We find most toddlers graduate to level 1 well ahead of their third birthday.

From 6 to 18 months, we work with the parent/s to build confidence in the water with their baby, showing them positive play activities to help little ones gain confidence and breath control.

As the baby becomes a toddler, and can follow simple commands, the teacher focuses on working with the child, to kick independently on a noodle, and to submerge and come off the platform unaided. We also look for an ability to wait safely on the platform, with a toy, while the parent and teacher are further away.

We don’t spend the whole lesson submerging a baby or toddler in the water. At Making Waves, we believe the most beneficial way to introduce a baby or toddler to water is with slight submersion, with lots of splashes and lots of fun. We don’t advocate pulling babies underwater to achieve a Nirvana album cover moment, as this reflex can cause some babies considerable anxiety and upset.

We are looking to gain confidence and independence in the water for our Bubble Babies, who then graduate towards independent swimming from a solid basis of learning. In all our Bubble Babies classes, we are carefully building motor programmes that will set the foundation for level 1 and a child’s overall positive movement pattern.