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Discover your little one’s love for the water with Baby Swim

Join in the fun as you and your baby or toddler splash around together in our interactive Baby Swim lessons. These lessons are the perfect chance to bond with your child and make new friends while enjoying a sensory-rich experience.

Each lesson is filled with exciting water-play activities, toys, and songs to engage your little one. As you enjoy your time together, you'll see their love for the water and feel proud as they earn certificates and rewards along the way.

Why Baby Swim?

  • Only 6 swimmers per lesson, so everyone receives attention and support
  • Colourful sensory toys to enhance learning and development
  • Songs and nursery rhymes to create a fun, inclusive environment
  • Dedicated, warm family pool so you and your child are comfortable (31-33°C)
  • Qualified swim teachers so you feel supported and confident with your child
  • Free certificates, including Swimmer of the Week, to recognise progress and celebrate achievements
  • Thrive Café in all locations; perfect for refuelling and socialising with other parents
  • Free parking at all locations
  • 15% off for Total Fitness members

From £54 per month*

*subject to location

baby in swimming lesson with instructor

More than just baby swimming lessons

Baby bonding

Being in the water with your baby creates a unique bonding experience, allowing you to connect through gentle, shared moments of play and exploration

Sensory

Baby Swim is the perfect sensory experience for your baby or toddler. We include a variety of fun sensory toys and songs to support your child’s learning and development in their early years.

Water confidence

Baby swimming lessons help to build water confidence, allowing your little one to feel comfortable and secure in the water, setting a foundation for a lifetime love of swimming.

Socialise

Baby Swim offers a fantastic chance to connect with other like-minded parents. After a fun lesson, relax, recharge, and chat with fellow parents at our Thrive Café, conveniently located at every Baby Swim location.

baby in swimming lesson with instructor and parent

What to expect at
Baby Swim

  • Lessons take place in the warm, shallow, family pool
  • Lessons are taught by our team of friendly teachers
  • You will be in the water with your baby or toddler
  • There will be a maximum of 6 children in your lesson
  • All lessons include sensory toys and songs to support development and motor skills
  • Your child will master arm and leg movements in the water, develop front and back floating, practice breathing techniques, and progress to swimming 10 metres without support
  • Your child will receive a free certificate after every swimming milestone and completed stage

Lesson stages

0 - 9 months

Pool Pals

This is the start of an amazing journey where babies are introduced to the world of water. Through play, they will build water confidence and immerse themselves in the sensory experience of the pool.

9 - 24 months

Super Splashers

Continuing their journey, group activities support social development through play and guided discovery. Your child will start to move their arms and legs in the water, as well as develop their floating skills.

24 - 36 months

Water Wonders

Now is the time for your child to embrace the adventure of becoming more independent with less immediate support. Through play and exploration, they will become more confident in the water as they start developing their breathing skills.

3 - 4 years

Early Explorers

It's time for your child to start exploring the water more, with partial support from parent or guardian in the water. Our lessons become more structured, and your child will begin to learn how to move and travel through the water in different directions, go under the water, float on their front and back, as well as travelling 10m without support.

Free Family Pool Pass

Want to make sure your baby is comfortable in our pool before joining?

Come and enjoy a free swim for you and your baby, in our dedicated Family Pool, where our Baby Swim lessons are held.

Have fun splashing and playing with your little one while experiencing the joy that water can bring to your child.

baby in swimming lesson with instructor and parent

What our members think

The lessons at Total Fitness are superb. The kids love them, and have really progressed. Special shout out to Issy great instructor.

- Oscar

We have found swimming at Total Fitness really good. Our little boy has really come on, in his stamina & technique. The teacher is really good and chilled with Luke and has a good teaching style with him.

- Luke

We are very happy with our daughter Isla's swimming lessons, Isla really enjoys the sessions and has made good progress, Isla is fond of her instructor Emma and we look forward to her continuing lessons at Total fitness.

- Isla

Logan had his first swimming lesson today and I would like to give some feedback on Viv.
Logan absolutely loved his first lesson and Viv is an amazing teacher she brought Logan out of his comfort zone with no problem and pushed him a little and he loved it. I am so happy I have booked with yourselves. Logan really looks forward to next week.

- Lucy

Excellent swim lesson with good infrastructure and great staff! my daughter Atrisa love to learn swimming here! Swim meets are organised pretty well and coaches focus on all the students without rushing them into upper levels. Overall pretty happy with total fitness in Teesside and will definitely recommend them for swimming lessons for all kids.

- Sara

I wanted to share our fantastic experience with your swimming lessons. My daughter was initially afraid of water, but thanks to your wonderful instructors, she now eagerly looks forward to each class. Her teacher has been incredibly supportive, building her confidence and making the lessons enjoyable.
Thank you for providing such a positive environment for learning and growth!

- Ihab

My daughter has been having swimming lessons with Team Splosh at Total Fitness for almost 6 months and thoroughly enjoys her weekly sessions. Her confidence and ability in the water have improved immensely during this time due to the individual attention she receives during each lesson. The classes are small in number meaning the teacher has time for each child and there is also time at the end of each lesson for individual feedback for parents/carers.

- Clair

Both of my children love going to their swimming lessons at Swim Academy. The milestones for each stage are clear and they know what it is they need to work towards to reach the next stage. Having attended swimming lessons elsewhere in the past, I can honestly say that the staff at Swim Academy are so helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. I absolutely love the fact that the lesson times are not booked back to back so that feedback is given to children and parents once the lesson has finished.

