Swimmer's Daily

  • Today, Luke talked to Lewis Pugh about his adventure to Antarctica , and why he went.

  • Too young to walk, but old enough to swim – seems counter-intuitive, right? Well, studies have shown that dipping your babies’ toes in early can have long-lasting benefits throughout their development. From improved cognitive functioning to reducing the impact of those phases of fear that every toddler will experience, a new family tradition of splashing around may be exactly what your baby will benefit from.

    baby swimming photo
    Image by firstview_digital_signage from Pixabay

    But do be aware, that many doctors encourage babies under 6 months to avoid chlorine-based pools as their immune system is not fully ready. But once they hit that magic number, it’s all systems go for a family fun-day in the water. Let’s dive in below and find out why!

    Cultivating their Cognitive Performance

    It’s widely advised, that activities that call upon both sides of the brain are proven to help in the development of your baby’s brain. Curious, right? This means that an early start to your baby’s time in the water will assist in their reading skills, spatial awareness, and even communicative capabilities. “Not only is all that kicking and screaming (for joy) helping their brains to develop, but their bodies’ naturally become accustomed to the sensation of water against their skin – an essential cognitive process that most parents will agree can make bath time less of a stand-off!” says Michael Pitts, a health writer at Simple Grad and Academized.

    Replace The Fear Factor with The Fun Factor

    It’s a natural process to encourage your child to enjoy the water as early as possible. By doing so, you may find that it naturally reduces their susceptibility to that dreaded fear phase all of our toddlers go through. Instead, you’ll have welcomed and familiarized them with a new and exciting environment that they’ll be excited to dive back into anytime.

    The ‘D’ Word

    It’s never fun to discuss – but oh, so important to remember, getting your baby in the water will most likely reduce the risk of drowning. There are no studies to guarantee, and of course, we always implore vigilance and care in the water, but starting your baby swimming early will certainly increase their cognitive awareness in their less familiar, watery environment. Let’s not forget, drowning is one of the unfortunate leading causes of young deaths – a tragic fact. Even if you believe your child is a fish in the water, they should still be 100% supervised at all times, particularly during these early development years.

    Bonding, Baby Bonding

    A license to swim is a license for fun – as even one swimming lesson involving the parent and baby-making a splash together in the water, improves that one-on-one quality bonding time your baby craves. Skin-to-skin contact and interactions with other caregivers and instructors will have your baby beaming with confidence in no time. It’s not only initial benefits they’ll enjoy, but studies have shown babies who were introduced to their water environment early on had greater self-confidence, self-control, and a desire to succeed when starting school years later – not bad for a little splish, splash!

    Muscle Development

    Swimming with your baby, in a controlled environment, will assist in their functional development. A stronger cardiovascular system will make their strong little heart and lungs even stronger. “The coordination of their legs and arms will also engage their core muscles sooner giving your baby the balanced and playful experience their quickly developing muscles are calling out for – and maybe a little excuse for us parents to hop off the couch once in a while (we’ve all been there, Dad especially!)”, explains James Gonzalez, a lifestyle blogger at Big Assignments and Uktopwriters.

    A Good Night’s Rest

    It’s no secret now that all of this activity is good for your baby’s development. But one pleasant side effect is that their sleeping pattern is bound to improve along with it – imagine what a good night’s sleep for your baby means. Their little bodies are using up a lot more energy, engaging their muscles, working on coordination skills, and even using excess energy to stay warm. While a good sleep pattern is a welcome bonus, it’s important to make sure that you accommodate additional nap times or even adjust your babies sleeping schedule to facilitate their new family fun activity.

    Conclusion

    So, what are you waiting for? Isn’t it time you and your newborn dipped those toes in together and bond in a new and fun way through those early development years.

    Molly Crockett, a renowned health blogger at Revieweal and Student writing services shares her latest personal development ideas with articles in online magazines, and via her own blog at Topcanadianwriters.com.

  • Another way for the manufacturers to state that their products are waterproof, splash-proof or dust resistant is through the so-called IP rating. In the following paragraphs will try to make the IP rating more understandable.

    waterproof photo
    Photo by popofatticus

    When we are looking at some products we may be confused by all the claims from the manufactures. Yes, they can state that their product is water-resistant, but is it really the truth? All these terms remain just plain words if the IP rating is not clearly pointed out.  When you understand the digits in the IP rating you will know whether your new device is protected from rain and whether you can take it to a pool party or at the beach without having to worry about whether it will survive that event?

    Let’s take a look at the digits in the IP rating scale and what each of them means.

    What does IP rating stand for?

    The IP rating generally looks like this, for example, IP67. The two digits show at what level the device is protected from solid objects (the first digit) and liquids (the second digit). The protection is better if the digit is higher. The IP is basically an abbreviation for “ingress protection”.

    The good thing about IP rating and why you should look for it on the package is that because the manufacturer can’t just write anything as he wants. The IP rating is given after a thorough testing by a certified company.

    Here is a brief explanation of all the digits and their meaning.

    What does the first digit mean?

    This digit represents the protection from solid objects and ranges from 0 to 6.

    • 0 – Not protected.
    • 1 – Protected from objects > 50 mm.
    • 2 – Protected from objects > 12.5 mm. Your fingers are in this category.
    • 3 – Protected from objects > 2.5 mm such as wires and tools.
    • 4 – Protected from objects larger than 1 mm.
    • 5 – Dust resistant. This is the one we normally need to see. Although it is possible for some dust to get inside, it wouldn’t be enough to damage the product.
    • 6 – Completely dust-tight.

    What does the second digit mean?

