A DERBY baby has taken his first swimming lesson at just three days old – making him one of the youngest tots to take the plunge in the East Midlands.
Felix Robinson took to the water at the Royal Derby Hospital's hydrotherapy pool.
And, despite a few giggles and gurgles, the youngster enjoyed making a splash.
Mum Rebecca Robinson, 34, of Ockbrook, said: "I didn't learn to swim confidently until I was a teenager and we really wanted our boys to grow up being confident and safe in the water from a young age.
"William, our eldest son, had his first lesson at eight weeks and Alfred, our middle son, was himself just five days old when he started."
Felix's swimming lesson was organised through Water Babies – a swimming company which encourages babies to start from birth.
The swimming classes are designed to make the most of babies' natural affinity with water, as well as teaching confidence and safety using expert techniques.
Rebecca said the lessons had been beneficial to all three of her sons.
She said: "Starting Alfred so young has been a massive success for us, with him now swimming completely independently without ever using armbands and having a better front crawl than his parents by the age of four.
"We wanted Felix to have this same amazing head start that Water Babies provides."
Marie Smith, the swimming teacher who owns and runs Water Babies in Derbyshire, said most children start classes with the organisation at about six weeks old.
She said: "So three days old does make Felix our youngest-ever pupil and one of the youngest ever pupils nationally.
"It really is never too early to get started. Babies love being in the water and they show it with giggles and gurgles galore.
"Having spent nine comfy months relaxing in the womb, it's no surprise it comes naturally to them.
"Swimming with your baby is a magical experience for both parent and child.
"It allows you some special one-on-one time to focus on each other in the relaxed environment that water provides.
"Our research also showed that the average age children start swimming lessons is four, despite the fact they can start from birth."
Marie said while the classes were fun they had a more serious added benefit.
She said: "Worryingly, research we commissioned this year revealed that 75% of parents are unaware drowning is the third highest cause of accidental death in children in the UK.
"In the last few years, at least 10 tiny Water Babies pupils have saved their own lives, five of whom were just two years old at the time."
For more information about classes in Derbyshire, call 01636 815567 or visit www.waterbabies.co.uk.
