Swimming is such a magical bonding experience, but it can sometimes feel a little daunting if your little one regularly suffers from toddler ear infections or has recently had a grommet procedure.
First things first: your doctor or ENT consultant will always be the best person to advise whether swimming is suitable right now, or if it’s better to pause the pool time for a little while.
If your medical professional has given your family the green light to go swimming, but you still need to keep those little ears dry, don’t worry! There are a few fantastic, tried-and-tested gadgets that can make your next family swim or Turtle Tots lesson completely stress-free.
If your child is old enough, it’s worth having a gentle chat with them before you arrive at the pool about avoiding putting their head fully underwater for now. At Turtle Tots, we are passionate about a child-led approach. The key is to keep your pool time relaxed, positive, and completely pressure-free—we never want our little turtles to become over-cautious or fearful about water around their faces.
The great news? You can still both enjoy lots of fun water activities! From blowing bubbles and gentle face dips to practicing those essential, life-saving water safety skills, you can do so much while keeping their ears high and dry. Over the years, we’ve welcomed lots of little ones with grommets into our baby and toddler swimming lessons, and they love living life to the fullest in the water!
A Mum’s Perspective: As a mum to a now 6-year-old who had grommets, I’ve tried and tested all the products out there. Some were definitely better than others! Along the way, I found a few absolute keepers. They do take a bit of patience and practice at first, but they are total lifesavers—not just for our swimming lessons, but also for bath time, showers, and the dreaded hair-washing at home!
If you need a reliable routine to keep pool water out of your child’s ears, here is the ultimate three-layer toolkit that worked wonders for my family.
The first and most important step is a good pair of children’s earplugs. Make sure they are specifically designed for your child’s age, as little ears vary massively in size and shape. Expect a tiny bit of trial and error to find the perfect pair!
The correct fit is everything; earplugs that are too large or long will be uncomfortable and won’t create that essential watertight seal.
For extra protection and peace of mind, I love adding waterproof ear stickers over the plugs. They are brilliant for keeping the earplugs securely in place. Plus, they reduce the sensation of water splashing right inside the ear, which is incredibly helpful for children who dislike that feeling.
They can be a little fiddly to apply at first, so give yourself a few attempts! Top tip: If your little one has long hair, tie it back securely first to avoid a sticky situation. After swimming, the stickers should peel off easily, but a splash of baby oil or moisturizer helps shift any leftover adhesive. Brands like Aolso offer great, budget-friendly packs.
To lock everything together, top it all off with a comfortable neoprene swimming earband, like the ones from Zoggs.
This headband acts as the ultimate anchor, holding both the earplugs and the stickers firmly in place while muffling loud pool echoes. It gives your little one the freedom to splash without you worrying about an earplug floating away!
Now, using all three layers together might sound like you’re preparing for a deep-sea dive! While this combination is incredibly reliable, we still wouldn’t recommend testing them during deep underwater dives or games like collecting sinking toys from the bottom of the pool. It’s best to avoid submersions completely for now.
However, from my own experience, this clever setup works perfectly for:
At first, managing all these extra bits and pieces in the changing rooms can feel like a lot. But we promise, it gets so much easier with practice! Before you know it, you’ll have your little turtle fully geared up and ready to splash in just a couple of minutes.
Have questions about swimming with grommets or want to chat about how our teachers support children with ear sensitivities? Get in touch with your local Turtle Tots office today—we’re always here to help your family love the water safely!
When it comes to giving kids fun, confidence-building experiences while staying active, Ireland has some fantastic options – and we like to count ourselves one of them! But today we’re shining a spotlight on Soccer Stars Ireland, one of our trusted partners, and a provider of children’s activities with a philosophy near and dear to our own. Whether your little one is just starting to explore movement or is already kicking toward their first goal, Soccer Stars offers structured, engaging, and child-centred experiences that support development at every stage.
If you’ve got a future football star in your family, Soccer Stars Ireland might just be their next favourite thing. Designed for kids from toddlers up to early teens, they inclusive and structured soccer coaching that builds skills and confidence.
Why Kids Will Love Them:
Soccer Stars offers a free trial class so your child can experience the fun first-hand before you commit.
