In the swim with the water babies (From Stroud News and Journal)

In the swim with the water babies

THE idea of a water baby - a child who can play and feel as confident in the water as on land - is no longer a fairy tale. Four years ago Fiona Munt-Whittle founded Aquatots. In her first year 40 babies learned to swim with her and now she has over 300 pupils. Linda Diggory went along to meet Fiona and the babies who take like ducklings to water.

THE water is warm, very warm in the Shrubberies School hydrotherapy pool in Stonehouse.

A class has just begun and the babies, all about 10 months old, are already being lifted and gently submerged under the water by their parents under the watchful supervision of teacher, Ruth MacArthur.

The emphasis, Fiona assures me, is on the tots and parents having fun together. And although there are a few coughs and splutters, to my surprise instead of the wailing of frightened children that I had expected, the babies remain completely calm, with there is even the odd gurgle of pleasure here and there.

At the age of 21 and a keen swimmer herself, Fiona decided to teach her first born, Russell, now 16-years-old, to swim.

A book entitled Swim Baby Swim by Anne Hawley fired Fiona's interest in the natural born ability of babies to swim.

Fiona followed the instructions carefully and by the age of nine months, Russell was able to float on his own and kick across the pool.

"Twelve years later I took a course given by the author of water babies and added the experience I had gained with my four children over the years to create Aquatots," said Fiona.

"I am often asked when am I going to write a book but you have to be very careful, a pool is a potentially dangerous situation."

Under the age of six months, babies have an in-built mammalian diving reflex which makes them automatically hold their breath when they are under water.

And although babies over six months can swim using the Aquatots method, they require coaching.

"Babies can start Aquatots from as young as four weeks," said Fiona.

"And although there is an upper age limit of 18 months, ideally they start before the age of six months.

Fiona explains that between the ages of ten to 15 months babies can often develop a fear of the water.

"They have to learn fear in order to learn to walk," explained Fiona.

"Which is why it's a good idea to get them started under the age of six months.

"I can honestly say that no-one has gone through worse than me with my daughter, Phoebe, who decided at 15 months not to swim any more, but you must keep them swimming and work through the fear. It doesn't last for long."

All four of Fiona's children now enjoy swimming and Kieran, 12, has swum for Tewkesbury Swimming Club.

Early water skills can improve a baby's strength and stamina, encourage agility and co-ordination, stimulate awareness and alertness and help with their sleeping patterns.

Not least among the advantages are the vital life-saving skills that it gives the children.

The classes are kept small with a maximum of seven children in each.

There are nine levels of class, starting with preliminary and ending with Swim School 1 and 11, which the children usually finish around the age of four.

The class I am watching at the Shrubberies is the intermediate class and the majority of the babies are around ten months old.

Fiona is delighted that more and more fathers are joining with their children every term.

Mathew Burke takes time of work to bring his daughter, Victoria who is 10 months old, to the Tuesday class.

"We started when Victoria was five months old," he said.

"I know she really enjoys it and it gives me some quality time with her.

"My wife is very pleased because she is not the most confident person in water.

"I'm not coming in order for Victoria to become an Olympic swimmer.

"Although," Mathew added laughing, "if that happens it's a bonus."

Jenny Nicholson and her son, Archie began when he was six months old.

Jenny said: "It has given him lots of confidence in the water, he sleeps on the way home in the car but when he wakes up he is ravenous."

Back in the pool encouraged by teacher Ruth the parents are facing their babies and walking backwards, pulling them through the water.

On a word from Ruth, the parents say 'breathe' and release their child who then, caught in the slight slip stream created by their parent, swim under the surface towards them before being gathered up in their arms.

"Often the parents are nervous about letting their children go under water at first, but it is essential they are confident in front of their child," explained Fiona.

"It doesn't take long for them to realise that their child is perfectly happy and for them it feels very natural."

Parents wishing to join a class are encouraged to come along and watch before deciding whether or not it is for them.

For any parent considering helping their child learn to swim Fiona encourages them to resist using armbands and rubber rings as they can create a false sense of confidence and security.

Learning to swim freestyle (doggy paddle), Fiona advises, is much more natural. Aquatots is currently running classes all over the county and people come far and wide to attend.

The demand for more classes is growing but the number of suitable pools available is limited.

"They have to be very warm," said Fiona.

"Hydrotherapy pools like this one at the Shrubberies is ideal because babies find it difficult to tolerate water cooler than 31 centigrade for more than a short time and sometimes the teachers are in the water for four hours."

"The pools are regularly monitored and treated in line with Health and Safety regulations.

"Babies are safe to swim in them from four weeks old."

Even though some parents have concerns if their child has not completed their immunisation programme, Fiona assures them that there is no evidence to support the rumour that Polio can be contracted through chlorinated water.

Since its launch four years ago, the Aquatots team has expanded and now employs three additional ASA qualified teachers and two office staff.

Fiona is also considering franchising the organisation. "It is my life, it's the best job in the world," she said.

"The aim of Aquatots is to make as many babies and young children drown proof and aware of the water.

"I am not trying to produce Olympic Champions here. It's about parents having fun with their baby and I feel very passionately about it.

For more details on Aquatots call Fiona Munt-Whittle on 01684 296296 or visit the web site on www.aquatots.co.uk - please do not call the Shrubberies School.