18 years ago, Laura set up Swimbabes – a company dedicated to helping babies swim. Now, Swimbabes offer baby swimming lessons in 17 venues in the North of England, employs 22 staff and has around 1800 happy little swimmers attending sessions each week. Laura’s positive experiences taking her son Joshua to baby swimming lessons in Manchester, prompted her to set up Swimbabes in 2003 with one of her first baby swimmers being her 5 week old daughter Eve.
What do you enjoy about teaching babies to swim?
I enjoy watching parents spend precious time guiding their little ones and the delight when they achieve key skills, its great to be part of the joy of parents seeing how much their little ones can achieve in the water at such a young age.
How long have you worked with Swimbabes?
Since October 2003.
What’s your favourite baby swimming product?
The Happy Nappy – it does an essential job and I think it looks really smart on our little swimmers.
What’s your favourite song, film and food? Song: The Masterplan Oasis Film: The Martian Food: Chicken dinner
George set up Swimbabes with his wife Laura in 2003. Swimbabes teach more than 1,700 babies to swim each week.
“Swimming is an essential life skill. In 2009, ROSPA confirmed there were 405 water-related accidents in the UK. This is a staggering number when you consider that swimming is part of the National Curriculum. Knowing how to swim can save your life but the other benefits are clear too; it aids physical, social and emotional development for babies and parents alike.”
What do you enjoy about teaching babies to swim? Even though I have been teaching babies to swim since 2003, I still get such a buzz seeing babies become great little swimmers as they progress through our swim program. As well as being qualified to teach Swimbabes classes, I am qualified to teach our Swimstars program for older children. I feel it so important to be able to teach skills that promote water confidence and water safety whilst having fun at the same time. Being able to teach these invaluable skills is so rewarding and worthwhile.
How long have you worked with Swimbabes?
Since 2003.
What’s your favourite baby swimming product?
Teddy Bear Float
What’s your favourite song, film and food? Song: Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley Film: The Untouchables Food: All puddings!
What do you enjoy about teaching babies to swim?
I love to see the children start so young and progress through the programme; it’s a great feeling when a child graduates.
How long have you worked with Swimbabes?
Since 2007.
What’s your favourite baby swimming product?
Splash About Pink Baby Wrap
What’s your favourite song, film and food? Song: Too many songs to choose from! Film: Any film with a happy ending. Food: Pizza
What do you enjoy about teaching babies to swim?
I love to see my little swimmers progress through the levels and become confident, independent swimmers. My son and daughter have gone through our programme and are fantastic little swimmer’s! The satisfaction I get knowing I am teaching a life skill is so rewarding.
How long have you worked with Swimbabes?
Since 2008, and I still love every minute of it!
What’s your favourite baby swimming product?
It has to be the Happy Nappy as they come in so many colours and serve a great purpose.
What’s your favourite song, film and food? Song: Any Robbie Williams song – I have seen Robbie Williams over 42 times and plan on seeing him as often as possible! Film: A Star Is Born Food: Chinese
What do you enjoy about teaching babies to swim?
Being able to watch children develop their confidence and water skills. It is lovely to be part of those special moments where you see how proud parents are of their little swimmer and the wonderful progress they are making.
How long have you worked with Swimbabes?
Since 2010, after having my son and wanting a career where I can spend more time with my family.
What’s your favourite baby swimming product?
My ‘Choo Choo’ Tubes – these really help the swimmers to become more independent on the Woggles, and it’s great fun making loads of train noises!
What’s your favourite song, film and food? Song: Any song by Example. Film: A Christmas Carol, but it must be the Patrick Stewart version. Food: Tapas.
Fun Fact: I was recently lucky enough to take part in the live art installation ‘The Sea of Hull’ by Spencer Tunick which was great fun.
What do you enjoy about teaching babies to swim?
Having fun, and seeing children progress and enjoying the lessons.
How long have you worked with Swimbabes?
