Every baby is different, so it’s worth checking with your pediatrician before their first swim. As a general guideline, the American Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t recommend formal infant swim programs before 12 months as a way to reduce drowning risk — but it does support parent-and-baby water play classes as a great way to introduce infants to the water, which is exactly what our Bathtime Babies class is: your baby is never in the pool without you, and the focus is on comfort, not swim skills. That’s why we’re able to welcome babies as young as 2 months. For casual pool time at home, many pediatricians suggest waiting closer to 6 months, once babies have better head and neck control and can regulate their body temperature more easily in the water.