I was not the type to sign up for something that included song singing. 

Not that I have anything against songs or singing. However, being a new mom, the increasing requests for nursery rhyme performances had caught me off guard.

I had not yet embraced that part of motherhood when I stepped into the pool at the Lafayette YMCA on a Sunday morning. My son was just 8 months old, and it was his first swim lesson. Toddlers and preschoolers splashed about, gleeful and supercharged by the smell of summer. The more experienced parents, those juggling a team's worth of children, seemed bored by the day's events.  

I was nervous. Nervous for my son (What if he cried the entire class? What if the other children were mini Michael Phelps?). Nervous for me (Could a parent be forced to repeat Swim Starters?). Nervous for the singing that was surely to come. 

Looking back, it was all so silly. The Y’s infant swim lessons — called Swim Starters — turned out to be a wonderful experience. Not only did I learn to love singing songs in the pool with my son, I also learned the value of what some call “parent-tot” or “mommy and me” swim classes.

The lessons I learned from infant swim lessons at the Y:

This Isn't About Swimming

My son couldn't blow bubbles. He hated rolling over. And he'd rather suck on the rubber ducky than let it float in front of him.  

At just 8 months old, he wasn't ready to join the swim team just yet. But as our instructor told us, Swim Starters at the Y is not about learning swim strokes. It's not about learning to swim. And honestly, it's not really about the kids.  

It's about the parents. 

Swim Starters focuses on educating parents how to be in and around the water with their young children. Parents learn to enforce and encourage water safety principles and swim basics long into the future.

Parents and guardians (and any adult sitting around a body of water) can easily forget their role in water safety. And that's not just my opinion. Research shows that parents often do not adequately supervise their children in the water, and they often overestimate their children's swimming skill. In fact, one survey reported that 88 percent of children in the US who drowned did so because caregivers were distracted. 

That's chilling.

But it illustrates that childhood drowning is 100 percent preventable, and it’s up to us (parents and guardians) to lower the risk. Before a child even dips their toe into a pool, drowning prevention starts with parent education, awareness and support.

Swim Lessons Can Bring You Closer to Your Kiddo

Swim lessons were the first class my son and I took together. And I cannot explain how much I truly loved this experience. LOVED. It was a chance to see his resilience. He tried, he failed (dang you, bubbles), he tried again. Together, we even learned a thing or two. 

Our connection grew in breadth and depth, and I couldn't take the smile off my face (see above photo). He, on the other hand, had a rubber ducky crammed into his mouth the whole time (also see above photo), so his smiles were rarer. Though, there were plenty of giggles during the especially bouncy songs.

And yes, the singing. Our instructor joyfully and eagerly led us in round after round of song, which accompanied each of the skills we worked on. Her joy became our joy, and we embraced the fun, catchy rhymes and the moves that coincided with them.

No Pain, No Gain

When you bring an infant into a swimming pool for the first time, it's the opposite of comfortable. There can be tears, shivers and wide-eyed expressions of confusion.

There is so much newness.

But a little discomfort now pays dividends in the future. The more you expose your child to water, the more comfortable and confident they become in water. The more comfortable they become, the quicker they can learn the skills and techniques that make them safer in the water. These lessons set a foundation for future lessons that will teach them how to keep themselves safe and, eventually, to develop swimming skill, technique and strength.

During my son’s first few years, we enjoyed several sessions of Swim Starters. Those classes helped him develop water confidence from the beginning. As he got older, the lessons became more about helping him manage his curiosity and excitement for the water and practice those beginner skills. He blew bubbles. He turned over by himself. He mastered the starfish. He played. Plenty of songs included.

What to Bring

Swim diapers    
Normal diapers and wipes    
Towels - One for you and one for baby.    
Dry clothes - Baby will be cold after lessons are over.    
Snacks, bottles and drinks    
Brimmed hat and sunglasses - Your kiddo may find them to be a distraction, but it's good to have them on hand just in case. If you are taking indoor classes, no need.    
Shampoo and soap - If you want to wash the chlorine off your little one after the lesson, bring your baby shampoo or soap.    
Sunscreen

What to Wear

Swimsuits - Seems obvious, right? Come ready to dive in.    
Long-sleeve rash guard for baby - For warmth and protection against the sun.    
Slip-on shoes - As is the case with most baby-related situations, the easier the better.

Swim Smarts

There is actually a connection between swimming and smarts. Children who swim, according to research by Griffith University, show more advanced cognitive and physical abilities than other children.    

“While we expected the children (in the study) to show better physical development and perhaps be more confident through swimming, the results in literacy and numeracy really shocked us,” lead researcher Professor Robyn Jorgensen said. “The children were anywhere from six to 15 months ahead of the normal population when it came to cognitive skills, problem solving in mathematics, counting, language and following instructions.”

Mommy and Daddy ... and Me Class*

I reference Swim Starters as a mommy-and-me class. But like many families in the classes, we made the class a family experience. My husband and I took turns with our son in the pool, so we both had the same knowledge and had the same opportunity for connecting with our baby. Consider having grandma or grandpa participate as well.

Details

Sign up for Swim Starters and all YMCA youth swimming lessons on the Y’s website. The YMCA of Northern Colorado & Southern Wyoming offers swim lessons in Lafayette, Boulder, Longmont, Johnstown and Cheyenne.