Backfloating
Tips for Success:
1. Keep ears in the water — this position is more comfortable and soothing.
2. Support your child’s head — this is the heaviest part of your child.
3. Relax, don’t hold too tightly — backfloating is a calm activity!
4. Moving your child while floating is important especially when learning to backfloat.
5. If your child is fighting to roll over, let them roll over and try again.
6. Buoyancy resides in fat tissue which children generally have a lot of in comparison to muscle
7. Older children may not want you to just support their head when it is first introduced. Let them rest their head on your shoulder, once they gain more comfort in the water they will be able to try a hold with less support.
8. Children who are uncomfortable in this position may need more body contact with their parent -head on parents shoulder and parents arm across their child’s chest.
9. Don’t get frustrated or force too much with this activity. Your child will gain more comfort with time.
New Vocabulary for WaterBabies 1:
• Relaxed Hold: Used to enter and exit the pool safely. In this position your child’s back should be against your chest, thumb up and fingers under their armpit.
• Front Float Hold: Used for bubble laps and submersion. Point your finger towards your child’s toes, and cup their chest with you hand. Squeeze your wrists together to support their chin if needed or if they are not holding their head up well.
• Sandwich Hold: One hand supporting upper back, neck area while the other hand is placed lightly on chest, sandwiching your child’s torso between your hands.
• Watsu Backfloat: Cupping the back of your child’s head with both hands, this can be modified moving one hand to the cheek, chin or forehead.
• Body Shaping: Introduced in WaterBabies 3 to help support independent backfloating. Shapes to practice at home: X and Pencil.
Tips for Bath Time this week:
• WaterBabies 1: Get in the shower with your child, pour water down the front of their face and make it fun. We will be talking about submersion in the coming weeks!
• All levels: Fill the tub about a couple of inches and have your child lay on their back and practice their backfloat independently. Make it deep enough so ears are submerged. Remember to ALWAYS keep an eye on your child while they are in the tub.
• WaterKids Students: Practice Balloon Cheeks, Bubbles, and Shapes (X, I, Pencil).