Try it out here: Book A Free Trial Class
Learn more about their full range of programmes on their website.
Both Turtle Tots Ireland and Soccer Stars Ireland put children first — blending expert guidance with joyful activity. They make fitness, friendship, and fun accessible for families all over Ireland.
Whether your goal is to help your child:
…there’s something here worth exploring.
Give them a look — your child might just find their next favourite activity!
Here at Turtle Tots, we get asked all the time about underwater photoshoots for babies and whether we offer them. For lots of new parents, the ‘Nirvana’ shot is on the bucket list of photographic memories and a key motivator for getting involved in baby swimming lessons.
We do offer underwater photoshoots for babies and toddlers approximately twice per year in Dublin, Cork, and Galway, and they’re always lots of fun. But we’re going to be upfront and admit that photoshoots are not our top priority, and definitely not something we offer at the end of every term, or for every student. When we do offer them, we take care to ensure that everyone participating knows what they’re in for, and that our kids are ready and willing too.
We’ve photographed thousands of babies over the years, and we’ve definitely learnt a thing or two about how to get the best images on the day. And what we’ve learned is that preparation is everything. Little ones well experienced with going underwater and are initiating submersions themselves, are comfortable going to new people, and are just generally having a feel-good day are the ones who are going to steal the show. Those are the images you’ll hang on your wall with pride and people will say ‘wow!’ when they see them for years to come.
And we’re going to be honest and say that it’s the underwater swim itself which presents the biggest challenge for most little ones. It’s a really big achievement to be ready for the swim we use for the photos: babies will be fully released just below the surface, and swim all on their own for 3 to 5 seconds before collection. The swim has to be long enough for the instructor to step away – after all, you don’t want arms or legs in the background, and bubbles need to clear so we can see their gorgeous faces clearly. That swim is more than just a ‘mini-dip’, it’s a proper swim for little babies! Once you’ve mastered this swim at class (usually around the end of your second of third term) and if your little one isn’t struck with a case of ‘stranger-danger’, it’s the perfect time for your family’s photoshoot.
A: Unfortunately, no. We simply do not teach released submersion swims in our first baby level, Turtle (3-8 months). It goes against our child-led ethos to force a long submersion for any child, and young babies are rarely submerging for that long of their own free will or showing signs that they wish to do so.
A: We introduce released submersion swims from our second baby level, Seahorse (7-11 months), and by the end of our third level, Dolphin (10-15 months) it’s a well practiced skill. You’ll have plenty of opportunity at class to see for yourself if your child is relaxed and happy with their underwater swims, and when they are: well, that’s your cue to join in at our next photoshoot!
A: If a baby is happy to submerge, you’ll know! From the first minutes of class when we blow ‘bubbles’, they’ll be happily sticking their faces right in the water to blow too. When you give the cue ‘Name, Ready, Go!’ before submersion their body language should be relaxed and leaning in – and then when you go under with them, you should see that their body remains relaxed and their facial expression calm. Afterwards, they should be calm and happy, and ready to go again!
Signs that your little ones is not ready would be if they are arching their backs away from the water at the surface, tensing their body as you give the cue to go underwater, or if you observe widened eyes, arms very wide and stiff, or tightly closed fists once they are underwater. If they didn’t like their submersion swim, chances are they’ll let you know afterwards too 🙂 If you observe these signs, you should hold off attending a photoshoot for the time being – it could end up being a bad experience for them and for you, and you won’t get the photos you want either.
A: When we have a photoshoot upcoming, we’ll let you know. They’re usually around April and November. We’ll give about a month’s notice – we try not to schedule and book them too far in advance, because a lot can change for our young students, even in a month!
Photoshoots cost €100 per child and includes the session itself (30 minutes, group session), and all of the images in a high quality, digital format for you to download and keep forever. A few weeks after the photoshoot, we’ll send you all of your gorgeous images to download via a link.
For many years, we’ve donated a portion of termly fees to Heart Children Ireland and the Irish Kidney Association. This year, we wanted to go even further — so we’re holding our annual Duck Race (actually, lots of them!) to raise money for another incredible Irish charity: Childhood Cancer Ireland.
