How to Teach Your Toddler to Swim

Swimming isn’t just a way for your little ones to have some fun in the sun—it also helps them stay safe in case of any water-related emergency. Teaching a toddler to swim doesn’t involve typical swimming lessons. Instead, your main goal is introducing your little one to the water and helping them feel as comfortable and adjusted as possible. If your little tike already loves playing in the pool, you can splash right into some basic swimming skills.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Water Introduction

  1. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 1
    1
    Remind your kiddos not to run and to stay close to you. Set a few firm ground rules with your little one before taking them to the water. Instruct them not to run near the edge of the water, and not to go into the water unless a trusted adult is nearby.[1]
    • For example, you can say something like, “Don’t get into the water until Mommy or Daddy says it's okay.”
    • Never leave your little one near the water without supervising them.[2]
  2. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 2
    2
    Offer your little one a life jacket for safety. Inflatable floaties and swimsuits aren’t actually that great—they can deflate pretty easily, which can be super dangerous. Instead, strap your child into a life jacket, which will provide a lot of extra support while they’re getting used to the water.[3]
    • Look for life jackets certified by an established organization, like the Coast Guard.
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  3. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 3
    3
    Guide your child into the water with a pad. Lay a pad or towel along the side of the shallow end of the water, and place your little one along the edge. Once your child is secure, get into the water yourself, and stand 2 to 3 ft (0.61 to 0.91 m) in front of them. Encourage the child to shift off the pad and climb into the shallow end of the water, while you provide as-needed support. When your child gets in the pool, carry or guide them through the water so they stay afloat.[4]
    • Every child is different—if your little one is pretty confident, you may not need to help them out very much as they climb into the water. If they’re a little unsure, provide a little extra support and encouragement.
    • Don’t “walk” your child down the steps into the water, as they might slip on the way down.
  4. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 4
    4
    Help your toddler learn how to get out of the water with a pad. Place a pad along the outside of the pool. Lift up your little one so they can grab and climb onto the side wall. Encourage them to climb up and onto the pad, so they‘re completely out of the water.[5]
    • Don’t place your child on the pad right away. Instead, encourage them to climb up and out of the water on their own, while you hold onto their hips for support.
  5. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 5
    5
    Encourage your kids to “talk” to the fish so they’re used to the water. The water can be intimidating for little tikes, especially if they’ve never taken a dip before! Carry your child into the water and teach them to blow bubbles into the water as a way to “talk” to the fishies down there. Then, help them place their ear along the water to “listen” for a response.[6]
    • Always look happy and excited as you’re blowing bubbles in the water. This will help your child feel a lot more encouraged and confident!
  6. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 6
    6
    Teach your little one how to float on their back. Help your child shift onto their back, letting their head lean against your chest. Invite them to spread their arms out in “T” shape, and gradually move their head off your chest. Support their back with your hands, slowly removing your fingers until your little one is floating on their own.[7]
    • You’ll need to practice floating a lot before your child really gets the hang of it.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Breath Holding

