Beautiful Baby Back Floats

BEAUTIFUL BACK FLOATS

Back floating can be a tough skill to master. This article is Aquatots back floating techniques and information to help you guide your baby into a beautiful back float.

Things that can effect your babies back float.

The Righting Reflex

Around the age your baby starts to move, roll over and sit up the righting reflex will come into play (around 5 months). A baby that used to be happy to lay down before will start to try and sit up or put their legs in the air. This is because their brain sends messages to their body to tell it to right itself as this is the direction their development is going. You may find nappy change time is becoming a struggle as well, this is also due to the righting reflex.

Water in the ears

If your baby is joining in after the age of 1 or has not had much to do with back floating the feeling of water filling up the ear canal can be a funny sensation. This will take a bit of getting used to by your baby and the more you can practice the quicker this will happen.

Being still

Swimming can be fun and exciting and sometimes your baby will not want to lay down and be still. If this is the case you will need to use distractions and a counting cue.

10 steps to a perfect back float

1. Support your baby under the armpits so they feel secure and you have control of their torso
2. Rest your babies back against your shoulder
3. Slowly lower into the water (making sure your baby does not feel like their falling backwards)
4. Start your counting cue as you lower into the water (start with 3 then move to 5) by using a cue your baby will know there is a finish point and will be more likely to relax for the count.
5. Try to get low enough so that their ears are completely submerged. By filling up the ear with water the water will not slosh around in their ear and make them uncomfortable.
6. Once you get to the number you said you would get to allow your baby to sit up (always! As this will build trust and an understanding)
7. When your baby has performed a back float allow them to sit up and congratulate them and allow them to gain a reward (toy or what they want)
8. Once your baby is comfortable doing the back float on your shoulder change your grip and perform it off the shoulder
9. Once you feel your baby relax off the shoulder and the weight comes off your hands gently let them go (keep your hands near incase they sit up)
10. Sometimes a bit of movement will help your baby relax into the back float. It also gives them the feeling of the water supporting their weight. Moving backwards when your baby performs their back float is the way to go.