- Lauren

Jack has been swimming at Total Fitness for over a year now and his confidence and ability has increased tremendously in this time, going from a non swimmer, to being able to swim all strokes and earning multiple swim badges along the way. The instructors are always so supportive and encouraging, targeting areas for improvement whilst making it an enjoyable experience.

- Craig

Meet Team Splosh

Meet just a few of our friendly, experienced swim teachers, all dedicated to helping your child develop lifelong swimming skills through positive and enjoyable experiences in the water.

  • Angie

    I’m a lover of the water and an Ambassador for Swim England with over 10 years’ experience teaching children of all ages and abilities, including competitive swimming.

  • Katie

    I love my role as a swim teacher. I help children learn to swim, making sure all my lessons are fun while teaching the children important swimming and water safety skills.

  • Charlene

    I have been teaching swimming for over 10 years now, from ages 3 to 92, and find being a swim teacher so rewarding, teaching and seeing them become confident in the water.

  • Lindsey

    I have taught swimming to babies through to adults for over 18 years. My favourite part is seeing the delighted look on little ones' face when they realise they have mastered skills independently without support.

  • Lucy

    I have 8 years experience as a swim teacher. I love supporting children through all swim stages, being able to give certificates out to celebrate achievement and putting a smile on their face.

  • Kate

    My love for swimming as a child has empowered me to pursue a career in Aquatic education and achieve numerous SEQ teaching qualifications for baby, toddler and pre-school swimming.

  • Emma

    There’s nothing more rewarding than helping children build their confidence and develop a love for the water. Some of my happiest memories are in the water, and I hope my swimmers create many exciting water adventures of their own.

  • James

    I love the challenge of developing and perfecting different strokes, helping children reach their full potential. I teach children aged 3 and up, and hold a UK NRASTC certificate and SEQ qualification in swimming instruction.

  • Kate

    I am level 2 teaching Swim England qualified and competed to Yorkshire Championship level for 7 years and more recently have taken part in open water events, including the 10k Great North Swim and swam the River Humber.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can book a swimming lesson online, in club, or via telephone by calling 0330 995 8425.
If your chosen lesson is full, we can place you on the waiting list, and you’ll be contacted as soon as a place becomes available.
When you join, you will provide card payment details, which will be used to collect your monthly membership fee.
The more information you can provide about your child the better the teacher can prepare and provide you with the best experience.
Your child can attend lessons before they are immunised, but if you are unsure or have any questions, please check with your GP or health visitor.
One-to-one child swimming lessons are not currently available. We provide group swimming lessons with a maximum of six children per lesson. This allows for a supportive group environment where our swimming teachers can tailor instructions to meet the needs of each child, encouraging skill development and confidence in the water.
Swimming lessons are 30 minutes in the water with 10 minutes after the lesson to ask any questions and gain feedback.
The Swim Academy follows the Swim England Learn to Swim Framework
Ages 0-3
- 6 babies in the water with parents

Ages 3 – 4
- 6 children in the water with partial support from parents
- Towels for you and your child - Padlock for changing room lockers - Swimming nappies - Goggles – if you plan to go underwater - Some toys to help them feel comfortable - Children's swimsuit to keep them warm in the water - Appropriate swimwear for yourself - Changing mat for babies, we will try to provide these where we can )
Yes, on completion of all the outcomes within a level, your child will receive a certificate to celebrate they have completed the level ad a “Swimmer of the Week” certificate is awarded every week.

Swim England certificates and badges for water skills, distance and the Swim England stages are available to purchase.
Please arrive with your child on time and ready to start the lesson. You’re responsible for the behaviour of your child whilst on the premises. You and your child will get the most from the lessons if you take part, immersing yourself in the experience.
We are inclusive with our lessons and integrate children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
For parent and child lessons we do not ask for parents or children to wear a swim hat, however, if you wish to wear one, you are more than welcome to.
Yes, your child can wear goggles, however, there will be occasions where they may be asked to try activities without them to ensure they are comfortable wearing and not wearing goggles. If your child is going to wear goggles in the sessions, please ensure they are the correct fit.
We always try to keep the same teacher for your lesson, but due to holidays and sickness, sometimes you may have a different teacher. This teacher will be just as qualified and friendly, so you and your child always enjoy your lesson.
Our swimming teachers are qualified to the correct level and complete regular training. We also have lifeguards on duty. Pools are regularly maintained, and water quality is monitored and tested throughout the day.
During all our Baby Swim lessons the teacher supports in the water.
Our teachers will provide you with updates during your Splosh chat at the end of each lesson. If you have any further questions after the Splosh chat, please speak with a member of our team and we can arrange for your teacher to contact you.
Yes, one additional adult and child are allowed to be spectators, provided the child remains sat on the knee of the spectating parent/guardian.
We do not allow photos to be taken during the lesson, however, there will be opportunities for you to take pictures with your child and the certificates they receive.
The main pool is heated to 27 - 29 degrees Celsius and family pool is heated to 31 - 33 degrees Celsius
A swim buddy is a nominated adult who can bring your child to lessons if you can’t make it. You can add up to three swim buddies who must all be 18 years or older and present a form of I.D. on arrival.
If you want to move your child to a different lesson, please speak with your swimming teacher who can advise which lesson is right to support your child’s progress.

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