04/18/2026
When my baby wouldn’t stop crying at swim lessons, these 8 things helped me through:
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1. I focused on how she behaved immediately after the lesson was over. I found comfort in the fact that she calmed down quickly and reached to her instructor for high fives.
2. I considered the many other circumstances that made her cry. From needing to have her diaper changed to having to share a doll with her sister, there was plenty of material!
3. I reminded myself that when kids do not yet have extensive language skills, crying is a common mode of communication.
4. I conversed with my instructor often about her progress at lessons. When discussing swim lessons at home, we focused mostly on the skills being gained. “Today you swam to the steps with your eyes open!”
5. I connected with other parents who chose the same instructor. There were plenty of families at the pool who had kids who had transitioned from crying to smiling. It was easy to find families that loved and trusted the program.
6. I noticed that she had begun to “pretend play” as a swim instructor. She behaved kindly and encouragingly to the dolls and toys that she was “teaching to swim.”
7. I continued to remind myself of our “why”. Drowning is the leading cause of death for kids 1-4, with most of these accidents happening at non-swim times. Our family loves to travel and be at the pool. We needed these lessons. We needed our kids to learn the skills and respect.
8. Remembering the previous seven tips helped me check my own attitude poolside. When I put my most confident and trusting self forward, it positively benefited my baby too!
Visit castwatersafety.org and on IG for more water safety tips!
