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6 months – 35 months
The Waterbabies classes only seem like fun and games. But this is where natural swimming for pure joy begins, in a wonderful environment with parental love and warm smiles all round.
With classes starting as early as 6 months old, we provide a solid foundation for your child’s aquatic journey. But the fun doesn’t have to wait until then – even newborns from 2-5 months old can enjoy water games and acclimation during bath time. Join us at Emler and let’s make a splash together!
At Emler Swim School, we have a proven track record of success, with 48 years of experience and award-winning curriculum to support our methods. While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting swimming lessons at 1 year old, we know that starting as early as 6 months old works perfectly too. Our specially tailored classes for babies provide a loving, supportive, and safe environment with both parental and instructor guidance.
Absolutely! Emler Swim School offers Waterbabies classes for babies between 6 months and 35 months old, and then they can transition to the Aquatots program, where they can already move up to 8-10 feet through the water.
With our specialized and tailored classes, babies can learn to love the water in a safe and supportive environment with the help of both parents and instructors.
And if you want to start even earlier, we offer a pre-class introduction to water fun and games during bath time for babies as young as 2 months old. Check out the options below to choose the best class for your child.
At Emler Swim School, we understand that the joy of water is a natural attraction for all ages, including babies! Our baby swimming classes are all about fun and games, using toys, songs, and games to help reduce any anxiety little ones may feel as they learn to navigate the aquatic environment. With a focus on parental love and support, our classes provide a happy and safe environment for your baby to learn to swim.
Our baby swim classes are taught without forceful methods that can provoke fear and discomfort. Every child is accompanied by a parent, and we emphasize fun and positive reinforcement. There’s no competition or stress, just a celebration of the baby’s achievements. We believe that babies naturally want to learn and have fun, and that’s exactly what they do at Emler Swim School!
Teaching children to swim and feel confident in the water is a valuable gift from parents that can help prevent drowning accidents in modern life where standing water is everywhere. Even shallow bathtubs, mop buckets, and toilets can pose a risk.
At Emler, we start fostering comfort and happiness in the water as early as 2 months old, teaching children to respect, understand, navigate and love the water, while providing vigilant supervision.
Our nurturing, loving, and fun environment cultivates a lifetime of water enjoyment, making choosing vacation destinations and activities much more exciting. A day at the local pool can become an easy family outing when kids are devoted water fans.
Emler understands that children don’t need to know about our structured curriculum – they just want to have fun while getting better and achieving milestones. As parents, you can trust that our lessons are carefully crafted to guide your child from their initial swim level all the way to championship skills. Take a closer look at our structured lessons below to find the perfect fit for your child.
Pre-lessons:
Bathtime Babies – Having fun and getting accustomed to water can start as early as 2-5 months old!
For children who are 6 months to 35 months old, the Austin Westlake Waterbabies program is available.
If you’re interested in getting started with Emler, you can either call 855-232-2006 (Press Option 1) or fill out the contact form to have an Emler professional reach out to you for New Swimmer Registration.
Austin Westlake parents trust Emler for their children’s swim education not just because of the 100% swimmer guarantee, but also because kids enjoy their lessons and learn that water fun can be even better than on land.
Newborns recently arrived from the aquatic womb are returned to the happiness of water. Weekly half-hour classes familiarize baby with buoyancy and fun in the bath – and parents get expert instruction on baby games for bath time at home. This becomes a weekly treat for baby and parent, and sets the child up almost from birth for natural comfort, enjoyment and coordination in the water. Our tiniest students are almost veterans by the time they join the Waterbabies classes!
*Note: For your safety, children under the age of three are required to wear two washable, reusable swim pants.
Call Emler to schedule your 30 minutes of eye-opening fun as your baby learns the feel of being in the water and you learn all about the Emler Waterbabies program. Call or go online today to sign up for a free orientation class. There are many convenient times throughout the week for this free introduction.
*Note: For your safety, children under the age of three are required to wear two washable, reusable swim pants.
How do you learn to swim? You start singing, of course! Class begins for you and your baby with songs and activities in the water. With the assistance of a skilled instructor, you will learn how to increase your baby’s comfort and teach underwater breath control. Kicking in a noodle boat is a favorite activity along with back floating under London Bridge. Waterbabies learn to submerge 8 to 10 seconds and kick 3 feet through the water.
*Note: For your safety, children under the age of three are required to wear two washable, reusable swim pants.
The Plus class is for babies who have learned the basics and are now comfortable under the water and can control their breath for 8 to 10 seconds. Now they learn to strike out on their own a little, and kick forward through the water three feet. Our instructors are super-attentive during this important class because it’s where babies learn that the water is not a struggle but a place to play in and travel through, for the sheer joy of swimming.
And don’t worry, Mom and Dad, a skilled instructor is right there for you too, cheering you on so YOU can feel confident as your baby concentrates on the fun.
*Note: For your safety, children under the age of three are required to wear two washable, reusable swim pants.
The Advanced class is for the babies who now regard the water as fun – a supportive medium rather than a challenge. These little veterans of the Waterbabies training will learn to kick through the water 5 feet, while holding their breath. It’s time to learn some moves.
Watch your baby practice entering the water, turning around to kick back to the wall, and then climbing out of the water. Congratulations, you have a water baby! It’s okay to cry a little if you want – everyone gathers to watch at this exciting stage of learning, as young ones start playing in the water with natural confidence.
*Note: For your safety, children under the age of three are required to wear two washable, reusable swim pants.
The Supers class is for two years of age, toddlers on land maybe, but able to move five feet through the water with ease. During this series of classes, parents will eventually get out of the water and cheer from the sidelines as the children learn more skills.
This class extends the range to seven feet of swimming and teaches: a sitting jump entry, then a turn in the water and a swim back to the wall. It’s going to be easy to encourage from the edge of the pool as these little swimmers have fun.
*Note: For your safety, children under the age of three are required to wear two washable, reusable swim pants.
Let’s get X-treme! The 7 feet that the Supers can already swim will be extended to 10 feet. And that’s just the start. In this class, your toddler now learns rollover breathing, and the sitting jump now becomes a standing jump, with a turn and swim back to safety.
*Note: For your safety, children under the age of three are required to wear two washable, reusable swim pants.
Call to speak with one of our Emler team members
Use the tool below to determine what class/level is right
Answer the questions below to determine what class/level is right for your child.
Can your child... (select 1)
Remain submerged and hold their breath for 8-10 seconds
Swim ___ without flotation
Swim ___ competitive strokes
Recommended class/level:
Instruction on how to use bath time at home for socialization and bonding
Kick 10 feet through the water, introduce rollover breathing and a standing Jump, Turn & Swim
Themes and games are used to teach tots to kick 5 feet through the water and learn breath control
Themes are used to teach tots to kick 12 feet through the water and start to get a rollover breath
Extend distance to 20 feet with a rollover breath, and introduce a front breath
Swim 15-20 feet while improving independent front breath and introduce rollover breaths
Swim 20-30 feet while getting multiple independent front breaths and rolling breaths, treading water is introduced
Swim elementary backstroke 30-40 feet, swim freestyle with several independent rhythmic breaths 30-40 feet and treading water is mastered
Swim freestyle 80 feet with unilateral and bilateral rhythmic breathing and swim competitive backstroke 80 feet
Swim breaststroke 80 feet, swim freestyle 80 feet with bilateral rhythmic breathing and backstroke
Master endurance and the individual medley and learn swim team starts and finishes and introduce safety skills
