As you’ve seen in my past post I’m an avid enthusiast about getting my daughter into water and watching her swim.. I had one lesson before but learnt so much from water babies. My previous lesson was just a complete luck of the draw. A free NCT programmed swimming session with water babies that was set aside for 5 parents and babies to attend, but no one turned up but me… “Hell yeah” I thought.. “I could get a lot done in this 1 on 1 session” and wow did I.. I literally learnt 2/3 of the curriculum. Techniques, word associations, temperatures to name a few and it really helped me to define where I wanted to go with mine and Daisy-Ella’s swimming adventure.

I was also lucky as this all happened a week or two before my big move into the countryside. Why was it lucky? you ask. I felt or feel that I do not need to go to these classes anymore when I now know all the ins and outs for a baby.. It may be great to join for the community that adorns these sessions but other than that I feel ready to take the next step and did I ever..

My niece, Isla, had her 2nd birthday party last week at a local swimming pool based where my sister lives and thought it would be a great time to take the reins on this one and take Daisy-Ella in for a swim. Huggies Swimmer nappy on and a Waterbabies wetsuit cocooning my daughter and I’m set, I hand my daughter to my wife so we can strategically get me and her in without a mishap around the wet floors of the pool and I’m in. I can feel the slight chill on my skin compared to the warm 38 degrees C from the baby pool I was used to.. But I think to myself “lets just go for it”…

Arms raised out above my head I see a beaming smile above me awaiting the water. Daisy-Ella looks excited but confused as what is happening.. She descends slowly; Her toes are in and not even a flinch. “You ready Daisy-Ella?” I ask as if she understands. She’s in… Her shocked face gets me worried temporarily, until I see a HUGE grin come upon her face with mine following suit soon after.

Everyone in my family come over to celebrate with Daisy-Ella and join in the swim and to try get in and help her out, but I’m set, it’s my adventure with my Strawberry Girl.

“SPLASH SPLASH SPLASH”, I bounce my daughter in and out of the water and “in we go”. Remembering all I learnt, I pulled my daughter to my side and sway her side to side calling out “kick kick kick” continuously. She’s kicking a long with me erratically but has the right idea.

 

I change my tactic to two of the ‘is that even right?‘ Lessons I was taught..

• Hold you child by the head with your arms straight. Pulling them along with the movement of your body NOT ARMS.

Daisy-Ella smiles the whole way through this one

•  Holding on tight, with your hand cup some water and pour over her head and face whilst saying “under”

This one works wonders as Daisy-Ella closes her eyes and holds her breathe when I say it now

To be honest maybe it was for me and Daisy-Ella to have that ‘something’ that is ours just as much as a life lesson for her. I enjoyed it as much as Daisy-Ella was smiling, so I think it went well. Can’t wait for next time.