Bathing babes

By Merill Haseen

�

BRITAIN'S newest swimming star is nine-month old Eva Davies. She has just swum into the record books as the youngest child ever to be awarded a distance certificate for ten meters from the Amateur Swimming Association.

�

Eva first took the plunge at just four months, and her mother Janine admitted that it was 'a little scary to start with'� when Eva's head went under the water: 'You lower them down under water and bring them back up again. Within about three weeks she was used to holding her breath.'

�

Eva can propel herself along the pool, but she needs to have her head lifted clear each time she needs to take a breath.

�

Her parents believe that she is developing movement better than other babies her age, but experts are divided on the advisability of introducing a baby to swimming so early.

�

Dr David Hunt, of the Amateur Swimming Association, said he didn't recommend babies being taught to swim at Eva's age because of the danger that the baby would breathe in water, hygiene concerns and the risk of cold.

�

Dr Francoise Freedman, an anthropology lecturer at Cambridge University who is helping to pioneer early swimming lessons in Britain, said: 'They are not disturbed by being underwater. Children who are not introduced to swimming until 18 months or two years old develop an anxiety.'

�

According to Mother & Baby magazine, the sooner your baby gets used to being in water, the quicker she'll learn to swim. Most babies start at three or four months, although the Department of Health says you don't have to wait until after your baby has had her first set of vaccinations at two months.

�

The magazine recommends checking out your local baby/toddler pool (which should be around 30 degrees C) to see how clean it and the surrounding areas are before asking about lessons. Lessons are the best way to teach your baby to swim in the right way.

• Babies with eczema or another skin complaint may find the chlorinated water irritating. You should also be aware that swimming pools are notorious for picking up fungal infections such as athlete's foot, and give swimming a miss if your baby feels at all unwell.

To find a local swimming teacher contact the Institute of Swimming Teachers and Coaches.

�

Did you take your baby to swimming lessons Share your experience on our message board.