The child who raises the most sponsorship will win a whole term of Turtle Tots classes — completely free! Our Duck Race 2025 winner will be announced in November 2025, and the winner notified by both phone and email.
During the week 18 to 24 of October 2025, we’ll be making classes extra fun with our very own Duck Races.
Every swimmer is invited to collect sponsorship for their duck. We hope friends and family will support your child and help raise funds for this worthy cause.
✨The winner of each class will take their duck home!
✨ Everyone else can also take their duck home in return for a small donation.
If your child takes their duck home, we’d love to see their duck’s adventures around your town!
When you’ve completed your sponsorship form, there are three ways to donate before 24th October:
After the deadline, we’ll announce the top fundraiser and present the funds to the charity.
Every little helps — please don’t feel pressure to raise huge amounts. If each of our little Turtle Totters raised just €20, together we could donate over €50,000!
Childhood Cancer Ireland is a parent and survivor-led charity, founded by families who know first-hand the devastating impact of a childhood cancer diagnosis.
They raise funds to provide practical and emotional support for children and families, while also advocating for better treatments, services, and outcomes across Ireland.
👉 Hear inspiring stories here: Gold Ribbon Stories
👉Watch Oisín’s dad share his journey here: Oisin’s dad’s video
We know everyone is busy, so we deeply appreciate anyone who chooses to get involved. We promise the Duck Races will be full of laughter, memories, and purpose — while raising vital funds for children, babies, and young people across Ireland and beyond.
A heartfelt thank you from all of us at Turtle Tots Ireland.
Jumping is a key element of developing a child’s motor skills, and it’s a huge milestone for toddlers when they jump into the pool for the first time. It’s a skill first introduced in our Octopus level, and an important one because it really is a leap of faith, for you and for them!
From the very first time they jump in from the side or the mat, you can see the pure joy on their little faces. It’s a fun activity we encourage and love to introduce in the safe and supervised space of our lessons.
Once babies and toddlers can stand, they’ll start learning to first step out, and then later jump, into the pool for you to collect. We’ll teach them to wait and listen until they hear your cue – this is really important – and then to look before they leap. Safety always comes first.
To begin with, babies will stand on a thick foam mat supported by their teacher – this prevents any accidental falls from doing any harm. Walking to the edge and holding their parent’s hands, their first big step over the edge is totally on their terms – and from their perspective, it looks a long way down! The excitement, the thrill, and most importantly the splashes and the giggles afterwards fast become every kid’s favourite part of their lesson.
In the following weeks they’ll build up the confidence to jump without you holding their hand; toes to the edge, knees bent, and jumping away from the wall and under the water before being scooped up in to the safe arms of their parent.
Simple phrases like “1-2-3, Jump!” or “Ready, Set, Go!” help both of you to communicate safely when it comes to jumping in. At first, kids will want to leap in as soon as they are standing up, it’s just too much fun! But, it’s easy to see how this behaviour might cause an injury, or even worse, a drowning risk. We’ll teach kids to listen and wait until you say their favourite words before they leap. Learning to jump in the right way keeps them safe, and teaches an essential life skill at an age when kids need it most. We’ll keep it fun and light-hearted, whilst giving you some peace of mind.
Whether they do a full jump or just dip a toe, celebrate it! Positively builds confidence and self-esteem. High-fives, claps, or a little splishy splashy song all go a long way 🎶 Jumping in is an important submersion skill and building block for more advanced skills later, but it does take courage and trust. What seems like one small step to you can mean a giant leap to them, and when it does happen, you’ll both be jumping for joy.
Has your toddler hit the brakes when it comes to participating in lessons? If you have a toddler who suddenly wants nothing to do with swimming and it’s been going on for more than a few weeks, it can be tough. You’re probably getting frustrated or anxious, but believe me, you’re not alone. Nearly every toddler has a water wobble at some point. Over the years we’ve seen so many different swimmers, and truly they all are so special and unique! Toddlers are so much fun, but it can be a challenging time when ‘no’ is their new favourite word and your investment in lessons feels like money down the drain.
