Teaching Baby To Swim

Does anyone have any tips on how to teach babies to swim? I know it's possible to do at around 9 months old, so I was wondering if anyone has done it? There's no professional swimming classes around here and we live near a lake, so I think it will be a bit dangerous if he doesn't know how to swim.

I like this question. My son is 17 months old and He won't even sit in the tub. He squats.
We Live in Minnesota with a Lake a Block away.And I've hard the worst trouble myself. I won't force him to learn. But any ideas to make it anymore fun.

Well we have a pool in the backyard and I've been holding him in the water and telling him to "kick". We also have a little car that he floats around in in the pool. He's always been a water baby, so I don't know how to help you ease your son's fears without you getting in there with him and telling him it's OK.

see thats It.. he's not afraid if anything We have to keep the bathroom door shut or he climbs inthe tub and turns on the water.
We got him a pool too. but he likes to throw things in it. And We live a block from the lake. and he adores running into it.. But if it hits his face or he falls down he freaks out. It might be because his dad hates being wet himself.
and he's conflicted between the two of us. Me being a Swimming nut.

Humm, have you tried letting him go in the lake with a life jacket on, or you holding him so where his feet don't touch?

I saw on TV (I think the Todays Show) that there is a program out there somewhere that teaches babies as early as 5-6 months old (as soon as they can crawl) how to float on their backs in the water. They drop the babies in the water with all their clothes on (even shoes) and let them turn to their backs and float ontop of the water. This gives someone a chance to realize they are in the water in save them. I don't know if I agree with this or not. Anyway, they made it very clear throughout the segment that "formal" swimming lessions should not begin till a child is at least 3 years old and that this program used "highly trained professionals."

Quoting Dolphingirly05:“ I saw on TV (I think the Todays Show) that there is a program out there somewhere that teaches babies ... [snip!] ... lessions should not begin till a child is at least 3 years old and that this program used "highly trained professionals."”

Oh wow, that's nuts. I don't think I'm going to do that, lol. See, I don't remember a time when I couldn't swim. And my littlest siblings could all swim pretty proficiantly before the age of 3. I just don't remember how my mom taught them to do it, lol.

My oldest had swimming down by 12 months. I still wouldnt back away from her but she could do it. She learned with a float suit (not the bulky one in stores) and my son learned with arm floats.