Summer has arrived and it's time for our little fish to spill out onto the beaches...
From the very first day at the beach, most babies have a great time. However, don't be discouraged if your child is scared or shows no interest at all.
There are many reasons why a child might be "scared" when they see the vast sea and the sand they are not used to for the first time.
Below we will give you a few instructions for the sea for safe and happy swimming.
- Don't be disappointed if the child gets scared!
First, it's good to put ourselves in our child's shoes. If you were stepping on sand for the first time, how would you feel? A little ticklish, a little strange? Well, that's how children feel too! Show them how to play with sand and talk about hygiene rules (e.g. we don't eat it, or we put a towel on to sit on the sand). Also, for babies, the sea looks like a vast living landscape of water that moves non-stop... and it's a little cold here, by the way! So, if you give them some time to adjust to the new conditions, they're sure to love it.
- Enjoy the water with him.
Children are very strong receivers of our energy. If we are relaxed, the child will be able to overcome any fears he may have. Only in this way will we have a good time with him, but we will also bond more. The best thing you can do in the first baths is to show him the properties of water with your hands (e.g. lifting water with your fingers to make a waterfall, or look! this is how waves are made by pushing the water hard, or look how I float! Look how I dive, etc.)
- Never pressure your child for anything!
Children, no matter what age, only learn through play, so it's a good idea to use all our imagination to make a trip to the beach enjoyable.
For infants, 10 minutes is enough for a first contact with the sea. As they grow older, children themselves show us how much time they want to spend in the water. However, no matter how much they want to, excessive exposure to the sun – with or without a hat – or too many dives should be avoided.
- And yet! Let's avoid the armbands!
When the time comes and your child feels ready to enter the sea, don't use armbands but spaghetti! Armbands are anti-swimming as they don't encourage arm movement. The child rests and doesn't learn to clap their hands. After all, spaghetti has a thousand and two uses for water games.
- The rules of eating
It is recommended that children not eat at least 2-3 hours before, but not during, swimming, because if we eat, blood concentrates in the stomach for the digestion process, and if we enter the water, we force the heart to work harder, to get blood to the stomach and muscles for swimming.
Liquids, on the other hand, are highly recommended!
- Sun protection
Sunscreen with an SPF of up to 30 – which does not have additional chemicals – is most recommended by experts.
It is best not to use sunglasses until the age of seven, because the eye gets used to them and becomes "lazy".
- Your eyes are fourteen!
The macaroni, the board and other lifebuoys do not replace supervision.
Therefore, be careful throughout your child's stay in the water, no matter how familiar they are with swimming! Usually, children who know how to swim have learned to respect the water and know their limits. So if your child doesn't want to go in the deep end, even though he swims, be happy, because he has learned to believe in himself at a healthy level and has learned to enjoy the water with respect for it.
And don't forget! The boldest are also the most feared, Be careful of mattresses and balls that are blown away by the wind at sea and can carry the child away from a safe place.
Do not allow your child to swim when there are waves or sea currents, which are not only dangerous for children, but also for us adults.
The child should swim in the shallows. Remember! An arm's length is the only safe distance between you and the child, so you can pull it out of the water if needed.
Do not allow your child to dive unless you have made sure that the depth in that part of the sea is safe and there are no rocks or stones protruding.
- Sea time.
It is best to go to the sea in the morning hours of 8:00-11:00 and in the afternoon from 18:00 onwards when the sea is warmer but also calmer.
- Don't overdo it.
If the child's lips turn blue/purple and he or she shows signs of fatigue, remove the child from the water immediately and wrap him or her in a dry towel.
- Let your imagination run wild!
Make circular movements, let the water run down the child's body, Put it in a supine position - walk it around.
Do not splash water on your face and especially your eyes because the salt water can sting and scare them.
Find your own toys that will excite them!
- Buckets, inflatable pools, boards and balls make the game even more imaginative!
If you have the courage to carry – in addition to the essentials – your entire dowry to the beach, then don't forget the buckets to create your own sand dynasty! The boards also have many uses, such as a sand chair and a boat for the sea. The pools and the balls that fly here and there, just come to take the game off! Also, for the familiar children, remember to take goggles that will give the children an extra incentive to dive to see the bottom. Not to mention that their eyes won't sting and the child will be more comfortable.
Have a wonderful summer, full of new experiences and memories!
Read more tips for new moms
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