Having a Wobble – Parents Information
When your baby is unsettled in the water, cries frequently or indeed screams the place down on a regular basis; an Eaubaby course can seem like weekly torture, rather than the positive, calm and enjoyable programme you thought you had booked onto.
Hopefully the following will be of some use to you, should you find that you are having a difficult term.
The Main Reasons For Unsettled Babies And What To Do!
- JUST A BAD DAY
Sooner or later all parents are likely to experience days when their baby is not in the mood for swimming. Sometimes the reason is clear e.g. baby hasn’t slept or is teething. On other occasions baby is simply grumpy for no apparent reason.
Take things nice and slowly, skipping the first few, or even all submersion exercises that day. Spend longer warming up and be more generous with smiles and praise. Baby’s change in mood has to be taken into consideration. A positive body language and attitude from parents is necessary for baby to feel reassured and enjoy whatever swim skills they are learning.
- LATE ARRIVALS
Occasionally arriving late for the lesson or being late on a regular basis can be unsettling. The parent is likely to be stressed about being late, will rush to change as quickly as possible and may miss the warm up with the rest of the group.
Try to arrive in plenty of time. However, if you are late, keep the interruption to a minimum, warm up first and skip some of the exercises, so that you can both relax and get used to the water. Your Teacher may advise arriving 5-10 minutes early so that you can acclimatise baby on steps (if your pool has them) or just getting into the water early finding a corner and just having a play before your lesson starts so that they are feeling more inclined to join in when the lesson actually starts.
- RESUMING SWIMMING AFTER A BREAK
Children may be absent as a result of various illnesses, second baby or family holidays
Don’t rush or arrive late. Give baby a chance to adapt to the pool environment by sitting on poolside for a while, whilst you relax too. Don’t expect too much too soon and be patient and positive. Let baby be the one to take the initiative as to what skills to attempt and how many times.
- A NEW OR ANXIOUS SWIM PARTNER
A change of swim partner can be disruptive for a baby, particularly if the adult is unfamiliar with the techniques or exercises. Likewise, if the parent is nervous in the water, any anxiety could well be transmitted to the baby.
Again take it slowly and gently for the first few weeks. If another adult will be acting as your baby’s swim partner, take them practising with you beforehand, so that they feel more confident in the water. Try to be self-assured and positive in your manner, even if you are worried on the inside! The body language of the swim partner is vital for the baby’s well-being, water confidence and enjoyment in the water.
- TWINS OR SIBLINGS
Sometimes it can be difficult to teach two or three babies from the same family in the same class – because they all want to come to Mum. The problem intensifies if Mum (quite naturally) swaps the babies, paying attention to the one who may cry. Be aware that if one twin cries, then the other one is likely to join in too!
It’s a matter of trial and error to find the best solution here. It may be that different classes are the answer. Alternatively, a firm stand may be the required approach, so that the babies understand you are serious about not allowing them to play up in order to get their own way.
- PHASES OF “GOING OFF” SWIMMING
This can occur at any age and level, but typically around the age of 7-14 months, when they are naturally a bit clingy out of the water as well. It can also be because they are learning to walk – it’s all part of the child’s natural development. It may even happen to the “star” of the class and to normally very confident and happy babies.
By asking a few more questions and becoming a little bit of a detective, we will endeavour to find out that, baby has recently had a change of routine, started nursery, mum has recently gone back to work, Baby has started cruising the furniture and therefore starting to learn to walk. (The fear factor is therefore clicking in). There may also be another baby on the way or the baby has arrived and your lovely obliging toddler has had his/her nose put out of joint! Points to look out for are also a reluctance by the baby to go to the side of Mum when doing an exercise (such as chasing balls, swim to the side etc…), or to come round the front of the woggle/float. Also baby behaving out of character from previous lessons. They can also suddenly go ‘off’ doing ‘Ready Splash’ and have a real aversion to being put on the side of the pool.
Please remember that these stages are all perfectly normal, to be expected, and to be overcome
We have also noticed that babies are starting to ‘cruise’ and ‘pull themselves up’ earlier than before. Some as early as 7 months are really on the move. The knock on effect of this is; more Ducklings are exhibiting the fear factor earlier, which for a first time mum, who just wants her baby to enjoy their swim session like anyone else can be really off-putting. As before, suggest positive action and practising. Remember it’s only a phase in their development and if they are going through it now they are most likely to ‘sail through’ the latter ’blips’ at around 16 months.
One other time when a previously normal happy baby can go off swimming for no apparent reason, is because Mum becomes pregnant again! Babies are very ‘cute’, and they soon start to pick up on Mum’s change of behaviour, particularly, if Mum has been feeling unwell and Dad is taking an unusual interest in them and he is spending less time with Mum as a result. He will start to see Mum as a reward and become clingier as a result, this can have a knock on effect in the swimming pool. Baby No 1 can start to attention seek once Baby No 2 is born as well, so this is another occasion to be aware of. But all are workable through.
- Toddlers having a Wobble
A further phase of going off swimming can also happen around the Seal/Shark level – when the children are entering the Toddler phase with a vengeance! ‘No’ is their favourite word, they don’t really like going to other adults (Teachers are no exception!) and every exercise feels like a major battle and persuading them to co-operate can feel like an uphill struggle.
Joint submersions will always help, with Parents doing a reverse ‘comfort dunk’, going down themselves without their toddler and allowing their toddler to see that they are happy to go under the water too.