Here at TT we have a lot of tricks up our sleeve to get kids back on track. Not every idea will work for every child, and so you might need to try a few suggestions before one works. Here are my best tips you might find helpful to help your toddler participating in lessons again.
Always remember that your toddler is a little person, with their own mind, character and feelings. Listen to them, and validate how they feel ❤️. By building their trust in you, in turn they’re more inclined to believe it’s not a trick the next time you ask something new of them. Once they’ve made peace with what’s bothering them, they’ll become unstoppable little sharks in the water! Every scenario is different too. We love to help with advice, and always have time after class for a quiet conversation when you need it.
When the sky is blue and the sun is shining, it can be hard to imagine why at Turtle Tots we keep insisting on thermal layers for our baby swim lessons. You’ve just bought a gorgeous little baby sunsuit for that holiday abroad, and it’s a shame to see it go to waste. Surely the pool is warm enough without a baby wetsuit, right?
Here at Turtle Tots, our main focus is to provide a safe, warm and of course fun environment for each and every one of our special little ones. Every pool selected by Turtle Tots for our lessons is individually assessed to ensure it’s suitability for our baby, toddler and preschool swimming levels. The STA recommends that pools should be at least 32c for babies 2 months or younger, and 30c for babies under 12 months. Once in the toddler years and beyond, there is no recommended minimum temperature for lessons, but most prefer at least 28c or above for comfort. Our pools are always meet these standards or exceed them every day that our lessons are on, or our lessons don’t go ahead. Each teacher completes their own safety checks independent from the leisure centre’s test equipment before our lessons can begin too.
Newborn babies (0-2 months) haven’t yet developed enough physically to self-regulate their core body temperature, and it is so important when swimming during the newborn phase that the water temperature is very warm (ideally 32-34c) and swim time is kept short,15 minutes is plenty. Our pools are warm, but only a few are that warm (we call them hydro-pools), and because our lessons are 30 minutes long on top, here at Turtle Tots Ireland we ask parents to wait until babies are at least 3 months of age before joining our lessons. Babies two months old or younger will find 30 minutes at 30c overly tiring and perhaps even stressful. If your baby is premature, please use their adjusted age to calculate when to start. Also, we think babies benefit so much more from the skills we teach when they’re just that little bit older too 🙂
It’s somewhere between 3 and 6 months of age that babies will begin to develop core temperature regulation abilities, and it’s not until around 9 or 10 months that they can do it really well. It takes a lot of energy to stay warm, and until babies are getting plenty of extra calories after weaning, they need a little extra help with it. This is why at Turtle Tots we strongly encourage dressing your little one in a Warm In One or Baby Wrap wetsuit, along with their Happy Nappy. Thermals will help keep your baby comfortable for far longer than possible without one. An added benefit of baby thermals is they also reduce water sensation on sensitive skin, which can be overwhelming in what’s already a very stimulating environment.
We understand every child is different and you know them best, so after they’ve been attending for a term or two, you may notice that they don’t need a thermal any more (some babies run hot!) or they may need something less insulating, like a Thermaswim. So, go with your gut and remember our highly trained teachers are always there to help and offer guidance too – all our teachers have ‘spare’ swimwear you can loan a thermal layer for a lesson or two and see if it makes a difference before you invest. As children leave their baby and toddler years behind, they will be more active in the water and less likely to notice if the pool is a little cooler than those we teach our baby swimming lessons in.
Dress your baby in their swimwear only after you have arrived at the leisure centre, and shortly before you hop in. Never dress a child in their thermal swimwear and transport them in their car seat – this can cause over heating, especially on hotter days. As we mentioned earlier, young babies cannot regulate their core temperature very well, and can overheat easily. Dressing your baby too early in thermals can also make them feel cold when entering the water later too, as their body temperature has risen dramatically – a literal shock to the system! Also, those swim nappies they’re wearing underneath are not designed to hold liquids, so you could very quickly end up with a mess which leads to delays before you can get swimming.
Don’t arrive too early – 15 minutes is plenty of time for both of you to get ready. After dressing, it might be tempting to go stand poolside where the air is a going to be warmer, but we advise waiting in the changing rooms until just before class. Firstly, there’s likely more space for children and parents to chat and relax before their lesson, but more importantly, the air temperature poolside can be very warm – too warm for little ones in thermals to be there more than a few minutes before getting in.
