Once you have decided to take your baby to the sea, you have to see how he reacts around the water. Some children love to play in the water, but others are afraid of swimming or even refuse to go near the sea. You may notice it when you have to take a bath. A bathtub full of water, a swimming pool or the sea should not give him the creeps, so try to help him overcome this phobia.
First, you need to consider your age when this fear was detected. It is recommended that you get him used to low water, so that as he grows he learns to enjoy it. Let him play in the water and splash around in an inflatable bathtub or pool, but do not leave him unattended under any circumstances. In addition, he must see your positive attitude towards contact with water or swimming. With patience and perseverance your encouragement will make your baby overcome this fear. Although it is common practice, never throw it in the pool, thinking that it will get used to it. The effect could be reversed, and the baby could be traumatized by this experience.
Here are other steps you can take to remove the fear:
Take your time when bathing the baby, from the first months of life. If the soap repeatedly enters the eye or the water enters the ears, he may not be willing to receive a larger amount than bath water. Hold him firmly in your arms when you put him in the water or you can accompany him if you are in the sea. Don’t let his head drop. If he sees that he can trust you and can be safe with you, he may start to like the water. It is recommended that you register your child for swimming lessons around the age of 4. If the water phobia doesn’t seem to go away, you can try private lessons.
Encourage him to get wet little by little: put his fingers in the water, then continue to his knees, then to his abdomen, and then to his arms. These steps will make it easier for you to adjust and you will understand that water does not hurt. Use pillows or an inflatable ring for a short period of time. It is good for the baby to see that she is safe, but she must not become dependent on them.
Explain to your child what will happen if he puts his head under water or gets water up his nose. These are the two most common fears of little ones, but once she learns to avoid them, she will gain more confidence.
Begin to accommodate the baby with water in a pool or pond where there are no people. Engorgement can distract from your advice and the baby may not listen to you when you try to teach him to swim.
Encourage your baby to learn to swim, but don’t pressure him. Also, don’t make him feel bad or guilty about being afraid of water. This would further increase her fear.