  1. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 7
    1
    Wait until your child seems comfortable in the water. Dunking underwater for the first time is a big milestone, but you don’t want to rush your child into it. Spend time with your child in the water, and see how confident or nervous they feel. [8]
    • It can take a little time before your child feels ready. Provide with lots of support and encouragement whenever they’re in the water!
    • You can always start simple, like teaching your child to hold their breath in the tub![9]
    • Goggles and nose plugs might make dunking underwater a little less scary for your little one.[10]
  2. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 8
    2
    Teach your little one how to hold their breath so they don’t breathe in any water. Hold onto your little one in the shallow end of the pool. Invite your child to touch your tummy while you take a big, deep breath and hold it in. Puff out your cheeks like a squirrel so your child can understand how to hold their breath.[11]
  3. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 9
    3
    Show your toddler how to exhale. Count to 3 with your fingers while holding your breath. Sink yourself down in the water so your mouth is around water level, and then exhale onto the water. This will create some bubbles, and help your little one learn how to release their breath after they’ve held it in.[12]
    • If your child doesn’t quite understand, encourage them to blow bubbles in the water. This is a great way to get the hang of breathing out, and understanding what it looks like.[13]
  4. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 10
    4
    Demonstrate a few deep breaths for your child. Take a couple of deep breaths, touching your nose with your fingertip while you inhale. When you breathe out, make a dramatic “motorboat” noise to show where the air is going. Don’t gasp for air—instead, take long, steady breaths, so your child realizes that holding and releasing a breath is perfectly normal.[14]
  5. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 11
    5
    Dunk under the water yourself so your toddler understands what to do. Take a deep breath and puff out your cheeks before you dunk, and then pop under the water for several seconds. Stay underwater for a couple seconds, keeping your cheeks puffed out, and then return to the surface. Remind your child that it’s important to hold your breath before going underwater, so you don’t get any water in your nose or mouth—once they’re out of the water, they can release the breath.[15]
    • For example, you can say something like, “Mommy’s gonna dunk under the water for a few seconds. Can you count to 3 for me?”
  6. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 12
    6
    Go under the water with your child for a few seconds. Let your little one know that you’re both going to dunk under the water together. Remind your child to hold their breath and close their eyes, keeping their cheeks puffed out like a squirrel. Look at your child as you dunk them both under the water for a few seconds. Then, bring them back up to the surface.[16]
    • Try to stay underwater for at least 3 seconds, so your little one can get used to the water.[17]
  7. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 13
    7
    Shower your little one with lots of praise and reassurance. Dunking in the water can be really scary for some children, so let them know that you’re super proud of them, and that they did a great job. Offer tons of encouragement and reminders that they’re perfectly safe,[18]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Simple Treading

  1. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 14
    1
    Place a pool noodle under your child’s arms. Guide your little one into the shallow end of the pool. Lift up their arms, and stick a pool noodle underneath—this will help them float on their own while they learn to tread water.[19]
  2. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 15
    2
    Encourage them to look up and turn in a circle. Point towards the sky or ceiling, and coax your child to look upwards. When they’re treading water, you don’t want their head sinking beneath the surface.[20]
  3. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 16
    3
    Guide your toddler's hips to help them turn. Give your little tike a lot of encouragement, telling them to turn themselves in a circle. Place your hands lightly on your child’s hips to help them get the hang of spinning in the water. Don’t spin them too much—just enough so they get the hang of what’s going on.[21]
  4. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 17
    4
    Remove the noodle and encourage your child to keep turning. Once your child seems really confident and happy in the water, ask them if you can take away the noodle for a little bit. Encourage them to keep turning in a circle, so they stay afloat in the water. Continue supporting your child’s hips as they turn, so they can build up their confidence in the water.[22]
    • Stay really close to your little one as they do this. Even if they’re spinning on their own, you want to provide support close by.
  5. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 18
    5
    Let go of your little one gradually as they feel more confident. Ask your little one how they’re feeling, and if they’re ready to try spinning on their own. If your child seems very happy, confident, and independent, let go of their hips and let them spin themselves around in the water without any help.[23]
    • Don’t rush your child into this! They may need a lot of extra support before they’re ready to tread water on their own.
  6. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 19
    6
    Work up to having your kiddo tread water for 1 minute. Stand close to your child while they spin and tread water. Shower them with lots of praise, encouraging them to keep spinning in the water. See if they can make it to the 1-minute marker—if not, that’s perfectly okay! You can work with your child on gradually treading water for longer periods of time.[24]
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Basic Swimming Skills

