Your baby's first trip to the swimming pool could pave the way for a lifelong love of water. There's no medical need to delay his first dip until after his immunisations, but some pools ask you to wait, so check before you go. If you don't feel like taking the plunge on your own, enrol him on a baby-swimming course that accepts babies from a few weeks old. It's a good way to meet other new mums, too.
Being well-prepared will make you feel more confident, so phone ahead to check the pool's water temperature (it needs to be at least 30°C), and ask when the quietest sessions are – a pool of noisy, splashy children might unnerve your baby. Ask someone to come with you to help get him in and out.
If you're relaxed, he will be, too. Keep the
first swim to just 10 minutes; if he becomes
upset, or starts to shiver, get him out, and
have a towel ready for him.
In the pool, hold him close to you and move him gently through the water. Don't worry about him inhaling the water – babies are born with a 'dive reflex', which automatically shuts a valve in their windpipe, so they can't breathe water in. While you're swimming, make lots of eye contact and smile, talk and sing to him.
Swimming is hard work for your little one, so he'll need a feed and a nap afterwards – while you put your feet up with a much-deserved cuppa. If your baby is unwell or has a cold, don't go swimming as this might make symptoms worse.
bath time bonding
Bathing your newborn baby is a fantastic way to enjoy time together. If you bathe with your baby, the skin-to-skin contact will help your baby feel more secure and is brilliant for bonding.
Bath time is also an opportunity for dad and other family members to bond with your baby, and it can also become part of a bedtime routine, helping him to understand that it's time to wind down. But choose your time wisely! A colicky baby may be calmed by a warm bath, but a baby who's hungry or overtired probably won't enjoy the experience. If your baby seems fretful, try covering his body with a flannel so he doesn't feel so exposed, and pour water over him to keep him warm. Talk and sing to him, too, so he feels relaxed.