So, now it’s time for class and the magic that comes with it! You and your baby or toddler will create memories that will last a lifetime. Bring a towel poolside for the younger ones to keep them nice and toasty when they get out, and once they’re all snuggled up, the post swim sleeps are the best! Remember at Turtle Tots, we are always here to help, we’ve seen and heard it all, so don’t be shy! Check out our online shop for our tried and tested swim wear range, or our news for some more tips and tricks to make your Turtle Tots journey even more special.
Bringing your little one for their first baby swimming lessons is an exciting milestone! You’re not just teaching them a vital life skill but also opening a world of fun and confidence in the water. However, amidst the excitement of buying baby’s first swimsuit and googling what swim nappies they need, there’s a crucial consideration often overlooked by the untrained eye: the pool itself.
It might seem like any pool will do, but when it comes to baby swimming lessons, the environment plays a starring role in your child’s comfort and safety. Choosing the right pool isn’t just about convenience; it’s about setting the stage for a positive and enriching introduction to aquatic adventures. That’s why we take the process of selecting pools extremely seriously here at Turtle Tots.
So, before you dive in, let’s explore why careful consideration of the pool facility is paramount for your baby’s swimming journey and what criteria we look for when partnering with a pool owner to deliver our award-winning baby, toddler, and preschool swimming programme.
Selecting a pool that is the right temperature for your little one is our number one priority. Babies, especially newborn, are not as good at regulating their body temperature as adults and can get cold much faster. We always follow the Swimming Teachers’ Association (STA) guidelines. A pool that is too cold can lead to discomfort, shivering, and even hypothermia, making your little ones first experience in the pool unpleasant and potentially dangerous. On the flip side, a pool that is too warm can also be detrimental, leading to overheating or lethargy. For optimal comfort and safety, we operate our swimming lessons in pools that can be heated to the recommended temperature which is 30°C for babies over 3 months. A properly heated pool ensures your baby can relax, enjoy the sensory experience of the water, and focus on learning, rather than being distracted by the chill.
Beyond a comfortable temperature, the cleanliness and hygiene of the pool are non-negotiable for our baby swimming lessons. Babies have developing immune systems, making them more susceptible to infections from bacteria and viruses.
We always look for a well-maintained pool which has clear water, free from visible debris, where the owners adhere to strict chemical balance guidelines, particularly concerning chlorine levels.
While chlorine is essential for disinfection, too much can irritate a baby’s sensitive skin and eyes, and too little won’t effectively kill germs.
At Turtle Tots, we always work with facilities that prioritise hygiene, have excellent maintenance procedures in place, and ensure that the pools and their environments are always clean and safe.
The physical dimensions of a pool can play an important role in the enjoyment of your baby or toddler swimming lessons. Ideally, we operate our swimming lessons in a small pool, or a dedicated shallow area, roped off area, or lane in a larger pool with a consistent depth, typically around 1-1.2 meters. This allows parents or carers to maintain a good standing posture and provide a sense of security for their child.
After a fun and stimulating Turtle Tots swimming lesson, your baby will be ready for warmth, comfort, and perhaps a feed. This is where changing facilities become incredibly important, transforming what could be a stressful ordeal into a smooth and positive experience. When assessing a potential new pool, we look for changing areas that are clean, warm, and spacious enough to comfortably manoeuvre a baby and everything that comes with them to their lesson.
When the post-swim routine is efficient and comfortable, it contributes significantly to a baby’s overall positive association with the pool.
Here at Turtle Tots, we understand that establishing a consistent routine for your baby is crucial for their well-being, providing a sense of security and predictability that helps them feel safe.
Once set, many parents are loathe to change their little one’s sleep or feeding schedule for a swimming lesson. Therefore, finding pools where we can offer a variety of times to our families is key. That way, parents can choose a time slot that works around their baby’s schedule wherever possible.
While the pool environment and changing facilities are crucial, the convenience and quality of the broader venue also play a significant role in making baby swimming lessons a stress-free and enjoyable experience.
