<font color="0000ff">Gerald</font>,
To share our experience in introducing waterplay (pool and beach) to our #1. We are those type who believe that we should let babies play in the water WITHOUT a float. So we never bought a float and my son never uses one. We are okay with both pool and beach, but more on pool cos it's more convenient for us
First time in the pool was a trial class with Aquaducks. We found that useful as we learned some tips on how to play with babies and how to guide them in the pool. The trial was free, and at the end we didn't sign up for the class cos hubby thought he can do an equally good job (and he is).
After the trial we brought him to the swimming pool once a week or every two weeks. We started a bit late though, when he was 7 months. He started crawling then, so we let him crawl and explore on his own in the toddler pool. He learns not to scare of water that way. And hubby would carry him and move to the deeper water and let him kick the water. Later on, when he started to walk at 10 months, he walked in the pool by himself and learned that he couldn't go to the deeper water, and hubby would help him with that. Also immersed him totally, including his head, under the water, he is okay with that, and for a few times, hubby threw him into the water, he managed to float up and not scare at all. He is very good with water now, I would say, but after 1 year plus now, it's still waterplay, and it's still not getting close to "swimming".
For the beach, our tactic is about the same as Jenifur. First is sand play, then let him take the lead. After a few times to the beach, he wanted to go to play with water. Again, that's after he started walking. Most of the time, though, he is interested to play with the sand than the water, and we never forced him.
This was at Pasir Ris Park when my son was "swimming" in the sea when he was 18 months:
Check out my blog for some of my posts on swimming:
http://babyhaore.blogspot.com/search/label/Swimming
Sorry for the long post, hope this helps
