Diamant Hotel Szigetköz Wellness és Konferencia Dunakiliti

- Medical confirmation: this is a confirmation of your family doctor, that your child doesn’t suffer from any nervous system diseases, any locomotor disorders or disturbance of circulation, which might limit his movements in the water.

- Disposable swim diapers /available at an DM-shops/.

- Bath towel, furthermore it is practical to bring another cotton towel, diaper for the child, where you can lie it down, once your bath towel is wet already.

- Body lotion, if the skin of your baby gets dry soon.

- Water shoes, sandals, if your child walks already, to prevent any slipping on the wet ground.

- Enough to drink, because after the swimming your child will be thirsty.

- During the first lessons you can bring the favourite water toy of your child to the swimming lesson.

- Bathing equipment for the parents (water shoes, bath tower, swimsuit)

Water means a liberating medium for babies, it is an environment where they can move freely and stronger. There are lots of benefits that babies can derive from swimming. Researchers found out that it is good for balancing, grasping of things and overall health because it is good for their lungs and for exercise. When babies learn swimming at an early age they will develop liking for it and it will become a hobby for them. Babies and parent bond together during swimming lessons. Baby swimming become more and more modern, and lots of swimming pools, thermal baths provide lessons for baby and small children swimming.

During the lessons they learn how to swim, dive and even their “toughness” changes positively, it increases their intelligence, concentration, alertness, and perceptual abilities. Improvement in social, emotional and physical development has also been published. Generally it can be stated, that baby swimmers have a stronger power of resistance, they are more self-confident, independent and learn certain movements earlier, than other babies. It is also good for hand body coordination, agility and maintaining balance. This is often a child’s first social experience out of the home. They learn to relate and interact with each, to be a part of a team. On the dry land they can’t move so much in the first few months, as their bones, muscular system isn’t developed enough. In the water this changes fundamentally. Zero gravity allows for freedoms that do not exist on the dry land, so water means really freedom for your baby.

And for us it means really joy to see their happy and cheerful faces under water!

‘Water, thou hast no taste, no color, no odor; canst not be defined, art relished while ever mysterious. Not necessary to life, but rather life itself, thou fillest us with a gratification that exceeds the delight of the senses.’ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Wind, Sand, and Stars, 1939

Regular baby swimming has a positive effect on physical, motor and mental development of your child; the circulation, the capacity of the lungs and the muscular system are improved. The mental development of babies, children is stimulated as well, and the relationship between parents and children is strengthened at an early stage. The social development and the behaviour of the child can be influenced as well, by the adaption to the new environment and the respect of the water. Baby swimming has the following benefits for your baby:

• Scientific experiments have shown, that babies’ sleep is deeper and more relaxing after physical exercise.
• Wrong body positions can be prevented by baby swimming. It is the perfect method of movement in the first year of life.
• The central nervous system is developed and stimulated by the regular baby swimming
• The body’s defence against infections is increased.

The general aim of baby swimming is the development of the special motor functions, the emotional strengthening between parents and children, and the improvement of the social behaviour and the physical – mental development of a child. Baby swimming is not a competitive sport and not the immediate learning of swimming is our aim. Children should enjoy the water experience from day one, allowing them to develop into healthy and happy individuals. Parents and children can gain many helpful experience in connection with communication, trust and the loving contact with each other.

Baby swimming is recommended from the age of 3 months until the age of 3 years. Our lessons can be visited if your child is older than 3 months or if it is more than 5 kg. Babies can learn “swimming” in a playful way according their age group.

From the age of 3 months. This age of 3 months is important, because the child should have received the combined vaccination (DiPerTe) by then. After this it can be said, that the child has a strong immune system to go to the swimming pool for the first swimming lesson.

Generally, in terms of the proper time when to start swimming lessons there are different opinions. Though it is proven that swimming exercises started in the first year of life, are the most effective ones. Until the end of the first weeks the navels of the babies are mostly healed up. Before this point of time baby swimming shouldn’t be started because of the risk of a navel infection! Some things need to be considered like, can the baby lift her head already, preparedness in the water like the baby should be liking the water and not scared of it. The ideal situation would be to initiate this facial water adjustment in the bath tub in the months prior to the lessons. There some techniques you can try out: with the stroking and massage the sense of well-being of the baby can be increased. Splashing together with the parents is a most pleasant experience for babies. They should be held closely to the body in a large bathtub, embrace them, so that they feel safe and comfortable. Especially for fathers it is a wonderful experience to bath and swim together with their offspring. In this way an intensive and loving relationship can be established.

The first ‘swimming movements’ can be already noticed at home in the bathtub. This is an elementary sequence of movements in foetal life. Babies in prone position conducts rhythmical, outward and backward stretching and bending movements with their arms and legs. At the same time babies open their eyes under water and breathe out air through their nose. In case of the first reflex-like movements the movements of the legs are typical. Mostly this resembles cycling or the swimming movements of frogs. In the first months of life the movement skills of legs are larger than those of arms.

This method is carried out in a playful environment, and it is supported by rhymes, to prepare the child for day-nursery! Our aim is, that children visit our lessons with joy and happiness.

Blocking of breathing under water is a natural reflex: when water enters the mouth it is activated. The glottis and epiglottis close preventing water from entering the throat and providing a water tight seal to the lungs while your baby is submerged. This dive reflex can be activated for example when washing your baby's face with cool water. When baby’s face enters the water covering their forehead and nose area, breathing is blocked and they breathe out air through their nose (you can see bubbles under water). Some people think that babies can dive without any risks. Unfortunately that’s not true, because it might happen that the baby swallows some water, which can get to its lungs, so the above mentioned reflex doesn’t mean protection against this. The 'Diving Reflex' is perfectly natural and slowly lessens from around 4-6 months of age. After this the conscious diving response can be taught.

Children have to learn to block their breathing while diving, after loosing their dive reflex. They should learn how to breathe through their nose while swimming, they have to breathe calmly, rhythmical. The speed of respiration depends on the intensity of the movement, the water temperature, the excitement, the motivation and the temperament of the child. Nursery school children are already able to apply the necessary breathing techniques for the certain swimming styles. From this age on regular swimming lessons can be started.

The condition of attending the first swimming lesson is the examination by a paediatrician. Acute or chronic diseases (for instance infection of the urinary tract, kidney disease, fungus infection) should be excluded! During the first weeks of swimming there shouldn’t be any vaccination. Vaccinations mean strain to the body, and this shouldn’t be increased by sport. Should the child get a vaccination, swimming should be suspended for some days.

You should never begin swimming with the baby alone! There are many programmes nowadays in Hungary, where experienced instructors deal with families. Just turn to the appropriate skilled expert confidently, and join one of our groups.

Early swim lessons set a positive foundation towards a lifetime of participation and enjoyment, in and under the water. Though negative impressions, experiences won’t be conscious memories, but they might be stored in our subconscious mind. These unpleasant experiences of early childhood, can be the reasons for fears of youngsters and adults, as well. But if swimming is taught and carried out in calm and loving atmosphere, it can import great joy into the lives of infants and toddlers. It also fashions healthier and stronger individuals.