Swimming is the best and healthiest form of exercise for kids and adults alike as it tones muscles, relaxes the mind and exercises joints. Even newborns are natural lovers of water as they keep floating around in mother’s womb for nine months. Here are some tips to develop the taste for swimming in your baby and make him learn it:

* Make your baby learn to be comfortable and have fun with water. Take baths and showers with the baby and let him splash the water and watch and observe toys that float.
* Trickle water over baby’s forehead slowly so that baby can feel comfortable with the sensation of running water.
* Snuggle the baby to your chest as you recline in the tub and you may even nurse the baby to help him relax while almost floating. However, be sure that the water does not have soap or has a tear-free gentle soap that does not hurt baby’s eyes.
* Help your baby to trust the water and feel safe in it by exposing him to the water for short but frequent periods of time.
* When the baby feels comfortable in shower and tub and is about one to two months old, you can take him to the pool. Early exposure to pool lessens the fear of water in the child.
* Make sure that pool has lukewarm water before you immerse the baby in water so that they do not get cold.
* Limit the time in a cold pool at first.
* Make sure that pool chemicals are at safe level for the baby and chlorine levels will not hurt baby's skin, eyes and breathing passages. Indoor pools often have heavy chlorine levels that you can smell from the poolroom. They can be hazardous for the baby.
* Pools with ozone filters are clean and baby-friendly.
* Make sure that babies do not soil the pool from bowel movements by checking and cleaning the diaper area of the baby and making him wear ‘swim diapers’ before taking him to the water.
* Do not take the baby to the pool immediately after a feeding.
* Make sure that your baby does not swallow pool water, as it is not good for baby’s health and his safety.
* Most babies love buoyancy of water and freedom of movement, so hold the baby securely on your arms and let him move in water. Water exercise and water relaxation often makes babies nap after pool time.
* Children who are six months old can be enrolled in swimming lessons for infants with qualified instructors, where most babies learn to ‘swim’ by the time they are nine months old for a few seconds between two adults.
* Participate in the lessons for swimming along with infant swim instructors.