Easily accessible parking is a true lifesaver for parents juggling car seats and swimming bags. That’s why, whenever possible, we partner with pool facilities that offer sufficient parking facilities, close to the pool.
Beyond parking, we also look for any additional facilities that could support the wellbeing of our Turtle Tots families. Some pools even offer an on-site café, providing a convenient spot for parents and carers to meet for a post-swim snack and coffee – a small luxury that can make a big difference to a new parent’s day.
Ultimately, selecting the ideal pool for your baby’s swimming lessons is about more than just convenience; it’s about creating a foundation for a lifelong love of the water. From the optimal water temperature and hygiene that safeguard their delicate systems, to the right pool size and depth that builds confidence, every detail matters. Add to this the comfort of suitable changing facilities, the flexibility of lesson times that suit your baby’s routine, and the practical benefits of good parking and an on-site cafe, and you have an environment where your little one can truly thrive.
At Turtle Tots, we meticulously consider all these elements when choosing our partner pools, ensuring that every aspect of your baby’s swimming journey is as positive, safe, and enjoyable as possible. Because when the environment is right, your baby can focus on what truly matters: making a splash and learning vital life skills in a fun, nurturing space.
*Whilst our aim is to partner with the highest quality swimming facilities, sometimes the pools we teach in don’t quite meet ALL the requirements listed above. However, you can find details of each pool’s qualities on our website, and we always communicate fully with our customers prior to starting their lessons so that they know what to expect.
It’s Children’s Mental Health Week, a vital opportunity to focus on the emotional wellbeing of our children. This week is all about raising awareness, breaking down the stigmas surrounding mental health, and empowering children to understand and manage their own emotional wellbeing. At Turtle Tots, we believe that supporting children’s mental and emotional health is just as important as their physical development, and we’re proud that our swimming program offers a fantastic way to nurture both.
Think about it: what’s more freeing than the feeling of weightlessness in the water? Swimming isn’t just about learning a life-saving skill; it’s a powerful tool for promoting positive mental health from a young age. Our toddler, preschool, and independent swimming lessons offer a wealth of benefits that extend far beyond the pool.
Swimming offers a unique combination of physical activity, sensory experience, and social interaction, making it an incredibly valuable tool for supporting children’s mental health. It’s more than just a sport; it’s an investment in their overall wellbeing, setting them up for a happier, healthier future.
This Children’s Mental Health Week, let’s celebrate the power of swimming and the positive impact it can have on our little ones’ lives.
This week marks the Royal Lifesaving Society’s Drowning Prevention Week.
Teaching water safety is our No.1 priority here at Turtle Tots. Of course, our award-winning baby, toddler & preschool swimming programme is designed to be great fun and a wonderful bonding experience for parents to share with their little ones. Each lesson we teach contains vital lifesaving skills to help your child to stay safe in and around the water as they grow.
The RLSS Drowning Prevention Week comes at a key time. As we look forward to summer holidays by the pool or on the beach, it’s important that we remind ourselves of the importance of water safety. We all want swimming to be fun, but water safety is subject we should all take very seriously.
We share in the RLSS’ belief that no child should drown and that with the right water safety education, accidental drownings can be preventable. Sadly, on average 7 Irish children’s lives are lost every year to accidental drowning. What’s more, child drowning deaths in Ireland have increased 40% in the last 4 years. We must continue to work together to provide the education our children need to understand the risks that swimming pools and open water can pose, and the skills our children need to stay safe where possible.
Therefore, we are happy to share the following water safety guidance for parents and carers:
To make the Water Safety Code easy to absorb, the RLSS have produced the following video which we urge you to watch and share with your family and friends: https://youtu.be/zwzB7So7jSM
Drowning prevention is a big concept for young children to understand. The RLSS have lots of resources on their website that can help you communicate the importance of water safety to your children without causing concern.
CLICK HERE to find colouring and activity sheets, flashcards and stickers that your children will love. There is also a ‘Colour in to WIN’ competition where your little one could be in with a chance of winning a limited-edition ‘Drowning Prevention Superstar’ pin badge.
