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Little Aussies usually turn out to be water babies… but they need a little help getting there at first!

Here are our top picks for Sydney's best baby swim schools that you can truly trust with your precious little one.

The Best Baby Swim Lessons in Sydney

1. City of Sydney Pools

The City of Sydney operates five world-class aquatic leisure centres offering classes that follow Swim Australia and AUSTSWIM guidelines, ensuring a focus on water safety, confidence, and skill development from the very first lesson. Their classes are fun and informative, and will establish a great foundation for little swimmers. 

For quality and affordable swimming lessons for children from 6 months old, you can take your pick from Prince Alfred Park Pool in Surry Hills, Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre in Ultimo, Andrew Boy Charlton Pool at The Domain, Cook + Phillip Park Pool in Sydney City and the Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre in Zetland. Join anytime!

2. KICK Learn To Swim

With KICK's Droplets program (for babies aged 6 months to 3 years), your baby will develop a love of the water.

These classes are about water familiarisation, using toys and songs to encourage a fun, happy atmosphere, with mum or dad in the water too. Babies are introduced to floating, submersion, propulsion, kicking and other important swimming skills so that they are confident and happy in the water. Research has found that children who begin swimming lessons at a young age reach developmental milestones earlier than their peers. 

Located in Sydney's east, find out more about KICK Learn To Swim.

3. Carlile Swim

If you’re looking for fun, safe, expert swimming lessons for your baby, then Carlile Swim is ideal.

Carlile pioneered teaching babies to swim in Australia, building Sydney’s first indoor teaching pool. They are now a world-renowned swim school, having been industry leaders for 65 years.

Carlile runs 30-minute Waterbabies classes where mum or dad is in the water with their little one. The classes are full of fun games and songs, all with a purpose. The goal is to help your baby become confident and safer in and around water. They learn to submerge, float on their backs, and perform lots of other important water safety skills.

This is the first step in an industry-leading learn-to-swim program that has a reputation for producing confident swimmers with great technique who love the water.

Carlile Swimming operates from 12 locations across Sydney. Find out more about Carlile Swim.

4. AustGrade Swim School

A brand-new swimming facility in Mascot, AustGrade Swim School is ideal for little learners, with an indoor pool heated to a warm 32 degrees and salt-chlorinated water that is gentle on young skin.

The AUSTSWIM-accredited swim school focuses exclusively on learn-to-swim classes, teaching water safety and survival skills to babies from four months old.

Experienced swimming instructors use toys and aids to build confidence in survival floating, breath control and paddling without goggles, even from a very early age. They will also learn how to reach for objects underwater and enter and exit the water safely.

Classes are offered from Monday to Saturday.

5. Mermaid Swim Academy

The only swim school you'll want to post about on Instagram! Mermaid Swim Academy offers swimming lessons in a natural, saltwater environment at the beautiful Bondi Icebergs Pool.

The Parent & Baby swimming classes are designed for babies between 6 and 18 months and help parents teach their children to explore and become confident and comfortable in the water. While having fun in the salt water, your bub will learn skills such as blowing bubbles, kicking, floating and submerging. 

6. Funfitness Swim School At Croydon Tennis Centre

A fully enclosed, mineral saltwater pool heated to a comfortable 32 degrees! Funfitness Swim School at the Croydon Tennis Centre offers Parent & Baby lessons from 4 months to 18 months of age. 

There are three streams: Blue Tongue (4 – 9 months): Parent and child are introduced to water familiarisation and water safety. The parent and child will be guided by a teacher on how to hold their child in the water, on submersion techniques, and on floating, kicking, and paddling skills. Groups of 6-10. 

Water Dragon (9-18 mths): Parent and child will focus on improving their water-familiarisation and water-safety skills. Lessons will focus on skill development in kicking, paddling, floating, and submersion, with the aim of being able to move short distances through the water unaided. Groups of 6-10. 

Tadpole (18 - 36 months): Tadpole classes are designed for children who are not yet confident enough to participate in a lesson without their parents. This is a transition class between parent-and-baby and learn-to-swim group classes. Toddlers will begin to spend longer periods away from their parents. By the time they graduate from the Tadpole level, they will be confident enough in their lessons to participate without their parents. Groups of 2-4.

Swim classes are small (a maximum of 10 for Babies and 4 for Learn to Swim programs) to ensure everyone gets plenty of attention. Funfitness Swim School is an AUSTSWIM and Swim Australia-accredited swim school with fully qualified instructors. Health Fund benefits are available!

7. Jump! Swim Schools Crows Nest

Jump! Swim Schools located in Crows Nest is a boutique learn-to-swim facility specialising in baby swim classes from 3 months of age. They provide small, intimate classes for your little ones in a purpose-built indoor pool with UV-treated water heated to a warm 32 degrees, in a distraction-free environment.

Jump! Swim’s expert qualified swimming teachers are experienced in teaching babies, toddlers and children up to pre-squad level, so your children are sure to feel safe and nurtured on their swimming journey.

Book your FREE trial today.

8. Aquabliss

Aquabliss provides premier learn-to-swim lessons for babies in Sydney’s North and North-West.

Their Babybliss 1 program serves little ones aged 6-16 months, and their Babybliss 2 program serves babies aged 16 months and up. These classes are an excellent bonding period for the learner and their carer, during which the carer plays a vital role. Each thirty-minute lesson will introduce skills through demonstrations, patterning and simple exercises. Skills will be learned and enjoyed through games, songs and routines to help your child learn.

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