Does anyone have any good resources for finding some infant swimming lessons? I would rather have in the city, but will drive to suburbs if necessary. I am having a bugger of the time finding anything.
Robbo
As a matter of fact today is the first day to register for Aqua Babies at Galter Life Center (http://galterlifecenter.org/calendar/programs.html). 45 minute classes are offered throughout the week and weekend for $50 for members, $65 for non members. I think it's eight weeks. Our son loves the water and we attirubte it to the confidence he got in the class. We're signing up our 10 mo-old but it's not like traditional swim lessons. A lot of it is just being in the water with other babies and teaching parents holds and such. There's music and other silliness but the main point is spending time in the water every week w/your little one. The water's nice and warm too, like sitting in the kiddie pool.
Totally agree with dufferrt's comments. Our son is almost three and he's been in multiple Aqua Babies classes. It's a great program for getting the children comfortable in the water.
For whatever reason, if you can't get into a class, I wouldn't let that stop you. I mean honestly, who needs lessons to take your infant for a swim? There's not much to it; go to a pool, stand in water about chest deep, hold baby in arms, and bounce about a bit, (and most important, stay calm and relaxed). I began taking my son swimming as an infant on saturday mornings at the Welles Park 'tot swim' session, there are a few year round natatoriums that offer this. You can also take babies to 'family swim' sessions, but are subject to bigger kids having the run of the pool, which I'm cool with. Right now is the best time for swimming in Chicago, all the pools are open. I frequent the River Park pool, (adjacent to Galter Center), which also features a fountain playground. Now my son is tall enough to play all across the shallow end of the pool, while I hold on to my toddler, but for the past two summers, I couldn't manage both of them together in the water. As for getting them underwater, with a breath of faith, I first dunked my infant son under, (maybe six weeks old at the time), and sure enough he held his breath - my wife on the otherhand, choked - ha! she was never comfortable with it, so it only happened a few times. When he was one year old, I taught him how use an entire breath blowing water bubbles on the surface, and how to hold his breath above water, then eventually we put it together underwater. Today he love's going under, but he won't do it long unless he has goggles. And he's still not much of a swimmer, I'm starting him off with the back-float and will take it from there. Probably our biggest issue with swimming in Chicago is water temperature. I've been in some pools, full of people and babies mind you, that are shockingly cold. When I find myself in cold water, I go chest deep and march back and forth across the pool while encouraging baby to kick and paddle, but sometimes we just shrivel up and call it a session.
Galter Life Center swim lessons
Robbo
As a matter of fact today is the first day to register for Aqua Babies at Galter Life Center (http://galterlifecenter.org/calendar/programs.html). 45 minute classes are offered throughout the week and weekend for $50 for members, $65 for non members. I think it's eight weeks. Our son loves the water and we attirubte it to the confidence he got in the class. We're signing up our 10 mo-old but it's not like traditional swim lessons. A lot of it is just being in the water with other babies and teaching parents holds and such. There's music and other silliness but the main point is spending time in the water every week w/your little one. The water's nice and warm too, like sitting in the kiddie pool.
aqua babies!
that is awesome...Piper is Nine months, can she participate?
forget it
sorry...I didn't look close enough...thanks for the info!
Aqua Babies
Totally agree with dufferrt's comments. Our son is almost three and he's been in multiple Aqua Babies classes. It's a great program for getting the children comfortable in the water.
Enjoy the day!
Who needs lessons?
For whatever reason, if you can't get into a class, I wouldn't let that stop you. I mean honestly, who needs lessons to take your infant for a swim? There's not much to it; go to a pool, stand in water about chest deep, hold baby in arms, and bounce about a bit, (and most important, stay calm and relaxed). I began taking my son swimming as an infant on saturday mornings at the Welles Park 'tot swim' session, there are a few year round natatoriums that offer this. You can also take babies to 'family swim' sessions, but are subject to bigger kids having the run of the pool, which I'm cool with. Right now is the best time for swimming in Chicago, all the pools are open. I frequent the River Park pool, (adjacent to Galter Center), which also features a fountain playground. Now my son is tall enough to play all across the shallow end of the pool, while I hold on to my toddler, but for the past two summers, I couldn't manage both of them together in the water. As for getting them underwater, with a breath of faith, I first dunked my infant son under, (maybe six weeks old at the time), and sure enough he held his breath - my wife on the otherhand, choked - ha! she was never comfortable with it, so it only happened a few times. When he was one year old, I taught him how use an entire breath blowing water bubbles on the surface, and how to hold his breath above water, then eventually we put it together underwater. Today he love's going under, but he won't do it long unless he has goggles. And he's still not much of a swimmer, I'm starting him off with the back-float and will take it from there. Probably our biggest issue with swimming in Chicago is water temperature. I've been in some pools, full of people and babies mind you, that are shockingly cold. When I find myself in cold water, I go chest deep and march back and forth across the pool while encouraging baby to kick and paddle, but sometimes we just shrivel up and call it a session.
Chicago Park District Pool Schedules:
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/resources/pool_schedules/index.html
Alby1 - Chicago, IL