So when is too soon to take the plunge?

Swim and Survival Academy Ballarat proprietor Julie de Kort, who is Austswim and infant aquatics qualified, says water familiarisation should begin from birth with formal swimming lessons from six months.

"Babies come from a water environment so water is not a new sensation for them," she says.

"Beginning water familiarisation from birth in a positive, gentle way ensures your baby makes a natural transition to understanding water."

Ms de Kort says parents can start teaching basic water skills in the bath at home and from six months parents and carers can choose to take their baby for more formal swimming lessons, where trained instructors can guide them with water safety and familiarisation.

"Beginning with swimming lessons enables you to learn effective techniques to teach your child confidently early on, rather than trial and error," she says.

Ms de Kort says learning to read your baby’s signals is essential for a trusting relationship around water.

"Choosing to take your baby (for) a public swim, really depends on a parent’s confidence in and around water," she says.

"A baby picks up on your emotions so if you are nervous or unsure this is the emotion they will associate with the environment, in this case water."

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Ms de Kort says the first year of swimming lessons focuses on teaching breath regulation, so if an infant falls into water they can hold their breath.

"Learning their buoyancy and propulsion in water is also important in the first year as they are still developing the coordination to crawl and walk," she says.

As children grow, Ms de Kort says teaching safety in and around water is paramount, while children attending lessons will also learn skills such as submersion, treading water, propulsion on their back and front, and dog paddle, while developing their stroke in future years.

Many parents skip winter swimming classes to prevent the risk of their children catching colds but Ms de Kort says swimming can actually help halt the onset of winter lurgies.

"Exercise is great for the immune system to prevent illnesses," she says.

"Consistently practicing a skill is important for a child to learn. Stopping swimming for three to six months during winter will significantly increase the time it will take for them to learn to swim."