If you have slightly older children, you may like to share with them the following animation which tells the story of a young girl who learns to be more confident in the water through the RLSS Rookie Lifesaving Club: https://youtu.be/mYs-fbvie2k
Baring in mind all the above, we hope that all our little Turtle Tots and their families enjoy a sun filled, fun filled holiday this summer. And, don’t forget:
Every minute of every day, 300,000 nappies are dumped into landfill, incinerators, and oceans around the world. If that wasn’t shocking enough, it takes each of those disposable nappies 500 years to break down in landfill. When they do finally fragment, those nappies turn into tons of tiny pieces of micro plastics that poison our water courses and enter the food chain.
Arguably, having babies is one of the most harmful things a human can do for the environment. Each little bundle of joy and happiness is responsible for adding 58.2 tonnes of Co2 to the atmosphere each year, that’s 10x the average of a fully grown adult. Enough to make any new parent a little uncomfortable about procreation. However, we’re not suggesting a future of abstinence is the way to go. Instead, we’d like to help our parents make some simple and effective choices along the way.
As a national swimming company teaching thousands of babies and toddlers in the pool each week, we are acutely aware of the contribution our industry makes on the statistics above. We take our responsibilities for reducing the environmental footprint Turtle Tots has on the planet very seriously.
Keeping the pools we teach in clean and safe for all our customers is one of our highest priorities. ‘Code Browns’ (or poo in the pool) equals a full pool closure which, in turn, means lesson cancellations, disruption for our customers, and significant cleaning costs. To avoid such occurrences, we operate a strict double nappy system policy which means that all our swimmers must wear a Happy Nappy – a innovative reusable swim nappy that reliably protects against faecal leaks into the water – with a disposable or reusable swim nappy underneath.
Whilst we have actively endorsed the use of reusable swim nappies in the past, many of our customers still opt for the disposable despite them costing around €7.50 for a pack of 10! Historically, reusables come with the reputation of being unreliable and lacking in the convenience stakes, making them a second choice for lots of parents.
But now… after four years in development with leading virologists, our baby and toddler swimwear partners has developed and launched a special silver lining fabric for reusable swim nappy liners that is scientifically proven to destroy pathogens such as Cryptosporidium and E-Coli – the germs that enter the water from our little ones, little accidents.
They decided to create the Happy Nappy Duo – an all-in-one double nappy system which means there’s no need for a reusable OR disposable swim nappy underneath it, helping the environment and making life easier! The Duo fits snugly and has a leak proof outer layer just like a regular Happy Nappy, but inside is a highly effective silver lining which is extremely gentle on your child’s skin, but highly effective at preventing any accidents in the pool.
So there really is no excuse … it’s time to ditch the disposable swim nappy!
Visit our shop to purchase a Reusable Under Nappy or a Happy Nappy Duo today.
Across Ireland, thousands of babies and toddlers are, or will soon be, taking their six-week break from Turtle Tots swimming lessons for the summer holidays. For some parents, a break from routine is a welcome change, a chance to relax and enjoy some much-needed downtime. For others, time away from their beloved parent and child activities can fill them with a feeling of dread.
Firstly, it is ok to feel either, or even both things at once. It is perfectly natural. We thoroughly encourage a break from the norm and hope that all our lovely customers enjoy this time with their families.
However, for those of you who would prefer not to take a complete pause from their baby or toddler swimming journey and would like to continue building on their recently acquired water safety and swimming skills, here are some great summer holiday swimming skills you can practice at home in the bath, or in the pool, until your lessons begin again in the Autumn Term.
Learning and practicing your summer holiday swimming skills at home, at your local pool, or on holiday can be incredibly rewarding and enjoyable. However, first, it is important to ensure that the environment is safe and suitable before you get started. Whilst it is much easier to check the cleanliness and temperature of your bathtub and water at home, do make sure that your local pool, or hotel pool on holiday, is adequately heated and treated for your child’s age before you get started.
Skill No.1: SUBMERSION: Getting faces wet.
There are many different ways of getting faces wet which are fun for your baby or toddler. If you have just finished Turtle level, your baby will be familiar with lots of sprinkles and cheek dips so make sure that any bath or pool sessions start with a similar activity. Introducing pouring and sprinkling toys and games is a fun and engaging way to practice this skill.
