Learning how to float is one of the primary skills necessary for survival in the water. If you want to start your baby on the way to being safe in the water, get in the tub with your baby. Lay back in the tub and lay him down on the crook of your arm. Then, you can sit up and holding the baby under the head, have the baby float on his back between your legs and move him gently in the water. Your baby with love it as he looks up at you and you talk to him. Consistently practicing the back float strategies when your baby is very young will make floating a pleasant experience for you and your child. When you are ready to go in the pool, he will love to float and he will be closer to being safe in the water.

When you take your baby in a pool, hold the baby securely while he floats on his back and while moving him slightly side to side, and whispering or singing in his ear. Click here  to see James float.

If the baby doesn't like it, have the baby hold a toy. Try resting the baby's head on your shoulder. Hold this position for a few seconds only. As the baby gets more comfortable, use your hands to cradle only his head. Lightly support the head so that the baby will feel the water holding him up.
If the baby hasn't floated in the tub and seems to feel insecure, distract him with a toy. If the baby struggles to get upright, place one arm on the baby's chest and the other arm under the baby's back while you sing or talk lovingly. You may have to follow this procedure many times before you see the baby relax. You want the baby to float alone.

When you know that the baby can hold his breath, following the swim lesson - Going under water - put the baby in a back float position as you bring him up out of the water so that he can look up at you and you reassure him. The more you practice this as you play and practice the other skills the sooner he will be water safe. Keep practicing this very valuable skill even if your child doesn't like it!

Most children between one and four struggle against the back float. They would rather be playing! Also the water may get in the ears and bother them. Show the child how you float and tell him that he can do it too! These techniques will help when you teach your older child how to float: First, stand so that you block out the sun from the child's eyes eyes. Second, tell the child to look up at you make funny faces. To get a better body position, tell the child to make a big belly like Santa Claus. Finally, tell the child to look for birdies or airplanes in the sky. Play and talk to the child to get him to relax. Hold the child less and less so that he can feel the water hold him up. Practice until the child can float by himself.

 

As the child is learning the other water skills during swim lesson, practice comming up and turning on his back before he comes to you and before he learns to take a breath.

 

If the child falls in the pool or gets tired, he can  float until help comes and he will be saved!