As part of our Love the Water campaign, we’re celebrating the incredible real-life stories of families whose Water Babies journeys have transformed life far beyond the pool. From building confidence and strengthening bonds to overcoming long held fears, our lessons are designed to create positive lifelong relationships with water, while supporting parents every step of the way too.
In this blog, Qasim shares his inspiring experience of joining Water Babies as a non swimmer, overcoming his own fear of water, and discovering unexpected confidence alongside his little boy, Haaris. His journey shows how starting baby swimming lessons early can shape not just a child’s development, but a parent’s relationship with the water as well.
Starting Our Swim Journey
My name is Qasim, and I’m Haaris’ dad. We first began our Water Babies journey back in 2021 with the Manchester South franchise at Hale Marriott before moving over to The Waterside. We’ve now been swimming there for around five years, and it’s become such a special part of our routine together.
For us, swimming has always been an essential life skill. We wanted our children to learn it as early as possible and grow up feeling confident and comfortable in the water. Starting young felt like the right way to give them that foundation.
Facing My Own Nerves
When we began lessons, I was extremely nervous. I didn’t know how to swim and had always been afraid of going into the water. I’d taken some lessons beforehand to try to build my confidence, but even then, I still couldn’t swim.
We’d heard great things about Water Babies, and our teacher Jess was fantastic from day one. She instantly put me at ease. For any activities that involved the parent swimming, she stepped in and helped so I didn’t feel overwhelmed. That support made all the difference. It meant I could relax, enjoy the lessons, and, most importantly, not pass any of my nerves on to Haaris.
Learning New Skills Together
Being in the pool each week taught me so much. I learnt how to stay calm in the water and not panic, and I began picking up techniques like ‘Tiger Arms’ and how to position my ankles when kicking. I also learnt how to safely handle Haaris in the water and picked up fun exercises we could use while on holiday.
All these small steps built my confidence without me even realising. Eventually, and almost naturally, I found that I was able to swim.
Reassurance for Other Parents
If you’re a parent who’s worried about taking your little one to lessons because you’re not confident in the water, this is your reassurance: you have nothing to fear. The teachers are incredibly supportive and will help you every step of the way, no matter your starting point.
Our Water Babies experience has been amazing. Both Jenny and Jess have been so wonderful with our children, and it really shows in their confidence, skills, and enthusiasm for swimming. We’re so grateful for everything they’ve helped us achieve as a family.
If you’re feeling inspired by Qasim and Haaris’ journey, there’s never been a better time to start your own. Water Babies lessons begin from birth and are designed to help little ones build confidence, learn vital life skills, and fall in love with the water from their very first splash. Ready to begin your story? Start baby swimming with Water Babies today.
