Infant Swim Lessons (ISR)

Mrs.Weggy · March 2010

Has anyone looked into infant swim lessons? I just heard about this program last night and I'm wondering if anyone has experience or done any research into this program or others like it. The program is called Infant Swimming Resources (ISR) and here is the website https://www.infantswim.com/home.html

They teach survival swimming to infants and toddlers from 6months to 6 years old. 6-12 month olds learn to hold their breath under water and float on their backs (eventually fully clothed). Over 12 months, they teach them to float-swim-float until they reach the edge of the pool so they can get out.

They have instructors across the country, including one in my neighborhood. It is pretty pricey, but if it actually works it could be priceless. The ones in my area charge $105 for registrations and then $90 per week for 4-6 weeks. You go every (M-F) for a 10 minute lesson.

Since we have a pool, I really want LO to know how to swim/survive in the water as early as possible. I just started researching this, so any input is appreciated!

FishNchips1 · March 2010

personally Im not worried about swimming lessons. My mother taught me how to swim, and I took swimming lessons in 4th grade just because i wanted to goto the YMCA to swim Smile

kme003 · March 2010

We did that with DD when she was about 9 months and now she does regular swim lessons. It was amazing and she learned a ton. We did two 10 minutes lessons a weeks for 12 weeks. After each lesson she was exhaused and so was I. The lessons were not very fun for her because so strenuous. I think it would have been very hard on us to do it 5 days a week.

Violet_McPurpleson · March 2010

I have and we are planning on doing it. I live very near you and while we don't have a pool both of our parents do and I would like my LO to be comfortable in the water.

bloverly · March 2010

Weggy!

I've heard of this before and I think it is an awesome idea! If we had a pool I would definitely be doing it. Maybe with #2 since hopefully by then we'll have a house, and in Houston a house means pool is a must! That is pricey, but since you have a pool, I'd say it is completely worth the investment. Plus, you said it is in your neighborhood, so it is convenient!

joeandamandasbaby · March 2010

I teach Parent-Tot swim lessons and I like them but they aren't survival classes. It concerns me that they are only 10 min. lessons because if they are too hard on a child it may turn them off from water completely. I would just wait until they are six months old and enroll in a regular mommy and me swim class. These classes still teach safety, give you and baby a chance to experiance a group learning environment, make the learning enviroment fun, and also teach baby that they need a parent with them to get in the water. Swim lessons are great for babies just really consider what type of lesson you want.

BelhurstBride · March 2010

I learned to swim before walking and used to teach infant lessons. I will be doing this with our LO.

Do you have a local YMCA? They have have a program available as well.

babybarnhart · March 2010

I taught swim for 5 years and I think getting your baby involved in swimming early is a fabulous idea. Good for you! It's so important to start them early. There is something out there called Drownproofing and what your describing sounds the same or pretty close. Drownproofing is where they put the babies in the water and teach them to roll over on their back to float until help arrives. It sounds like a great idea can be very scary for the parents (you have to let your child struggle in order to learn) and tramatic for the babies. Research drownproofing and make sure what you're interested in is not the same thing. I definitely don't recommend that procedure. If you attend a regular swimming class, by 18 months your baby could be swimming on their own completely comfortable in the water. Good luck to you!

CityGirl07 · March 2010

I don't think we'll be doing the survival thing but will definitely start swim lessons around 6 months. My husband was a swimmer in college and asked me this morning if it would be weird to put "watch me in the 2030 Olympics!" on the birth announcements. LOL. We also both grew up on the water so we want LO to be comfortable.

