Front Holds

Underarm hold

Parent holds baby under the arms in an upright position.  In this position parent can do bubbles/ face in/ submerge together (or just baby) and move their baby side to side, swishing, bobbing and jumping.

Front Float hold – with out head control

Face to face.  Parent creates a platform for baby to lie on.  Fingers spread out over babies chest, thumbs over shoulders.  Baby’s chin/side of face rests on parents palms, parent’s relaxed and shoulders in the water, keeping hands close together, to ensure baby’s mouth is kept out of the water.  Parent drag swims baby through water walking backwards.

Front Float Hold

When baby has head control, parent holds baby face to face.

Under the arms and chest in relaxed grip, opening hands into platform for baby to feel water buoyancy.  Parent drag swims baby through water walking backwards.

Basic Safety Hold

Baby is held facing away from parent in upright position. Baby’s back resting on parents shoulder/chest.  Parents arm goes under baby’s arms and across chest, and holds baby under the armpit with thumb and first finger.

Safety Hold without head control – chin/cheek (head slightly to the side) rests along parents forearm, ensuring baby’s mouth is kept out of the water.  

Safety Hold

Parent extends their arm out so baby is resting on their outstretched arm, parents other hand can support baby’s seat keeping the spine straight in the water.  Parent can hold under armpit, with thumb and first finger for extra support.  This hold prepares babies and toddlers for one woggle boats.  From safety hold. Parent can roll baby up and down along their outstretched arm.  Parent holds baby’s outer arm by shoulder and rolls them in towards them for a kiss and out again to safety hold.  

Flip Flops

Baby can be ‘flip-flopped’ from front to back.

Parent starts with baby in safety hold or front surf, putting other hand on the back of baby head, ‘flips’ them to back float,  then on to front again.

Hug Hold

(The reverse of parent shoulder supported back float)

Parent hugs baby on shoulder, and puts one hand on each of baby’s leg/thighs and help baby kick legs.

Front Swim position  

Parent holds baby under the arms facing away from them,preparing for a front swim tilts baby forward, at their side, to ‘swim along side’ them in the water.  Chin

just above the water.  In this position parent can do bubbles/ face in/ submerge and move their baby side to side, swishing, bobbing, flip-flopping front to back.  Parent must watch to make sure baby isn’t dipping/drinking.  Older babies and toddlers can roll over to back with, parent changing support as toddler rolls from back to front swim positions.

Seat Hold

Parent supports baby with their strong hand under baby’s seat, other hand on baby’s chest or under one armpit to support:  Correcting their balance and holding a sitting position, upright in the water.  The lower baby is sitting in the water the most water support they have.  Babies soon develop balance in the water, strengthening spinal muscles and improving posture.

When baby’s get to heavy for this on parents hand – baby should balance on parents one knee to further work on developing posture and balance.

Seat Throws

From seat hold, parent lifts/throws baby up and forward, creating a fun jump and returning to the water with a splash, then continue swimming on front.

Little Harbour hold

Parent holds both arms out straight in front.  Baby’s arms rest over parents forearms. Encouraging baby to hold on to parent rather than the other way around.

Baby should be in upright position.  Parent can start with baby close to their chest, after some practice, parent will be able to stretches their arms out in front, allowing baby more room for movement.

Parent can splash their hands.

As baby/toddler get more confident parent can open arms wider, and swish baby side to side – raising arm up slightly at the end of each swish, so baby leans towards other arm and water.  Gaining confidence.

Parent encourages baby/ toddler to kick legs in the water.

Progression to two woggle boats.  

Front Surf

Parent balances baby on one hand, holding under chest, baby’s face just above the water.  

Progression to 1woggle boat babies chest leaning on woggle in the same position as parents hand was.

*some babies don’t like the unbalance of this hold.  As baby gets heavier safety hold can be used to prepare for one woggle boats.

Shark Hold

Parent hold baby one hand under baby’s armpit and other holding baby’s opposite thigh or hip.  Parent hold baby’s nearest armpit and outside thigh /hip of baby.

Waist/ Hips Hold

Parent holds baby around the waist/hips, for short periods of time.

Good for collecting baby from water and allowing babies arms to remain free to hold on.

Arm Swings

Parent holds baby’s hands with baby facing away from parent.  Baby should be supported by the water as much as possible.  As parent and baby get more confident, parent can start to swing baby around in forward, sideways, back, and figure of eight movements, creating wider and wider swings and loops around the pool.  

Monkey rides/Piggy Back Rides

A monkey ride is where the baby/toddler is holding on to parent and the parent moves around the pool (trying to not hold baby or toddler).

Parent swings baby around on to their back and walks or swims across/around the pool.