Today I want to talk about swimming, not just any old swimming but that first moment you get to splash around in a pool with your new born. We were told it was never to early to give it a go and being a man from Brighton, I was already in the zone as a water baby myself. With just 6 1/2 weeks into my daughters reign on the household we decided to go for a taster session with our local baby swimming group by the name of ‘little dippers’ and wow was I taken back. Little dippers, based in the famous North Laines in Brighton, had their own pool, own changing rooms and their own facilities capable of withstanding a tirade of new parents wanting to have this experience.

Looking at the information on the website we can see why these classes are so popular. For some it may seem a little overpriced as the average is around £99 for the Level1 – Foundation in swimming. But this is an experience that only happens once in a lifetime and the idea of having your own purpose built pool with a good average of 6-8 parents and baby in the pool at any given time, just nudges us over the edge to say a big resounding YES!!

So on the day we had been lucky to be greeted by the lovely instructor, by the name of Lauren, who, by my surprise, explained how she had years of experience in stunt work Involving water. Pretty cool.

The greetings all over, we waited for the others to turn up for the class BUT no one, not one other father/baby duo turned up, even mother/baby for that matter. That meant the class was for me and Daisy-Ella. A bit nervous as I hadn’t been swimming or even in some shorts for a very long time. I began to become overly excited at this prospect.

“On to the changing rooms” me and the little one hear out the corner of my sight, “this way”. Great our own changing room too.

Changing bag in hand I got to work, for these sessions you’re asked to get some of the adorable Huggies Little Swimmers, cutely adorned with ‘Finding Nemo‘ at the helm and a small pair of happy nappy to go over the top as a way to keep the toxic waste in that comes out of my baby waste disposal unit.

By this time I had learnt the skill of holding Daisy-Ella in my arms and changing, a task not yet mastered but pretty close by all accounts, and we’re done, we’re ready. “Shall we go Daisy-Ella” her face lit up as if to say “hells yeah”

And it all began with a daddy/daughter day out.

*The journey started with a small newborn turtle by the name of Daisy-Ella untouched by water, she began her journey to the deep blue’s edge to battle the tide *

“Dad” she proclaimed “is it safe? Can I go into the water now?”

“Ofcourse you can” daddy smiled “but I’ll be here by your side to help you through it”.

*Daisy-Ella smiled as her daddy, who was a green turtle, wrapped his flippers round her shell and gently cradled her into the water*

“Daisy-Ella your swimming”

*daddy turtle yelped with a grin on his face. Little Daisy-Ella could just float there and smile, flapping her flippers around in excitement*

“So where do we start?”

*Daddy turtle politely asked the Hawksbill teaching turtle*

” first we have to teach you both the basics of swimming” the teaching turtle proclaimed. “Hold your little turtle to your side and watch out for her flippers, we will then move trough the water, whilst saying kick kick kick”

*A little bit embarrassed by the idea, but a turtle on a mission, daddy turtle did just that*

“kick kick kick kick kick” he whispers to Daisy-Ella.

*Side to side, straight In front they practiced all the movements.. *

“Let’s try this one, come to the waters edge, this will teach Daisy-Ella how to jump into the water”

*A bit taken back but raring to go, daddy turtle pulled his little nipper out of the water and placed her on the edge.*

“Now splash” watching how the teaching turtle did it “bounce Daisy-Ella in and out of the water”

*Daisy-Ella face lit up, she was swimming, as much as she could, bouncing in and out of water floating on her back, and playing with toys*

“We’re done for the day” said the hawksbill teaching turtle “well done”

*Daisy-Ella and daddy turtle could not stop grinning as they ventured onto dry land after their first encounter with the deep.*

“We’ll do this again Daisy-Ella” daddy turtle chirped “we’ll make you a little turtle yet”

This was an experience, one that I will never forget. For all the dads out there wanting to find something for your days out is say give this a try. The 1/2 an hour experience seriously outweighs the cost ten fold, so take the plunge.

Try a few things out in the bath:

Pour water over her head and drag your hand over her face whilst firmly saying “under” or to that effects. The word association really helps with how your baby will learn.

I am sure that me and Daisy-Ella will be having more adventures swimming together over the years and it’s never to young to start.

Check out them out at Little dippers