  1. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 20
    1
    Use 2 pool noodles to help your child learn to kick and paddle. Bring your little one to the shallow end of the pool, and place 2 small pool noodles beneath their armpits. Lightly hold onto the ends of the pool noodles, encouraging your child to kick and paddle to move themselves through the water.[25]
    • You can move your child’s arms through the water first so they get an idea of what to do.
  2. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 21
    2
    Teach your child to paddle by encouraging them to “catch fish.” Sit along the shallow side of the pool, where your little one can stand comfortably without going under the water. Place them in front of you and tell them to reach forward and “catch” the fish in the pool by swinging their arms forward in a windmill motion, like a front crawl. Encourage your kiddo to pull the water toward themselves so they can get the hang of the paddling motion. Sing a little tune with them while they paddle their arms, and see how many “fish” your little one caught at the end.[26]
    • For some extra fun, tell your child to toss the fish they caught back into the water.
  3. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 22
    3
    Play “red light green light” to teach your toddler to kick their legs. Go to the shallow side of the water with your little one. Encourage them to hold onto the steps or side of the pool, while keeping their head above water. When you say “green light,” encourage your child to kick their legs behind them as fast as they can. Once you say “red light,” encourage your child to stop kicking.[27]
    • If your little one is pretty confident in the water, give them a kickboard to hold onto.
  4. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 23
    4
    Encourage your child to swim a short distance to the wall. Sit in the shallow end of the pool and kneel into a sitting position, about 3 ft (0.91 m) or so from the wall. Lift your child and have them stand on your thighs. Tell them to “jump” off your legs into the water, and then swim over the wall. If needed, you can give them a little extra support along the way.[28]
    • Give them a few seconds to really grab onto the wall and support themselves, so they get used to swimming towards the water’s edge.
  5. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 24
    5
    Help your little one swim on their own with a support. Give your child a kickboard or other flotation aid they can hold onto while in the water. Encourage them to swim a short distance on their own by kicking their legs behind them.[29]
    • This is a great way for your little one to get the hang of kicking in the water.
  6. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 25
    6
    Teach your child how to do a freestyle stroke. Sit your child on the pool steps and encourage them to kick their legs in front of them. Then, guide your little one into the water and show them how to swing their arms forward. Once they seem comfortable with both of these movements, try putting everything together! Encourage your little tike to kick behind them while moving their arms, so they can get the hang of the stroke.[30]
    • You may need to give your child some guidance on when to breathe. For instance, every 3-5 strokes, remind your child to “breathe,” and lift their head out of the water for a moment.
    • Learning a new swimming stroke takes a lot of time and effort. It may take weeks, months, or years before your little one really gets the hang of it.
  7. Image titled Teach Your Toddler to Swim Step 26
    7
    Encourage your child to swim a short distance on their own. Stand next to your child in the water and encourage them to swim across part of the pool, for about 25 yd (23 m). Remind them to swim towards an exit, where they can climb out of the pool on their own.[31]
    • If your child is still getting used to the basics, encourage them to swim a shorter distance.
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Expert Q&A
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  • Question
    What if my child is afraid of swimming?
    Brad Hurvitz
    Brad Hurvitz
    Certified Survival Swimming Instructor
