The first time I saw one of those viral videos of a baby or toddler swimming – like actually swimming – like most people, I was completely impressed and tried to find out how my kids could swim like that, too. I finally found out it’s a swim lesson style called Infant Swim Resource, or ISR that focuses on Self Rescue. This style of lesson is NOT saying don’t fence your pool, or don’t watch your kids while they swimming – it’s just also saying, your kid has the capabilities to learn how to help save themselves.

I know we’ve all seen it, those moments where your kid does something and your so impressed – you never thought at whatever age they are that they would be able to do that – whatever that thing was. Swimming with ISR is the same – you start off thinking ‘no way’ or ‘I just don’t think my kid is capable’ but after only a few days of these lessons you can immediately see how much they can actually learn and how quickly.

ISR lessons have the standard of lasting 10 minutes per day, Monday – Friday, for 6 weeks. The lessons are one-on-one by someone who is trained and certified, and meant for children aged from 6 months to 6 years. The goal of lessons for infants 6-12 months is to teach them to “roll onto their back to float, rest and breathe, and to be able to maintain this life-saving position until help arrives.” While children between the age of 1-6 learn to swim – float (like above) – and swim again in a sequence until they reach the wall of the pool.

 I wanted to start these lessons when I saw the first video – I think Lacey and Mackenzie were maybe 10 months – but it took until we moved and had a pool in our backyard for us to pull the trigger. Our girls took lessons with Brad of My Baby Swims – he is not only talented in teaching children this life saving technique but is also really fun and my girls LOVED him after only a few short lessons. They would say “Goodbye Mr. Brad!” the whole way off the pool deck and even into the car ride home.

I was worried for the first few lessons – I had read how hard it can be to watch your kid struggle when they are first learning, especially something in the water! But luckily, Brad did a great job of talking to me about everything he was doing and I truly trusted him with my girls while they were in the water. I tried to focus on the end goal of having my kids be safer in the water, and that really helped their unhappiness those first few days fly by. Before I knew it, they were swimming, and opening their eyes under the water (to look for the wall!) and RUNNING to see Mr. Brad every morning.

• 

• 

• 

Floating was harder for Lacey and Mackenzie – they are both stubborn little girls and also really love to swim, so getting them to relax and take a breather was hard, and still is hard while we practice at home. They want to go-go-go but eventually once they are a little tired, they do take breaks and float in our pool, too.

• 

• 

The lessons are intense in terms of commitment – but they are so short every day that it honestly ended up being a great way to get us out of the house for the day. We just brought clothes along with us and went onto our next adventure from swim. I go bath and forth if I would recommend doing them for a family who isn’t swimming all the time – because I know like any skill, if you don’t use it you lose it! But with all the pools in backyards and community pools around San Diego, I think it’s a good call!

If you want to help your kid learn how to be safer in the water, I highly recommend these lessons – and Brad with My Baby Swims is an excellent choice, reach out to him here.