Baby swimming as preparation for the sea

A dad reached out to me at the beginning of summer with a question:“ Is baby swimming a good way to prepare for the sea?” His baby girl was born in October, and they had planned their first family vacation for September – just before she turned one. He wanted to come to baby swimming lessons before that. Not to teach her how to swim – but to give her a positive and safe first experience with water.

“I want my baby to fall in love with water before we hit the beach.

I want her first experience to be a good one.”That sentence – I hear it often from new parents. And it always makes me smile. Because it means they’re thinking ahead. Not out of fear, but out of love, responsibility, and the desire to give their baby the best possible start.

In this case, mom and dad had agreed that he would be the one to build a special connection with their daughter through baby swimming – right from the beginning.

First baby swim lesson: Water doesn’t ask for performance, just presence

When Marko and his little girl came to their first lesson, I told him:

Water isn’t a place for proving anything. It’s a place for connecting. At that first encounter, a baby doesn’t need to dive, go underwater, or do anything dramatic. She just needs to be in her dad’s arms. To hear his voice. To feel his calm.

Marko was a bit unsure at first – was he holding her right, was the water too warm or too cold, how long should they stay? But his baby – she just kept looking at him… waiting to trust him.

Dad in the water is a baby’s partner

One thing I always tell parents: when you come to the pool with your baby, you’re not there to watch from the sidelines. You're not there for coffee. You're there to get in. Because in the water, babies don’t need spectators. They need partners.

Marko quickly stopped being just an observer. He started listening. Watching for cues – when the water felt good, when she got tired, when she lit up with joy. He learned not to rush. To let her set the rhythm. And to simply be there – calm, quiet, present. That’s what dads learn in the water – not how to protect, but how to empower. Not how to hold tightly, but how to hold safely.

What this dad learned from baby swimming

Over just a few weeks, Marko learned:

• How to enter the water slowly, without startling his baby

• How to support her in the water without “stealing” her movement – offering his palm as support, not as a barrier

• How to respond when she was unsure or startled – without letting his own fear take over

• How to recognize when she’d had enough – because successful baby swimming always ends with a smile, not tears

And maybe most importantly, as he told me himself – baby swimming opened up a new channel of connection with his daughter. He wasn’t just the guy who fed her bottles or changed diapers anymore. Now, he was the one holding her while she explored a whole new world – and they were exploring it together.

Ready for the sea – and for joy

When Dad and daughter were getting ready for their vacation, I knew they were also getting ready to enjoy it – really enjoy it. Before they left, I told him: “Don’t expect the sea to be just like the pool. It’s a new story. You are the only constant. As long as she feels safe with you – that’s all that matters.”

What I learn from parents in baby swimming

I learn every day in baby swimming – from babies, yes. But even more from parents. Especially the ones who want to be present, not just involved.

This dad reminded me of something important:

You don’t need to know everything ahead of time. You just need to be willing to learn – together with your baby. In that tiny world of splashes and giggles, patience, presence, and trust mean far more than any swimming technique. He didn’t come to these lessons for his baby to “start swimming.” He came to create a safe space in the water – and that’s what he took with him to the sea.

Baby swimming begins with trust

If you're planning to go to the seaside with your baby, don’t wait until the last minute to see how she reacts to water. If you can – start baby swimming. Introduce her to water early – not for the perfect “first swim,” but for a safe and positive first feeling in and around water.

It doesn’t matter if she dives in, floats, or just splashes on the shore. What matters is that she knows you’re right there with her. That water isn’t a surprise – it’s familiar. It's home.

Because, life is better when you are swimming!