Baby swimming
Saturdays from 17 January to 25 April 2026; baby swimming sessions are suspended during winter holiday week 9 and on public holidays. New babies must attend the baby swimming information session before joining the group.
- Baby swimming (3–8 months) 9.45–10.15 am in the multi-purpose pool
- Baby swimming (9 months–1.5 years) 10.15–11.00 in the multi-purpose pool
Baby swimming sessions are open to children aged between 3 months and 1.5 years. Siblings under the age of 5 are also welcome to attend. The changing rooms open 15 minutes before the session begins.
Baby swimming fee: The current baby swimming fee can be found in the swimming pool’s price list.
Baby Swimming Information
New babies must attend the baby swimming information session before they can start. Before the first baby swimming session, please contact the baby swimming instructors by calling the swimming pool control room. You can attend the baby swimming information session whilst you are still expecting.
Information sessions on baby swimming for spring 2026 will be held on Mondays 12 January, 16 February and 23 March at 1 pm at the swimming pool.
Baby swimming
What is baby swimming?
Baby swimming is a fun and safe playtime for the whole family in clean, heated water (32°C). The sessions are led by instructors trained by the Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation. You can start baby swimming when your child is at least 3 months old or weighs at least 5 kg. Baby swimming can be enjoyed until the child is around 1.5 years old. After this, it is easy to move on to swimming independently as a family, using the children’s pools at the swimming centre and attending regular public sessions.
Preparing for baby swimming
As baby swimming takes place in a different environment to what the child is used to at home, it is a good idea to get them used to the increased noise levels. If possible, it is also worth visiting the swimming pool and letting them get used to the various sounds there before the actual baby swimming session begins. When bathing in the bath, it is a good idea to use plenty of water and gradually lower the temperature of the bathwater. The transition to baby swimming is made considerably easier if the child has already been bathed at home in water at +32 degrees.
First swimming session
The first session lasts around 10–15 minutes. During this time, the baby gets to explore the new environment, and the instructor goes through the basic holds used in baby swimming with the parents (upright hold, tummy hold, back hold and side hold). The first swimming session is short, as there are many new things for the baby to explore in this new environment, which takes up a lot of the baby’s energy. The child gets tired quickly. After the swim, it is a good idea to wash the child’s skin, dry it thoroughly, apply cream if necessary, and dress them warmly. It is a good idea to set aside enough time for the baby swimming session so that the whole family can enjoy this leisurely activity.
Progress in baby swimming
Swimming sessions are gradually extended to 30 minutes. Once the children have become accustomed to the environment (1–3 sessions), we move on to practical exercises, taking individual needs into account. These practical exercises help to develop motor skills.
During baby swimming sessions, parents are responsible for their own child and act as their child’s primary instructors. The role of the baby swimming instructor is particularly important in the early stages, but as the baby and parents’ skills improve, the instructor’s involvement decreases. Each family (baby) progresses at their own pace, on their own terms.
Are there any risks or dangers associated with baby swimming?
From the instructors’ perspective, the most unfortunate downside of baby swimming becomes apparent when parents have immense ambition and a strong competitive spirit. Competing with the neighbour’s baby takes the sensitivity out of the activity, and the joy of having one’s own child is overshadowed by the competition. There is no pressure to perform. A slightly different kind of hazard is caused by poo accidents. A child’s poo contains E. coli bacteria, and if it spreads into the pool water, the session must be stopped immediately.
For this reason, every baby should wear swim nappies or swimming trunks that fit snugly around the waist and legs. However, accidents are very rare. The best way to prevent accidents is to leave at least an hour between feeding and swimming.
Only swim if you’re feeling well
Whenever large numbers of people gather, there is a risk of infection. However, everyone can do their bit to prevent the spread of infections: you should only take part in baby swimming if you are healthy. This applies to both children and adults. An ear infection usually starts as a respiratory infection. In such cases, the infection travels up the ear canal into the middle ear, causing an infection there. Ear infections therefore originate ‘from within’, so the water in the baby swimming pool cannot cause the infection. If a child is brought to swimming lessons with a cold, swimming may actually make the infection worse and cause it to spread to the ears. Following any ear infections or urinary tract infections, a doctor’s permission is required before the child can participate in swimming.
This content has been translated using AI
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