Every parent remembers that first “lightbulb moment” in the pool—when your baby stops just splashing and starts moving with purpose. One of our most-watched videos shows a baby performing a perfect Kick and Float to Ledge, and the number one question we get is: “How do I get my baby to do that?”
The truth is, reaching the ledge isn’t just about strength; it’s about a combination of physical cues and confidence. Here are 5 reasons your baby might be stuck on the “floating” phase and how to help them take the next leap.
1. The Power of the “Big Breath”
Independence starts with breath control. If a baby hasn’t mastered the Big Breath for Underwater, they will often feel “heavy” in the water. We teach babies to take a conscious breath, which provides natural buoyancy. Without it, they spend their energy fighting to stay up rather than moving forward.
2. The “Vertical” Distraction
As babies reach about 8 months old, they often want to sit up or crawl. This “land mobility” can actually make them struggle with the horizontal position needed to reach a ledge. As we see in Harper’s 8-month floating session, we have to work with their desire to climb. By encouraging themto reach for a ledge independently, we turn that land-based climbing instinct into a life-saving swimming skill.
3. Lack of “Propulsion” (The Kick)
Floating is the foundation, but kicking is the engine. Many babies are happy to float but haven’t yet “connected” the idea that kicking leads to movement. Practice short bursts of kicking while holding their hands, aiming for the Floating Funstyle where they feel the water resistance against their legs.
4. The “Safety Grip” Instinct
A baby won’t swim to a ledge if they don’t know what to do when they get there. In our latest training, we marry the floating skill with a grip. By teaching them to reach and hold (even onto your T-shirt), you’re building the muscle memory required to grab the pool edge safely.
5. Making it a “Happy Place”
If a baby is nervous, their muscles tense up, and they lose buoyancy. We use Baby Swim Songs to keep the environment relaxed. A relaxed baby is a buoyant baby, and a buoyant baby finds it much easier to make that “ledge leap.”