Swimming is beneficial to your overall health. It promotes the development of blood circulation, respiratory organs, central nervous system and musculoskeletal system. Swimming is especially useful for children. Moreover, they already have this skill, because before birth they already had contact with water. And the task of the parents is to develop this skill and teach the baby to dive.
It is necessary
Bathtub with water that is comfortable for a child
Instructions
Step 1
A newborn baby knows how to swim perfectly and hold his breath at a reflex level. But after two or three months, this skill is lost. Therefore, it needs to be restored and developed. And so that the baby is not frightened, try to make water procedures interesting.
Step 2
The baby should be taught to swim and dive only after the navel has completely healed. Typically, this period takes two to three weeks.
Step 3
Before preparing your baby for water treatments, warm him up by making a massage and doing a little gymnastics with him. For children up to three months, light strokes are enough; for older babies, rubbing can be added. The massage is performed all over the body. To do this, lightly stroke and rub the baby's breast, tummy, intercostal muscles. Do not touch the nipple and heart area!
Step 4
Movements during massage should be continuous. Stroke your tummy clockwise: these exercises have a beneficial effect on bowel function. Massage your arms and legs lightly. After five to seven minutes, you can move on to water activities.
Step 5
Before diving, you need to teach your baby to hold his breath. Until three months, while the reflex has not yet been lost, it is not difficult. Blow lightly on the baby's face. As a rule, the babies themselves hold their breath. The child must understand the meaning of the word "dive". Therefore, after completing several "eights" (this is one of the first already existing skills of newborns) while swimming in the bath, say: "Diving!" and blow on the baby. Repeat this exercise two to three times.
Step 6
When the baby learns that after the word "dive" you need to hold your breath, start lightly sprinkling and washing the baby with water. If you see that the child does not like such procedures, do not insist, postpone them for a while. And repeat later.
Step 7
When the baby gets used to splashing and washing, about a week after the first exercise, hold the baby's chin with one hand, and scoop up the water with your palm with the other, say "dive" and pour it on the baby's face. Do this exercise often. When you are convinced that the child has learned to hold his breath, and not just close his eyes, you can move on to the next stage.
Step 8
While swimming, do three or four "eights", say "dive" and pour water on the baby. The child must remember to hold his breath. Then do two or three more "eights", say "dive" and abruptly, literally for a split second, lower the baby under the water. Then swim again. For the first time, one or two dives are enough.
Step 9
Then gradually teach the child to be under water for 1-2 seconds. Alternate swimming with diving. But be careful: otherwise the child may swallow water, and then the desire to swim may disappear for a long time.
Step 10
If the baby does not want to swim, do not insist. Try another time. Remember: everything should be in moderation.
