects of baby swim education, so you can navigate back floats with ease and confidence.
Understanding Your Baby's Development
It's important to remember that if your baby is 7 months or older, or particularly strong for their age, finding back floats challenging is a normal part of their development. At this stage, they are excited to explore new activities, like sitting up, and may show less interest in lying on their
back—a position they've been familiar with since birth. This desire for new adventures is a healthy sign of their growth and curiosity!
Adapting to Your Baby’s Needs
While back floating is a valuable skill in baby swimming lessons, it's not essential to force it, especially for babies over 8 months.
If your baby still shows some tolerance for back-floating, here are 3 gentle techniques to teach your baby to back float and make the experience more enjoyable:
Short and Sweet: Aim for shorter durations. Even 10 seconds of back floating is sufficient for your little swimmer to catch their breath.
Engagement is Key: Use songs, toys, or other distractions to encourage your baby to keep their head up. This helps maintain a neutral neck position, which naturally aligns their body at the surface.
Introduce New Movements: View this phase as a perfect opportunity to introduce new skills like rolling and pancake flips, keeping your baby engaged and moving.
Teaching your baby to float on their back is not just about instilling a valuable life skill; it's also a key element in building their water confidence. Back floats teach babies to trust the buoyancy of water, promoting relaxation and safety in aquatic environments.
Your Role in Their Water Journey
Remember, every child’s journey in the water is unique. Your understanding and adaptability to their preferences and developmental stage play a crucial role in making their baby swim lessons a positive experience. Celebrate small victories, and always pay attention to their cues!
We’re Here to Support You
At watermellow, we're dedicated to supporting you and your baby in every splash, milestone, and challenge on your swimming journey. If you have any more questions or need personalized advice, feel free to reach out.
We’re here to guide you through each step, ensuring a safe, enjoyable, and developmental experience for your little one.
Remember, we offer virtual, one-on-one lessons for your convenience and our experts are just a click away!
Here's to embracing every stage of your baby’s growth, one splash at a time!
At watermellow, we offer one-on-one online baby swimming lessons that teach parents how to safely and effectively teach their babies to swim. Our experienced instructors will guide you through each step of the process, ensuring that you and your baby have a fun and rewarding experience.
Meet Kaylee Kennedy
I'm Kaylee Kennedy, the founder of watermellow.
Our renowned swimming program nurtures and develops each baby's unique abilities.
Inspired by my experience as a young mom teaching my little one to swim, I'm passionate about swimming and its benefits for early childhood development.
Join us at watermellow to help your baby grow an amazing relationship with the water in a safe and supportive environment, creating lasting memories together.
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