Meet Freya, She Swims Like A Fish!

When Nicki and I decided to launch the #RhonaRecommends column for Parents reading Small City, Big Personality I knew right away what would be my first article - Turtle Tots! We started when my daughter Freya was 8 weeks old as I had always felt that I wanted my baby to be confident and safe in the water. Probably becasue I love swimming so much.

Having just begun our 2nd term at ‘Turtle School’, as we affectionately call it, I can tell you that these classes have exceeded any hopes I had, and are to date the best money we have spent in the first 6 months of Freya’s life.

Let’s start with the basics. Turtle Tots is a national brand which currently has 8 different licenced areas in Scotland, each run by a franchisee. Both the Perthshire and West Lothian branches are run by the lovely Kirsty McNiece who is now responsible for running over 30 classes catering for 150 babies. The Perthshire classes are held at the Erigmore Estate in Birnam by Dunkeld. With the increase in demand Kirsty has since taken on Morag as an extra pair of hands to teach the Perthshire classes.

Turtle Tots is essentially water safety and swimming lessons from birth to school age; the classes are always held in the privacy of small and well heated local pools (with exclusive use- no onlookers!) and double up as great post-natal exercise for mums although dads can, and do, join in.

Classes are held weekly during term time and are split up into different levels, with Level One generally being for those 0-12 months who have still have the benefit of their gag reflex (more on that later!). Your baby can wear a range of swim clothing for classes from neoprene nappies to full wet suits depending on your preference, and Turtle Tots also sell their own wide range of these which you can order through your teacher.

Turtle Tots follow a structured lesson plan still very similar to the original one written by its founders Gaby Lixton and Caroline Sparks in 2011. The benefit of this structure means that each week you build on the last and are able to see progression really quickly. The programme itself is supported by key industry professionals and in particular former Olympian and renowned sports scientist Professor Greg Whyte who in his role as ambassador advises on fitness and related health benefits. As a wee side note for fellow celeb spotters- you may also recognise Greg as the man who trained and accompanies various celebrities in their Sports Relief challenges including David Walliams, Eddie Izzard & Davina McCall.

So what actually happens at classes I hear you ask? It is essentially a series of swimming positions and activities with accompanying songs and verbal commands which the babies begin to associate with each activity. The thing most people want to know about (and gasp when you tell them) is if/when/how the babies go under the water.

The short answer is yes, they do, and if they are relatively young babies this is usually on their 2nd lesson. Here comes the science bit….(I’ve always wanted to say that!). Babies instinctively hold their breath under water due to their in-built laryngeal or ‘gag reflex’ which is very strong from birth and begins to tail off after 6 months. This reflex is activated by the sensation of water on a baby’s face, nose and throat. Babies often go under water with their mouths open and the soft tissue at the back of the throat immediately seals off the baby’s windpipe.

Because this reflex begins to wear off after 6 months it’s important for babies in class to begin associating a verbal command with going underwater, so that there is a seamless transition to holding their breath becoming a learned response rather than a reflex action. For this reason it’s definitely a good idea to start classes as early as possible but there’s no need to worry- babies beyond 6 months will learn much more quickly to hold their breath to a cue (Turtle Tots accept toddlers who have never been to any lessons before).

The babies also have an incredible ‘Amphibian reflex’- their urge to kick their legs and wiggle to the surface. I can’t say it isn’t a little nerve wracking the first time you see them go under (and every parent thinks their baby will be the one without the reflex!) but it is just incredible to see them come up after a few seconds totally unfazed. The most exciting bit for me has been being putting on goggles to go underwater at the same time as Freya and seeing her happy little face with her eyes wide open.

At Turtle Tots the swim teacher is in the water the whole time which means they are able to correct holds/grips, demonstrate easily and give 1:1 attention. Any new exercises are usually introduced individually, then in pairs and eventually as a whole group. Consistency in the teacher means they really get to know each baby and their abilities, and get just as excited as you do when they get the hang of something new!

Aaaah now-the teacher! Everyone knows that their memories of school are only as good as their teachers, and Turtle School is no different! Kirsty lives in Dunfermline with her husband and 2 little girls. When her eldest Ciara was 4 months old, they took her swimming and by her own admission made every rookie mistake in the book. Just as they were congratulating themselves for successfully making it into the pool without any hiccups two older lads bombed into the water right next to them and splashed everywhere.

Cue a 45 minute meltdown at Leith Water World. The experience was enough to put them off attempting to go back for some time, and even showers and hair washing with Ciara became difficult. The suggestion of going near a pool again was met with terror and she would only reluctantly do it while clinging on like a koala with her head buried into mum’s shoulder.

When their youngest Eilidh was born they were determined not to let history repeat itself, enrolling her in baby swimming lessons from the age of 14 weeks. Eilidh loved it and with practising her water commands at home in the bath this was enough to encourage her elder sister Ciara to give it another go. Ciara went to Turtle Tots when she was 2 and a half and began working on her fear- it took her a whole year to be able to put her face in the water but with the support and encouragement of their teacher and classmates they have never looked back.

Inspired by her own experience of swimming lessons and with a background in management, Kirsty took the plunge (pun fully intended) and trained as a Turtle Tots teacher in 2012- and the rest is history! Her favourite part of the job is being able to see the whole journey- toddlers who have stuck with it since they were babies now confident little swimmers. She has even seem some as young as 11 months swim with only the aid of a ‘woggle’ (a sort of noodle like piece of foam under their arms).

I know there are lots of baby and toddler classes out there to choose from but for me this has been a great investment - teaching Freya what I consider an essential life skill and giving both her and us confidence with her in the water. There’s also a social aspect; I’ve met some great other parents and shared a few coffees in the bar afterwards (where Turtle Totters receive 25% of their food bill!) and there’s a real camaraderie amongst everyone in the pool.

The classes are like a full body workout for the babies, with their bodies supported by the water they are able to use all their limbs and it’s the only time they are fully in control of their movements- no wonder she’s knackered afterwards! I wasn’t surprised to learn that swimming is great for their co-ordination, fine motor skills and general mobility, with a 2012 study by Griffith University finding that babies who learn to swim at a young age often reach many developmental milestones earlier.

Finally, at the end of each term there is a chance to take part in a special underwater photo shoot where you can capture this image in high resolution. I was very impressed by how professional the whole setup was and I love Freya’s pictures; they double up as great photo gifts!

As a first time mum I’m not ashamed to say I was more than a little excited the day Freya finished Level One (I called it graduation day). She got a little certificate and swim badge and it was all I could do to stop myself making a speech. I felt like we’d both achieved something, and I’m pretty sure that underwater photo will be on a wall somewhere at her 18th!

Check out Turtle Tots Perth on our Small City Directory here.