What to do if my baby is afraid of water?

The pool and beach season is officially here! But what should you do if your baby is afraid of water? And even without talking about full-scale swimming, what if your baby is already scared at bath time?! These are questions many parents ask themselves, and we're going to try to answer them!

What to do if your baby is afraid of water? The right approach

If bath time feels more like an ordeal for you and your child than a moment of relaxation and fun... it's quite likely that your baby is afraid of water! First of all, if it's the bath that's the issue, certain good habits can be adopted to reassure your child and put them at ease:

• Check the water temperature;
• Don't fill the bath too much — just a shallow depth of water;
• Put in the toys they love;
• If your child is a little older, you can add some bubbles — or even certain magic bath salts that fizz in the water and create a fun colour.

But actually, is a baby really afraid of water?

Once all of this is in place, what should you do if your baby is still afraid of water? First and foremost, it's worth knowing that a baby doesn't naturally have a "fear of water". This fear actually tends to come from... the parents! Yes, because babies feel absolutely everything, as you no doubt already know. As a result, a certain apprehension, the worry that they might put their head under the water, or even a sudden movement can all be potential triggers.

Our advice if the problem persists

We'd suggest keeping up your efforts and even tackling the problem head-on. You could, for example, sign them up for baby swimming classes! They'll be surrounded by other little ones their age, and you yourself will receive advice from a professional. It is also crucial to respect your child's pace, and never force them into anything. It's better to show them rather than do it for them. Likewise, it can help to distract their attention with small toys, or by playing with your little one yourself. Fear of water generally doesn't last very long, so be patient — before long they'll be like a fish in water! Or maybe not...! On that note, have you tried our baby swimming kit? Perhaps with a lovely watermelon-print diaper, your child will start to love the water!