    Brad Hurvitz is a Certified Swimming Instructor for My Baby Swims, an adolescent swimming school based in La Jolla, California. Brad is trained as an Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) instructor with ISR's Self-Rescue® program. He specializes in training children aged six months to six years of age survival skills like floating on their back to breathe and swimming back to the wall, while also educating parents on how to better keep their kids safe. He has a Master of Business Administration from Oregon State University.
    Brad Hurvitz
    Brad Hurvitz
    Certified Survival Swimming Instructor
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    For children who are more hesitant to get in the water, I work on small successes every day. It's necessary to give them small successes. So the next time they have a swim lesson, they can realize that, "Well, today I got my chin wet." The next time, "I got my nose wet." The next time, "I was able to get my forehead wet." The next time, "I opened my eyes in the water." The next time, "I opened my eyes and the water kicked my feet." And all of a sudden, we go from nothing to them having their head down and swimming with their eyes open. The expectation is never for somebody to all of a sudden dispel a fear of the water or dispel even a hesitation of the water. It takes time and it's baby steps to properly teach children how to navigate the water and to reduce any potential fear while still building a healthy respect for the environment.
  • Question
    Should my toddler wear goggles when they're swimming?
    Brad Hurvitz
    Brad Hurvitz
    Certified Survival Swimming Instructor
    Brad Hurvitz is a Certified Swimming Instructor for My Baby Swims, an adolescent swimming school based in La Jolla, California. Brad is trained as an Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) instructor with ISR's Self-Rescue® program. He specializes in training children aged six months to six years of age survival skills like floating on their back to breathe and swimming back to the wall, while also educating parents on how to better keep their kids safe. He has a Master of Business Administration from Oregon State University.
    Brad Hurvitz
    Brad Hurvitz
    Certified Survival Swimming Instructor
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    I don't recommend any goggles until a child is 4 and up. I want a child to be comfortable with the water and comfortable swimming in the water without goggles. God forbid they were to ever fall into the water, I don't want them panicking and saying, "Where are my goggles?" I want them to look around and be comfortable enough with the environment to find the wall and roll on their back.
  • Question
    How can I teach my child to open their eyes underwater?
    Brad Hurvitz
    Brad Hurvitz
    Certified Survival Swimming Instructor
    Brad Hurvitz is a Certified Swimming Instructor for My Baby Swims, an adolescent swimming school based in La Jolla, California. Brad is trained as an Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) instructor with ISR's Self-Rescue® program. He specializes in training children aged six months to six years of age survival skills like floating on their back to breathe and swimming back to the wall, while also educating parents on how to better keep their kids safe. He has a Master of Business Administration from Oregon State University.
    Brad Hurvitz
    Brad Hurvitz
    Certified Survival Swimming Instructor
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    I would try to celebrate small successes. I would ask them how many fingers I'm holding up in the water and to quickly open their eyes to see. If they were able to do that, and they saw how many fingers, we would celebrate, get really excited about the fact that they opened their eyes and saw that I was holding three fingers up. Then the next time, I would challenge them to see how many fingers are on both hands. Again, trying to keep them in tune emotionally while getting them excited about the next challenge is a good way to overcome any obstacles. So once he or she was able to open their eyes and see my fingers, they'd realize that it's okay, their eyes are fine, the environment is not scary, and they can get used to keeping their eyes open in the water and continue challenging themselves with successes.
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Warnings

