Summer, heat. What better for a refreshing dip in the sea? And even better if it is accompanied by toys with your baby! Swimming in hot water is familiar to young children, as it resembles the condition experienced by the fetus in the "aquatic environment" of the mother's womb.
The appropriate age to start taking your little one to the sea is around 6 months, since he still has the experiences from his mother's womb and has not yet developed the feeling of fear.
Benefits:
1) Fun, play, laughter
2) Improving sleeping and eating habits due to the soothing properties of water
3) Strengthening the child-parent bond
4) Improving socialization
5) Strengthening the immune system
6) Sensor activation
7) Motor and muscle development, improved coordination of movements, balance
8) Learning swimming movements and skills
9) Improving a sense of security and freedom of movement
10) Acquisition of bases for the training process (learns to listen and perform without pressure)
11) Gaining self-concentration, courage, self-confidence
Dangers:
1) Infections (mainly in the ears, pharynx and nasal cavity). That is why it is good to prefer clear waters
2) Hypothermia. The body temperature of the little ones drops very quickly, for this reason as soon as you get out of the water, you should wrap your child with a towel, put on dry clothes and give him something warm to drink.
3) Even if they assure you that by the 6th month he will reflexively close his larynx as soon as he is under water, do not rest. Do not leave it out of your sight. An accident is very easy to happen even with a minimal amount of water.
Tips:
1) It is better for babies to get used to the water without any floating aid (eg life buoy), for this role this role will be taken over by the mom.
2) It is best not to leave the baby in the water for more than 15-20΄.
3) If you choose the pool you can find out about some that have a separate area for babies and toddlers, where the water is warmer. If you choose the sea, make sure it is clean and warm. If the pool in which you will swim has a ladder, let someone else hold the child for a while, so that you do not slip.
There are babies who feel safer if you let them keep their own, familiar bath toy from the house that will float.
4) Do not forget to bring extra diapers and baby wipes as well as a drink or snack for after swimming.
Games:
Stay in the water, hold your baby by the armpits to be safe and swirl him in the water with gentle movements. Let it flatten on its own with its little feet hitting.
Let the baby lean his head on your shoulder and rest his face on yours. Stretch your arms under his feet as he floats.
Rest the baby's upper body in your arms, hold his legs and move them up and down, saying "flat - plush" to encourage him to kick the water.
Hold your baby by the armpits, lift him out of the water and immediately put him back in the water. This movement will help him get used to splashing and splashes.
Source: ΣΟΦΙΑ Μ. ΚΟΥΛΟΥΡΗ ΕΡΓΟΘΕΡΑΠΕΥΤΡΙΑ S.I.