    This digit represents the protection from liquids and ranges from 0 to 9.

    • 0 – Not protected
    • 1 – Protected from vertical dripping on the device.
    • 2 – Protected from liquids hitting the device at ≤15° angle.
    • 3 – Protected from water sprays up to 60°.
    • 4 – Protected from water splashes coming from various directions.
    • 5 – Protected from continuous low-pressure water spray.
    • 6 – Protected from high-pressure heavy water sprays.
    • 6K – Protected from high-pressure water jets. This one is not used quite often.
    • 7 – The device can handle being submerged for half an hour at a 1m depth of water.
    • 8 – The device can handle being submerged deeper than 1m of water. The manufacturer should specify the exact depth.
    • 9K – Protected from high-temperature, high-pressure spray at a small distance. It’s very rarely used.

    It is good to know that if your device is at level 7 or 8, it doesn’t necessarily mean it provides protection of lower rating. Because of this, some products carry a dual rating. For example, IPX5/IPX7 waterproof rating which means they can resist low-pressure water sprays and be submerged at 1m.

    My product doesn’t have an IP rating. What now?

    Well, in case your product isn’t labeled with an appropriate IP rating it doesn’t mean you are buying a low-quality product. It simply means that the device hasn’t been tested based on this standard. It is also very common to test a product for just water resistance. In that case the protection from solid objects is marked with X.

    On the other hand, maybe the company decided to test the product by a different rating standard. In that case you should look for some other labels and markings telling the device is water-resistant or dustproof.

    And finally, avoid products that are labeled as completely waterproof but have no certification to prove it. There are great chances you will buy a faulty and low-quality product.

    Guest post by Chris Howard

  • If you are a swimming enthusiast, then you must have come across all sorts of swimming pools. Swimming pools come in various types. They include adult swimming pools, kid’s swimming pools, and infinity swimming pools. Typically most of these pools are built in-ground.

    Image by Michelle Maria from Pixabay

    Then there are also above ground swimming pools. If you are dreaming of having a swimming pool in your backyard, but your budget is low, then you should consider getting the best way above the ground swimming pool. It is way cheaper compared to the standard swimming pool.

    Besides, an above ground swimming pool comes with all the benefits of an expensive in-ground pool. You will get that refreshing swim to beat a hot summer day. It also offers your kids a platform to engage in all the fun water activities.

    The Benefits Of Above Ground Swimming Pools

    When compared to in-ground swimming pools, above ground pools comes with more advantages which include:

    1. Budget-Friendly cost

    Installing an above-ground water pool is way less expensive than its counterpart. The size of the pool is smaller; thus, you will not need a few materials and labor. Besides, you won’t need to hire workers or expensive equipment to dig a hole in your backyard. You will also be saved a lot of money that you would spend buying materials such as cement bricks and machinery.

    2. Easy to install

    The above-ground pool is easy to install, owing to its flexible and portable features. The time it takes to install one is relatively shorter than the time it takes to build an in-ground pool from the ground. Note, to come up with a standard above -ground pool takes only a few hours. However, if you want to add a decking around, then you will spend an extra day or two.

    3. They are safer

    Because of its design, you won’t worry about your kid or pets falling into the pool whenever they are alone. Compared to an in-ground pool, the Bestway above-ground pools require more effort to jump into. To enhance the safety further, you can add a fence on the edge of the deck. A fence will not only make the pool beautiful but will also improve its safety features.

    Less maintenance

    Pool maintenance is all about the maintenance of the water. Because an above- ground swimming pool holds less water, your maintenance will be less too. You will use less power to pump out the water. Besides, you will need fewer amounts of chemicals to treat the water.

    How to Select one of the Best Above Ground Pool

    Before you buy an above-ground swimming pool, there are a few things to consider. They include:

    1. Leveling

    You should determine the size of your level space. If your yard is significant, then you can level a big or small space depending on your preferences. Before you purchase the above ground pool, ensure you take accurate measurements of your yard space to determine a suitable size.

    2. Obstacles

    You should also take into consideration your backyard obstacles. For example, the trees within your backyard will regularly drop leaves into your pool. Other obstacles include flowers and items in your kid’s playing area. Decide how to create enough space for your above ground pool without destroying the preexisting barriers such as trees. If you install your above ground swimming pool under ranches of trees, then you will have a rough time cleaning off the fallen leaves often.

    Conclusion

    An above-ground pool is one ultimate choice for your g backyard if you need something simple, cheap and easy to install. Remember, this above the ground swimming pools are not only affordable but also instrumental. It would be best if you went for one today to start enjoying its immense benefits.

    Links

    https://www.familypoolfun.com/blog/how-to-choose-an-above-ground-pool

    https://www.crystalpoolsinc.com/blog/6-benefits-of-an-above-ground-swimming-pool/

    Guest post by Emila Bell

  • Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and World Record holder Ryan Murphy stopped by San Antonio as he prepares to defend his backstroke titles in Tokyo, and he’s excited to compete against a stacked international field.

  • Thinking about learning to swim as an adult? Follow Naga Munchetty’s learning to swim journey as a nervous non-swimmer…

  • All aboard the ‘Swim Train’ with The Big Bala Swim and The Big Welsh Swim! Two great multi-distance open water swim events in Snowdonia, North Wales, with a choice of distances from 1.3km to 9km. You will catch the narrow gauge trains down the side of the lakes with spectacular views of the mountains, and then swim back to the finish line for a truly unique experience. We have entries for junior swimmers and for non-wetsuit swimmers too! Go on, dive in!

    https://youtu.be/Ii2dLshO0bA