Water babies to make splash in Northiam

The programme, designed to make the most of babies’ natural affinity with water, teaches confidence and safety, using specialist techniques that see many swimming short distances from as young as 30 months.

It starts in Northiam on November 25 and will run on Sundays.

Kelly Lockwood has been running Water Babies across South Kent since May 2012 – after first dipping her toe in the water with her own son Archie, now six.

“Swimming with Archie was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done,” Kelly recalls. “I used to be a bit of a control freak, and the first time I really felt comfortable in my role as a new mum and able to ‘let go’ was when we were swimming together.”

Kelly loved swimming with Archie so much that she went on to qualify as a swimming instructor herself, teaching in her spare time. And when the opportunity to bring Water Babies to South Kent came up, Kelly jumped at it.

“Baby swimming lessons are a good form of gentle exercise for parents and babies whilst also being great for enhancing parent/carer and baby bonding and generally having fun together.

“Our aim is to create a really fun, sociable and energetic atmosphere. Plus it’s a great way for parents to meet other mums and dads who live in the local area.”

Despite the emphasis on fun, the course does have a very serious safety point to it. “Tragically, drowning is the third highest cause of accidental death among children in the UK,” says Kelly. “In most cases it’s the shock of sudden submersion that causes children to panic. We believe that by introducing babies to the water from as early as possible, they’ll be less likely to experience fear if they do fall in.”

For more information call Kelly on 01424 892568 or visit www.waterbabies.co.uk