Infant Swim Therapy Benefits And Risks
In the last couple of years infant swim therapy has become on of the more common topics of conversation among parents of new babies. It can be a little confusing as to exactly what these sessions can provide and whether or not they are truly in the best interest of the child. There are plenty of circumstances that can significantly benefit from infant swim therapy. There are also different types of therapies at a pool that may or may not help you and your child. Ill and disabled babies will have different needs than healthy babies.
Infant swim therapy can do many things. Before we launch into the numerous positive aspects of this type of therapy it has to be said that there is one thing that infant swim therapy does not do. It can never replace parental supervision and additional safety measures around water. Even proficient adult swimmers can drown in the family pool under the right circumstances.
Infant swim therapy can be a beautiful way for a parent and an infant to bond. It can provide an outlet for a colicky baby and it can help a physically challenged baby develop motor skills and freedom of movement that might not otherwise happen. It can be rewarding to give a baby in pain the chance to move without stress or strain. It can be beneficial to healthy children who just need a tighter parental bond.
Tactile sensitive and colicky babies have been able to find relief in the pool. Children and babies with cerebral palsy have been able to fine tune motor skills. Adopted infants have been shown to have a greater bonding experience with their adoptive parents. Water comfort and water skills are never wasted on a baby.
Can a young baby learn to swim? This has a two fold answer. Yes they can. And no they can’t. Some babies are more adaptable to water environments and are very comfortable in such an environment. They can often figure out that they need to hold their breath or even make swim motions that can propel them from one place to another. Some babies can be proficient swimmers in a stable setting.
There are some babies that seem to have a natural inclination for swimming. These babies can show significant signs of swimming potential even in their first few months. This is not to be confused with the ability to reason through cognitive understanding. Children as old as ten and twelve have been found to have difficulty understanding the dangers of a rip current or what to do if they hit their head on the side of the pool.
You can help your child develop motor skills, find a new level of parental bonding, and help them learn how to be comfortable with the water through infant swim therapy. Babies with certain illnesses can find this time to be pain free and comforting. The freedom of movement under water can help many babies deal with limbs that don’t function adequately.
Remember that babies are highly sensitive to inner ear infections and are not able to disclaim their need to go to the bathroom. Cleanliness and attentiveness to these issues is imperative for long term health, especially in a medically fragile baby.
Want to find out more about infant swim therapy, then visit Water Way Babies on for more information and equipment.