I used to teach some baby classes and we would have parents dunk the babies but never for more than a second (NOT holding them under, just down and up). Most babies were shocked for a second but were fine seeing the parents happy reaction. The drownproofing sounds scary!

soosauce · March 2010

my son and i started taking swim lessons when he was 8 months old. he loved it! (he is now 13 months) we didn't do a survival class but just a regular water babies class. the classes are 30 minutes and by state law they are required to be in pools of a certain temperature. our classes are held in a therapy swimming pool so it's like bathwater! i noticed that the younger the babies are when they start the more easily they take to the water. the older children in the class (a year and up to 3 years) were so afraid of the water, whereas the children under a year were happy as can be. my hubby and i are big water people and wanted to be sure our son would like the water too. (he loves taking baths too!) the class is great because it gets children familiar with the water and how to hold their breath and move around in it. although a survival class sounds like it could be good, a good water babies class can be just as effective in keeping your children safe and comfortable around the water. by the second class babies go under the water. did you know if you blow in their face they reflexively hold their breath? that is how you get them used to going under!!! you can try it at home! blow in their face before pouring water over their head in the bath--they will learn when to hold their breath!

our next swim session starts next month and i can't wait to go back! you should go for it! learning to swim can never be a bad thing!

Wendy525 · March 2010

I read that at this early age, don't expect the swimming lessons to "teach them how to survive" in water. It just teaches them to be more comfortable in water. Your best bet is a good fence around your pool and pool cover with alarm. My friends who invested in swimming lessons early on all thought it was cute, but waste of money. You can just take the babies in your pool and splash around with them on your time. Just my opinion..

Mrs.Weggy · March 2010

kme003:
We did that with DD when she was about 9 months and now she does regular swim lessons. It was amazing and she learned a ton. We did two 10 minutes lessons a weeks for 12 weeks. After each lesson she was exhaused and so was I. The lessons were not very fun for her because so strenuous. I think it would have been very hard on us to do it 5 days a week.

The 5 day a week schedule does seem really demanding, but since I will be a SAHM and the instructor is so close I think it will be doable. How old was your DD when you did the lessons? I was thinking we would probably wait until around 1 year to do them so that he gets the most out of it.

orienae · March 2010

I also taught swimming for years, including infant/toddler classes. Babies can learn to swim, more importantly they can learn to respect a swimming pool and that is the real goal. I agree with the other posters that I wouldn't recommend a rigourous program, you want your child to enjoy and respect water, not fear it or dislike swimming and that's what I would be afraid of what would happen if you don't have the right balance of learn and play.

Infant and toddler classes are not a waste of time or money, you really get out of it what you put into it, plus it is a great social environment for children to interact. My LO will be getting lessons at 6 months, the youngest programs allow entry. But, as I am a figure skating instructor I'm looking for a winter Olympian! Smile

aburksmn · March 2010

orienae:
I also taught swimming for years, including infant/toddler classes. Babies can learn to swim, more importantly they can learn to respect a swimming pool and that is the real goal. I agree with the other posters that I wouldn't recommend a rigourous program, you want your child to enjoy and respect water, not fear it or dislike swimming and that's what I would be afraid of what would happen if you don't have the right balance of learn and play.

Infant and toddler classes are not a waste of time or money, you really get out of it what you put into it, plus it is a great social environment for children to interact. My LO will be getting lessons at 6 months, the youngest programs allow entry. But, as I am a figure skating instructor I'm looking for a winter Olympian!

This is exactly true. You get what you put into the lessons for infant toddler class. I work as a supervisor for a pool, I have never heard about this survival class. Sounds interesting, but for me would never do it.

roppababy · March 2010

With my DS we did the ISR classes from 7 to 8 months old. They were 5 days a week, 10 min each and took about 5 weeks to complete the first part. I just enrolled him for the next part last week which starts in April and will be everyday. It is very demanding, everyday, you need to record every single thing that enters and leaves his body everyday for weeks, but it is obviously well worth the cost and energy you put into it. We live in florida and have a pool, hottub and lake behind our house so it was a no brainer for us. Good luck with it!

Addicted2thenot · March 2010

I chose to do survival swimming with DS when he was 18 months old.

Three days a week - 15 minute lessons. I also worked with him every day in our pool to reinforce what she was teaching him. By the time DS was 2.5 he was taking lessons to learn more strokes. HE LOVES THE POOL

One of the best investments (for this child) that we ever made

He is now 4 & swims like a fish

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