Benefits of Mom and Baby Swim Classes

Mom and baby swim classes provide your infant with water-based stimulation, offering a chance to play while yielding plenty of benefits. In addition to being fun for the little one, it plays an important role in strengthening the parent-child bond.
Benefits of Mom and Baby Swim Classes

Last update: 13 June, 2018

Babies need plenty of sleep to ensure healthy development. However, engaging in activities while they’re awake is essential to their education. Mom and baby swim classes are an excellent option for stimulating your child’s body and mind.

In addition, this water-based activity allows parents and babies to strengthen their emotional bond. It also allows them to enjoy relaxation and learning.

What are mom and baby swim classes?

Although mom and baby swim classes involve a series of movements and positions, they’re more than simple physical activities.

The goal extends beyond teaching a baby to swim, as his or her musculoskeletal system is ready for swimming after four months.

On the one hand, this recreational activity provides infants with water-based stimulation.

With the help of his or her parents, the little ones experience the sensation of moving in water. They also learn to float. Moreover, it allows for an exchange of sensations, touch, and experience.

Mom and baby swim classes also act as a transition stage. In this sense, they can help the baby adapt to its new reality.

Semi-immersion takes them back into the safety of the womb, as they experience their first contact with the extrauterine world.

Remember that mom and baby swim classes require a teacher who is an expert in the activity.

This professional will demonstrate the most appropriate movements and games. These will be tailored to the baby’s age and specific needs.

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Benefits of mom and baby swim classes

This activity offers the following advantages for little ones:

  • Psychomotor stimulation: babies cannot walk or perform complex movements. This is because their musculoskeletal system is still immature. Mom and baby swim classes are the best way for them to experience three-dimensional movement and work on their motor skills.
  • Strengthening the cardiovascular and respiratory systems: aquatic stimulation through games and movements helps to strengthen the heart, the lungs, and the vascular structure. This improves circulation. As a result, it also improves the heart rate and optimizes tissue oxygenation.
  • Developing cognitive skills: mom and baby swim classes promote the baby’s cognitive, emotional, and social development. Water-based stimulation also helps improve learning and creativity.
  • Strengthening the immune system: swimming improves physical resistance and stimulates the formation of the baby’s tissues. This benefits their immune systems, and reduces the risk of a number of illnesses.

“Mom and baby swim classes are the best way for them to experience three-dimensional movement and work on their motor skills.”

The parent-child bond

In addition to the physical benefits for the baby, these classes also offer benefits in terms of parent-child interaction.

  • Strengthening the parent-child bond: the love between parents and children is naturally unconditional. However, mom and baby swim classes can help strengthen this bond during infancy. By playing these games, they can enjoy getting to know each other and share new affectionate experiences.
  • Starting the baby’s social life in a positive, safe and playful environment: these swim classes may be the baby’s first contact with the world outside his or her immediate family. Later, the child will have an easier time adapting to new environments and thriving in social situations.
  • Fun, relaxation, and safety: these things are essential to his or her well-being and proper physical and mental development.
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At what age can the classes begin?

There is no consensus regarding the best age to begin swim classes with your baby.

In the past, experts said it was ideal to wait until the musculoskeletal system was fully developed. This tends to happen between five and six months of life, but can be more delicate in premature babies.

Currently, this school of thought is being reexamined by many doctors and fans of baby swimming. A number of researchers recognize the benefits of early aquatic stimulation in a child’s development.

Despite the fact that this activity can begin early, it’s important to take precautions to avoid hypothermia, otitis, or colds.

To this end, consult your doctor before starting your baby’s swim classes. After assessing his or her health and development, the doctor may agree that it’s the right thing for your baby.


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


  • Nystad, W., Håberg, S. E., London, S. J., Nafstad, P., & Magnus, P. (2008). Baby swimming and respiratory health. Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00756.x
  • Arouxet, L., Navarro, A., & Ocampo, O. (2017). Proyecto Matronatación, una práctica novedosa. In XII Congreso Argentino y VII Latinoamericano de Educación Física y Ciencias (Ensenada, 2017). http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/71916
  • Cirigliano, P. (2006). Matronatación y programas acuáticos de EE. UU.: diferencias prácticas y conceptuales. Arch Argent Pediatr, 104(4), 384-384. https://www.sap.org.ar/docs/archivos/2006/arch06_4/v104n4a21.pdf
  • Arouxet, L., Navarro, A., & Ocampo, O. (2017). Proyecto Matronatación, una práctica novedosa: Estimulación de niños y niñas en el ámbito acuático. In 12º Congreso Argentino de Educación Física y Ciencias 13 al 17 de noviembre 2017 Ensenada, Argentina. Educación Física: construyendo nuevos espacios. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación. Departamento de Educación Física. http://www.memoria.fahce.unlp.edu.ar/library?a=d&c=eventos&d=Jev10410

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.