Safe holds for baby swimming

The following holds offer you comfortable and safe options for moving with your child. With all these holds, make sure your hands are secure but relaxed (and not clenched), as this will indicate your confidence. Also talk to your child throughout to reassure her.

The Waltz (hug) hold

This hold provides the most security for your child, and should be used if he is unsure or clinging to you. It is the ideal hold for the first few trips to the pool. Move a child from the Waltz hold to the face to face hold only when you feel him relax in your arms. Hold your baby up in your arms, slightly to one side of your torso, so that he is straddling you around the waist to chest area and is only slightly immersed in the water. Use it when getting in and out of the pool and while your baby gets acclimated to the water.

The Face to Face hold

You will find that the face to face hold provides a great opportunity to communicate with your baby as you will have direct eye contact. With your child facing to you, place your hands under her armpits, with your thumbs facinf up. Walk slowly backward in the water so that her body floats up and stretches out behind her. Watch her mouth to ensure that she is not licking or swallowing any water. If her mouth is too close to the water , tilt your wrists upward slightlyso that her face moves away from the surface of the water.

The modified Face to Face hold

This hold is performed like so: Simply place your baby on your chest while your hands are positioned just below her knees. The advantage to this hold is that as you walk backwards around the pool, you can manipulate the child's legs as you cue: "kick, kick, kick." Now the baby gets both verbal and kinesthetic feedback which promotes learning skills. It is recommended that you alternate the face-to-face hold with the modified face-to-face hold, so that your baby learns what you want when you give her the cues.

The Pass hold

This is the most common way to hold a relaxed child, and you will use this functional hold to perform most techniques, including kicking drills, passes, and swims. Hold your baby on your dominant side (your right side if you are right-handed), so that she is near horizontal position with her face a few inches above the water. Your dominant hand should be placed under her far armpit, with your thumb facing up. Your non domimant hand should be placed under the armpit nearest to you with your thumb, again, facing up.