Since 2011.
What’s your favourite baby swimming product?
Woggles, which are versatile flotation aid that children don’t become reliant on.
What’s your favourite song, film and food? Song: Waggy by Blink 182 Film: Sci-fi classic Aliens Food: The three C’s – chocolate. chips and cheese – all together!
What do you enjoy about teaching swimming?
Watching the children grow in their ability and confidence.
When did you start teaching swimming?
2013
What’s your favourite swimming product?
The Woggle – great for all ages and abilities.
What’s your favourite song, film and food? Song:Voulez Vous by Abba for dancing, River Deep, Mountain High for singing in the car, and Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones for rocking! Film: Anything with Johnny Depp in. Food: Pies/tarts – all!
What do you enjoy about teaching baby swimming? I love seeing parents and children having fun together in the water. It’s also really rewarding to watch the children develop through the programme into confident swimmers with an important life skill.
When did you start teaching swimming? 2014.
What’s your favourite swimming product? The Woggles, because they help children develop confidence and independence in the water. They’re also great to use in all sorts of fun games.
What’s your favourite song, film and food? Song: Not the Only One by Sam Smith Film: Top Gun Food: Italian
What do you enjoy about teaching babies to swim? Watching the parent see their child managing something new for the first time. For example – if they are a baby, their first underwater swim on their own, or if they are a little older, the first time they manage to swim across the pool all by themselves. I also enjoy it when the entire class collapses into fits of laughter from one of our fun activities.
How long have you worked for Swimbabes? Since 2016.
What is your favourite baby swimming product? The Happy Nappy, because I love the different ranges, colours and flags they come in. They provide everyone with confidence that there will be no accidental mishaps.
Whats your favourite film, song, and food? Film: I could never choose just one, but mostly 1980’s comedies. Song: Shine by Years & Years. Food: I’m a sucker for a good curry, preferably with a monster garlic naan bread!
What do you enjoy about teaching babies to swim? I love to see the children and babies enjoying the water. It’s fantastic to see their confidence and abilities develop
How long have you worked with Swimbabes?
2018.
What’s your favourite baby swimming product?
Personally and for those kids that chose to wear them – a good fitting pair of goggles, there is nothing worse in the pool than swimming with half the pool water in there.
What’s your favourite song, film and food? Song: oh, such a hard question so many good songs. I’ll go with the one that’s on repeat in our house at the moment as my daughter loves it. Shotgun by George Ezra Film: I’m not sure I have a favourite but my go to film would be one of the hunger games movies Food: Chocolate
What do you enjoy about teaching babies to swim? I enjoy the most watching the progression of the little swimmers and seeing them go on to the next stage of their swimming.
How long have you worked with Swimbabes?
Since Spring 2021.
What’s your favourite baby swimming product?
Favourite swim product is the woggle, I love seeing the children really enjoy it and them making big splashes.
What’s your favourite song, film and food? Song: Spice girls – STOP Film: Grease 1&2 Food: Spaghetti Bolognese
I enjoy seeing the progression and development of the children and knowing im teaching them a life long skill.
How long have you worked with Swimbabes?
Since 2021.
What’s your favourite baby swimming product?
A woggle…there’s nothing you cant do without a woggle!
What’s your favourite song, film and food?
Song: I couldn’t choose, I love all music and have some funny tastes too.
Film: I don’t watch a lot of films but if I was, it would be comedy!
Food: I love cooking and baking, I make a smashing sticky toffee pudding.
What do you enjoy about teaching babies to swim?
Seeing how much enjoyment it can bring to their little faces and the bond which is created between the baby and their attending adult.
How long have you worked with Swimbabes?
September 2021
What’s your favourite baby swimming product?
Stacking cups. Toddlers love to pour water on the grown ups!
What’s your favourite song, film and food? Song: Anything Westlife! Film: The Little Mermaid Food: Cheeky Nandos
