Once your baby can sit up independently, bathtime becomes the perfect opportunity to introduce early swim skills in a safe and familiar space. The bathtub offers a warm, controlled environment to build water confidence and lay the foundation for swimming, even before your child ever steps into a pool.
Try these fun and simple bathtub activities to help your little one feel more comfortable in the water and grow more confident with every splash!
Gentle Waterfall
A fun and soothing way to introduce your child to the feeling of water on their face is by creating a gentle waterfall effect over their head during bath time.
To do this, fill a small cup with warm bathwater. Begin by slowly trickling the water from the top of their head, letting it flow gently down their forehead and cheeks like a soft rain. Keep your tone light and playful, using words like, "Here comes the waterfall!" or "Let’s make some rain!" This keeps the experience fun and reassuring.
Start with short, light pours, allowing your child to get used to the sensation. Gradually increase the amount of water and time the water flows. The goal is to have 3-5seconds of water falling over their face. Encourage them to blink and breathe normally as the water flows over their face. This simple routine helps them acclimate to water on their face, building confidence for future head submersion in the pool.
Bathtub Back Float
Helping your child practice floating on their back in the bathtub is a wonderful way to build early water confidence in a safe and familiar setting.
To start, fill the tub with just enough water so that when your child lays their back on the bathtub floor, their ears are submerged, but their face stays comfortably above the surface. This helps them adjust to the sensation of water surrounding their head in a calm and controlled way.
To keep them relaxed, try distracting them with a favorite floating toy, a small mirror to watch themselves, or softly singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." The gentle rhythm of the song, combined with the soothing sensation of water, helps create a positive experience. Encourage your child to breathe naturally and stay calm.
Blowing Bubbles
Teaching your little one how to blow bubbles in the bathtub is a great way to introduce breath control and build early swim skills! Around 12 months old, your child will be ready to blow bubbles on command. Be sure to always be patient and offer playful encouragement even if they don’t start blowing bubbles right away.
Start by demonstrating the skill yourself—lower your mouth to the water and blow bubbles, making it fun and exaggerated so your child is excited to copy you. If they’re hesitant, encourage them to "kiss the water" by dipping their lips in first. This helps them get comfortable with feeling the water on their mouth before attempting to blow bubbles. You can also put a floating toy on top of the water and ask your child to blow the toy away!
Keep the experience lighthearted, clap and cheer for any small effort, and repeat the demonstration often. Even if they don’t get it right away, they’re still learning through play! With time and practice, your little one will begin blowing bubbles!
Bathtub Kicking
Helping your child learn to kick their feet in the bathtub is a fun and easy way to introduce them to splashing and movement in the water!
Start by sitting your little one in the tub with their legs stretched out. Gently hold their feet and demonstrate small kicks, encouraging them to move their legs up and down. Make it playful by singing a song, counting kicks, or saying, "Kick, kick, kick!" to keep them engaged.
For even more excitement, try having them kick toward a favorite floating toy or creating little "waves" together. Over time, they’ll become more confident with water splashing around them, setting the foundation for strong kicking skills in the pool!
Looking for more water play ideas?
Grab the Splash & Dash Swim Lesson Guide! It’s filled with over 45 age-appropriate swim skills for little ones ages 6 months to 5 years, designed to build confidence, safety, and fun in the water. Perfect for parents looking to teach their child how to swim step by step.