Summer and swimming go together like jelly and ice-cream. But when days are short and dark, swimming is the perfect winter activity for families. Stevie Thorne of Water Babies explains how it lifts spirits, improves sleep and boosts immunity.
Nothing beats fresh air. Bundling up and getting out is a great antidote to stuffy central heating and feeling stuck indoors. But for the littlest members of the family in their pushchair or sling, it’s often too cold and wet to get out and get moving.
That’s where swimming comes into its own. A fantastic whole body activity, it’s something that all the family can do together whatever the weather. And supported by warm water, it gives even the smallest babies the opportunity to move, learn and play.
Get moving
Exercise is wonderful for your baby’s wellbeing, health, sleep, feeding and immunity. It’s also vital for their physical and cognitive development. In fact, movement plays a key role in the way babies grow, learn and develop.
While exercise helps with the obvious stuff like muscle strength endurance and motor skills, it also builds your little one’s developing self-esteem and thinking skills. Active children tend to have a more positive outlook on life and sleep better. There is also evidence that even a moderate amount of exercise boosts immunity.
Bonding time
When you’re both wearing layers of clothing all the time, opportunities for precious skin-on-skin bonding are few. But swimming together in a warm pool provides lots of skin-on-skin contact.
And, of course, all this exercise, bonding with your baby and social time with other parents who soon become friends also helps beat winter blues, postnatal blues, depression and anxiety.
We have courses starting in January and February. Visit waterbabies.co.uk to find your closest venues and register to receive our timetable.