Baby Swimming Back Floating
From the underarm grip, rotate your baby onto their back while keeping eye contact. Support the upper back with one hand and gently hold the chin with the other. Once the grip is secure, walk backward slowly, swaying your baby gently from side to side — their first experience of water resistance.
Preparatory exercises
On the mat
Place a swim mat on the water in the children's pool and lay your child on their back on it. Direct their attention upward with toys so they stay on their back for a few seconds. The mat gives the toddler more freedom of movement, though the lack of physical contact can unsettle some infants — and children older than seven months often want to sit up.
Shoulder cushion
As in the core exercise, rotate the child from the armpit grip so their upper body rests on your forearm, then kneel so your shoulders are just above the water. Gently place the child's head on your opposite shoulder, supporting with both hands. Once the toddler is stable, release the supporting hand and guide their attention upward with a toy. Only let go if you are confident the child is calm and stable.
Water cradle
Hold your child in the armpit grip and tilt them slightly toward your weaker hand. Release your strong hand, place it behind the infant's back and gradually lean the toddler into a back-floating position; then position the freed arm behind the back as well. The child reaches the back-float without ever losing eye contact, and the large support surface suits children under six months.
Common mistakes
Wobbly head
As mentioned in the video, maintaining eye contact with your head is a new experience for the child. However, many toddlers quickly adapt to it and even enjoy the interaction. If you keep wobbling your head, though, it will be impossible to establish eye contact, leaving the toddler mostly confused.
Too much water on the face
Too much water on the face makes the already challenging back-floating position unpleasant — chlorine can irritate the eyes, and a negative experience may make the child refuse the position later. Hold the child so splashing is minimized, watch for waves from people nearby, and don't hold your child so low that their face gets submerged.
