Little Water Bubs

Enjoy those precious bonding moments with lots singing and splashing.

Little Water Bubs is Canning Swim School's introductory swimming lessons program. It is for babies aged between three and six months. It is only provided at Riverton Leisureplex.

Positive early learning experiences will lead to a child's lifelong love of water. Our dedicated and experienced staff will nurture you and your infant through a 30-minute class, with up to six babies per class.

Skills are introduced gradually and never forced on crying babies. Infants acquire skills at their own rate and we will never push them beyond their ability.

For more information, please contact Canning Swim School on 1300 422 664 or email us.

Reasons to teach babies to swim

1. Babies less than a year old accept the water more readily than older children.
2. Fear of water is acquired as children grow older. The longer a child is kept away from water, the more likely the child will develop aquaphobia.
3. Babies can exercise more muscles in the water, they are less restricted by gravity and their ability to sit or stand. This increased strength shows in early gaining of physical skills like walking.
4. Swimming improves a baby’s cardiovascular fitness. Although babies are limited in how much they can improve their endurance, swimming does have a beneficial effect.
5. Early mastery of water movements gives children a head start in learning basic swimming skills.
6. Water helps improve co-ordination by enabling babies to move side-to-side to maintain their balance.
7. Water combined with gentle exercise relaxes and stimulates babies' appetites. They usually eat and sleep better on swimming days.
8. Babies flourish in the focused attention their parents lavish on them during swimming.
9. As babies learn how to manoeuvre in the water on their own their independence and self-confidence blossom.
10. Swimming provides babies with lots of skin-to-skin contact with their parents. Psychologists say this can deepen the bond between parent and child.
11. Learning to swim is not only fun, healthy activity but a safety measure as well. Drowning is the major cause of accidental death in Australia for under 5s. For each drowning, many more are left with permanent brain damage.

This advice was adapted from Kochen, C.L. Ph.D and McCabe, J. B.A.; The Baby Swim Book, Leisure Press, 1986.

Helpful Hints

• Please wait for instructions from your teacher before entering and exiting the water.
• For classes in the Riverton Leisureplex Program Pool, access is allowed 10 minutes before your lesson. This gives you time to change your baby.
• We do not recommend feeding your baby immediately before your swimming lesson.
• Health regulations prevent babies from entering the spa due to high water temperatures.
• Swimwear can be a swim nappy or bathers that are tightly fitting around the leg. Suitable swimwear is available to buy from main reception.
• Please do not remove swimwear in the water. Always dispose of wet nappies in the bins provided.
• If a toileting accident occurs, infants should be immediately removed from the water. Please thoroughly wash them before returning to their lesson.
• Please do not swim if your baby is unwell.
• Your teacher will educate you on the safe practices of submersions. Please do not continually submerge your infant as this can lead to hyponatremia (water intoxication). Submersions are only done when an infant shows signs of readiness.
• Young infants may not shiver when they are cold. Signs that may indicate your baby is cold include loss of body colour, unsettled behaviour, lack of interest, and tiredness.
• Praise your infant for attempting a task even if the task was not performed perfectly. This will boost their confidence and encourage trying new activities.
• Most importantly, have fun and enjoy your swimming lessons!