All parents-to-be and new parents should be signposted to baby swimming as a recommended physical activity, according to a new report.
The new blueprint on early years exercise, says that it should form part of any maternal health programmes developed by pre-natal and post-natal providers.
The strong emphasis on baby swimming forms part of Physical Activity in Early Childhood, a report launched this week (17 October) which calls for a stronger Government focus on early years and exercise.
In reference to last year’s Child Obesity strategy where a nutrition formed the core of recommendations argues schemes and finance streams predicated solely on improving the nation’s nutrition are not in themselves enough.
They must go hand-in-hand with the encouragement of physical activity in the pre-pregnancy, antenatal, post-natal and early childhood periods, establishing patterns for the positive behaviours that will reduce our national waistline and support the fit and healthy families that will make a 21st century United Kingdom truly fit for purpose.
This report is the first of its kind to document the wide benefits of baby swimming physically, emotionally and cognitively for the whole family and coincides with National Baby Swimming Week, taking place recently in October.
The report also recognises the proven impact on motor-skills and academic performance on children who have taken part in early years swimming, compared with their peers who have not.
The report also addressed the rise of the controversial Infant Self Rescue lessons and recommends that all child swimming teaching methods be subject to Government research and scientific proofing before being licensed in the UK.