When: Several classes through the week. You enrol for a term of classes with breaks for school holidays.
Where: The classes are run at a number of pools in the area -
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Guiseley – Green Meadows School, Bradford Road, Guiseley, LS20 8PP
- Bingley – Hazelbeck School, Wagon Lane, Bingley, BD16 1EE
Classes are also available in Bradford, Harrogate, Skipton, Keighley and Leeds.
Booking required: Yes, classes are booked and paid for in advance for each 10 week block. To check availability and book on a course, tel: 01943 872 556 or fill out a contact form on the website.
Cost: Between £100 and £130 for a 10 week course.
Transport: various
Age restrictions: Your baby can begin swimming just as soon as you are ready to bring them. Most babies start at around six weeks. The only criterion is that they need to be less than one year when starting the course.
Equipment required: Your baby needs to wear a disposable aqua nappy together with a SplashAbout Happy Nappy on top. Extensive research has shown that this particular combination is best for avoiding accidents in the pool.
You can purchase your Happy Nappy through Water Babies when you book on. They will happily change it for you at your first lesson if it is the wrong size. They are also available second hand from ebay.
Disposable swim nappies are available from the supermarket. It is worth taking a spare to the pool in case you need to change it. (Water Babies generally have some available at £1 each so do ask if you’re stuck).
MoorMums says:
With small class sizes (maximum of 10 babies), these swimming classes are an excellent way of getting your baby used to water. There is also an opportunity to get some brilliant photos of your baby under water at the last class (although you have to pay extra for these).
For the third year running Water Babies has won the top prize at the What’s On 4 Little Ones 2010 awards, winning the main Best National Baby and Toddler Development Activity Award.
You may want to take your baby to the local pool to check that he/she likes swimming (most do) before paying up front for a term of classes.
Alex from Guiseley says: “Great activity which I have done with both kids.”
Teresa from Ilkley says: “We love it because it has given my son some fantastic skills in the water, the teachers are great and he loves his swimming lesson.”
Gillian from Otley says: “My daughter has got so much confidence and is really progressing well in class.”
Judith from Burley says: “My daughter loves the lessons, they are fun as well as teaching a life skill and the other mums are lovely so we have a coffee afterwards.”
Always check that the class is running before setting off. Share your views on the class with other mums in our baby chat section.