Mimicking and modelling adults is a great learning technique for children – so why not hop in the bath and show your little one just how happy you can be whilst pouring water over your own face.
With toddlers, get them to pour water over your face then pour it over themselves. Keep smiling and laughing throughout to let your child know just how fun and easy it can be.
For those in Seahorse and above, Underwater Peekaboo will now be a regular part of your warmup routine. In the pool, complete the warmup sequence and Underwater Peekaboo skills to remind your child what to do whenever they are in the water.
Skill No.2 BREATHING: Blowing bubbles.
Breathing is another fundamental water skill that you can continue practicing with your child at home or in the pool.
From the very start of your Turtle Tots journey, we start teaching breathing techniques by blowing bubbles on the water surface. At first, we ask the parents to show their baby their bubble blowing so that they can model them, before encouraging them to give it a go themselves.
Continue this technique independently and practice bubble blowing to whatever stage you are at in your lessons. For example, level one babies may only dip a little of their faces in the water momentarily whereas Toddlers might be happy to lay on the tummies, stick their face in the water and blow bubbles alongside you.
Whatever stage you are at, let your child take the lead and do not attempt to push their faces into the water.
Skill No. 3 FLOATATION: Lying flat with ears in the water.
Practicing floating in the bath or pool over the summer break will help your child immensely when they return to lessons in the Autumn term. Simply taking some time to calmly lay your baby or toddler back in the water will help to build confidence with this skill. Start in a shallow bath for very little ones and then progress to deeper baths as their confidence grows. You can support under the head with one hand to allow little ones the sensation of floating.
In the pool you can float together using a woggle to support you both, like we do at the end of classes for ‘Float Little Turtle’. Little ones who are reluctant to lie back in the water may be happier to relax back with the support of an adult behind them. Older or more confident toddlers may be happy to float in the pool with just your hand supporting their head. If so, see if you can reduce the support a little tiny bit at a time until you are using just one finger.
REMEMBER: Watch out for the righting reflex! Babies may not feel happy to lie flat depending on their developmental stage. So, if your little one is struggling to stay upright then just leave out the back floating until they are ready.
Skill No. 4 PROPULSION: Kicking legs.
Anyone who has completed Turtle or above will know the earworm that is the Turtle Tots kicking song.
‘In the pool we go kick, kick, kick…’
Well, this is a great song to use at home to help your baby or toddler practice their kicking skills. For babies, support your child either cheek to cheek, on their backs, or their tummies, and start singing the song, encouraging them to kick their legs is as much as you need to do at first. For Toddlers, get them to hold on to the side of the pool and kick, swim with an adult and practice kicking together, or even bring a few toys to the pool for your toddler to chase will make this water skill fun and easy to practice.
Skill No. 5 SAFETY: Ready Steady Splash and Holding on.
Ready, steady, splash Is one of the first skills we introduce at our Turtle Tots swimming lessons. It is the first opportunity for us to show our babies what it feels like to enter the water chest first. As babies progress, they also learn to turn around and hold on to the poolside – this skill is the most important safety skill you can teach your child before they can swim independently.
For newborns and very little ones, this skill is practiced with lots of support and with gentle movements but as your child grows, they will be able to complete this skill with more independence.
Be mindful of the stage you are at in your lessons and practice your ready, steady, splashes whenever you go to the pool. Remember to encourage a big lean forward into the water (no bottom shuffling!) If your little one is sitting up securely and keen to lean forward, then let them try a submersion. Stand back a little and let them see the gap between you and they will tell you if they are happy to give it a go. The first moment a baby or toddler submerges themselves from the poolside is a proud moment for both parents and teachers.
We know that our families are set to have lots of fun in the water over the summer and we hope that practicing these fundamental skills will help your children continue to build on their confidence in the water during the break.
Don’t forget our TOP TEN WATER SAFETY TIPS whenever you’re visiting new places to swim during your holiday. But most of all, remember that swimming at home can be a fun and bonding experience for all involved. It’s a way to maintain the skills that they have gained and will only help to develop their strength, coordination, and water confidence for the future.
Happy holidays!