  • Never leave your little one unsupervised near the water.[34]
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • Don’t teach your child to swim unless they’re at least 1 year old. When they’re that young, your little ones can’t learn to swim on their own.[35]
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • Surround any at-home pool with a fence so your young ones can’t get in the water by accident.[36]
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • Always supervise your children when they’re in the water. If you’re hosting a large gathering, make sure at least 1 trusted adult is acting as lifeguard.[37]
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • Learn CPR before teaching your child how to swim.[38]
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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Things You’ll Need

  • Life jacket
  • Pool noodle

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.parents.com/fun/activities/outdoor/teach-your-child-to-swim/
  2. ↑ https://www.nj.gov/dcf/families/safety/water/
  3. ↑ https://www.parents.com/fun/activities/outdoor/teach-your-child-to-swim/
  4. ↑ https://www.simplyswim.com/blogs/blog/how-to-teach-your-toddler-15-months-2-5-years-to-swim
  5. ↑ https://www.simplyswim.com/blogs/blog/how-to-teach-your-toddler-15-months-2-5-years-to-swim
  6. ↑ https://www.todaysparent.com/kids/teach-kids-swimming-with-five-fun-and-easy-games/
  7. ↑ https://www.fatherly.com/play/how-to-teach-kid-float-swimming-pool/
  8. ↑ https://www.sunsationalswimschool.com/blog/2015/10/toddler-swim-lessons-teaching-toddlers-to-hold-their-breath
  9. ↑ https://www.romper.com/p/how-to-teach-your-baby-to-hold-their-breath-underwater-according-to-experts-19142999
  1. ↑ https://swimmercentral.com/how-to-teach-kids-to-go-underwater-at-swim-lessons/
  2. ↑ https://www.sunsationalswimschool.com/blog/2015/10/toddler-swim-lessons-teaching-toddlers-to-hold-their-breath
  3. ↑ https://www.sunsationalswimschool.com/blog/2015/10/toddler-swim-lessons-teaching-toddlers-to-hold-their-breath
  4. ↑ https://teachyourchildtoswim.com/teach-a-two-year-old-child-to-swim/
  5. ↑ https://www.sunsationalswimschool.com/blog/2015/10/toddler-swim-lessons-teaching-toddlers-to-hold-their-breath
  6. ↑ https://www.sunsationalswimschool.com/blog/2015/10/toddler-swim-lessons-teaching-toddlers-to-hold-their-breath
  7. ↑ https://www.sunsationalswimschool.com/blog/2015/10/toddler-swim-lessons-teaching-toddlers-to-hold-their-breath
  8. ↑ https://teachyourchildtoswim.com/teach-a-two-year-old-child-to-swim/
  9. ↑ https://aleteia.org/2019/07/03/how-to-teach-a-toddler-to-swim-in-5-easy-steps/
  10. ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mazOiHDlKt8&t=0m42s
  11. ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mazOiHDlKt8&t=0m47s
  12. ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mazOiHDlKt8&t=1m6s
  13. ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mazOiHDlKt8&t=1m30s
  14. ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mazOiHDlKt8&t=2m20s
  15. ↑ https://teachyourchildtoswim.com/teach-a-two-year-old-child-to-swim/
  16. ↑ https://www.simplyswim.com/blogs/blog/how-to-teach-your-toddler-15-months-2-5-years-to-swim
  17. ↑ https://www.todaysparent.com/kids/teach-kids-swimming-with-five-fun-and-easy-games/
  18. ↑ https://www.todaysparent.com/kids/teach-kids-swimming-with-five-fun-and-easy-games/
  19. ↑ https://www.todaysparent.com/kids/teach-kids-swimming-with-five-fun-and-easy-games/
  20. ↑ https://teachyourchildtoswim.com/teach-a-two-year-old-child-to-swim/
  21. ↑ https://www.fatherly.com/play/how-to-teach-kids-swim-freestyle-stroke/
  22. ↑ https://teachyourchildtoswim.com/teach-a-two-year-old-child-to-swim/
  23. ↑ https://aleteia.org/2019/07/03/how-to-teach-a-toddler-to-swim-in-5-easy-steps/
  24. ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Swim-Lessons.aspx
  25. ↑ https://www.nj.gov/dcf/families/safety/water/
  26. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/on-parenting/new-guidelines-say-kids-should-start-swim-lessons-around-age-1-heres-what-to-look-for/2019/05/27/73f68286-781f-11e9-b7ae-390de4259661_story.html
  27. ↑ https://services.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2020/while-staying-at-home-during-covid-19-childrens-drowning-risk-may-increase/
  28. ↑ https://services.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2020/while-staying-at-home-during-covid-19-childrens-drowning-risk-may-increase/
  29. ↑ https://services.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2020/while-staying-at-home-during-covid-19-childrens-drowning-risk-may-increase/

About This Article

Brad Hurvitz
Co-authored by:
Brad Hurvitz
Certified Survival Swimming Instructor
This article was co-authored by Brad Hurvitz and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Brad Hurvitz is a Certified Swimming Instructor for My Baby Swims, an adolescent swimming school based in La Jolla, California. Brad is trained as an Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) instructor with ISR's Self-Rescue® program. He specializes in training children aged six months to six years of age survival skills like floating on their back to breathe and swimming back to the wall, while also educating parents on how to better keep their kids safe. He has a Master of Business Administration from Oregon State University. This article has been viewed 21,330 times.
6 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 12
Updated: October 28, 2022
Views: 21,330
Categories: Teaching Children Skills
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