Babies learning to swim in Devon before they can walk and it's saving lives
As the summer sun shines across Devon, families are heading outside to enjoy paddling pools, beach trips, and time by the water. But for children under five — the age group most at risk of accidental drowning — this season also brings hidden dangers.
According to the Royal Life Saving Society UK, one child drowns at home every month in England, with toddlers and preschoolers most at risk. These sobering statistics are a powerful reminder that water safety isn’t just a summer issue but it’s one that comes sharply into focus during the warmer months.
Swimming lessons aren’t just a fun weekly activity they could one day save a life.
Across Devon, local baby swimming classes are helping little ones gain water confidence and learn crucial safety skills from as early as birth. These sessions are designed around purposeful play, giving babies and young children the chance to bond with their carers while also developing instincts and techniques that could help them in an emergency.
Amie Sellick, who teaches swimming to children under five across Devon at Water Babies lessons says early water exposure makes all the difference.
“Most accidents happen in familiar settings like the garden or bath,” she explains. “In many cases, it’s not swimming ability that’s missing it’s the sudden shock of falling in that causes children to panic. That’s why it’s so important to help little ones feel at home in the water from the very beginning.”
In recent years, there have been multiple reports of toddlers using early swimming skills to save themselves including children as young as two. It’s a reminder that even very young children are capable of learning basic, life-saving responses in water.
And while the benefits to safety are clear, there are plenty of other reasons to get little ones swimming early on. Here are a few common myths and facts every parent should know:
Babies can swim from birth.
Newborns are born with a natural swimming reflex and an ability to move freely in water. Warm hydrotherapy pools are ideal for supporting this instinct from the earliest days.
They don’t need to have had their vaccinations first.
It’s a common myth, but healthy babies can begin swimming safely before they’ve had their jabs in line with NHS guidance.
Swimming supports sleep, feeding and development.
Gentle exercise in the water can help with feeding and digestion, encourage better naps, and build strength, balance and coordination.
It’s never too early – or too late – to start.
Whether your child is six weeks old or approaching school age, it’s never too soon or too late to begin learning vital water safety skills.
With more families spending time around water this summer, awareness of water safety has never been more important especially for the very youngest children.
For more information about baby swimming and water safety, visit www.waterbabies.co.uk – Brand new classes starting this September in dozens of pools across Devon, 7 days a week.
