Frequently Asked Questions

No – with proper support from a caregiver, newborns can enjoy swimming well before they can hold their head independently.

Baby swimming lessons focus on water safety and early swimming skills, while baby spas are about promoting relaxation through hydrotherapy, massage and sensory elements like lights and music.

If you’ve had postnatal clearance from your GP and your baby is healthy, you can visit a hydrotherapy pool from birth. Be sure to check that the water is warm enough for your baby.

Unless they have a chlorine allergy, it’s perfectly safe for your baby to enter chlorinated water from birth. We always recommend rinsing your baby’s skin in fresh water after swimming and applying a gentle moisturiser if needed.

No – premature babies’ immune systems develop more slowly than full-term babies. Check with your GP or health visitor before taking your preemie swimming.

There is no minimum age! Here at Turtle Tots, we welcome babies to our swimming lessons from birth.

It’s generally recommended that you wait until your baby’s umbilical cord has come off and the stump has healed fully to avoid infection risk. Always check with your midwife or GP if you’re unsure.

Yes. The NHS confirms there’s no need to wait until after your baby has had their vaccinations.

Baby swimming offers many benefits for both you and your baby. Our lessons support your child’s physical, social and emotional development, as well as giving your child the opportunity to develop their language skills. The Turtle Tots swimming programme fundamentally teaches vital life-saving and water safety skills, something that will support your child’s confidence in the water throughout their entire lives. Baby swimming lessons also encourage bonding and attachment, giving parents the chance to spend quality time with their little ones cuddling, playing and learning together.

All Turtle Tots babies and toddlers must wear a double nappy system until they are fully toilet trained. A well fitted neoprene Happy Nappy should be worn over a swim nappy. We have some fantastic reusable options available in our shop. Alternatively, you can purchase disposables from any good baby retailer.

If your little one feels the cold, or you are planning on swimming in cooler pools between lessons, you can purchase a baby wetsuit.

Also, don’t forget your own swimming costume, towels and a warm snuggly outfit for your baby after the lessons.

Babies can start swimming lessons with Turtle Tots from birth. Our lessons for little ones take place in lovely warm pools in locations across the UK. However, new mums may need to wait a little while until their bodies have fully recovered so if you would like to start your baby swimming journey as soon as possible, other family members may need to hop in the pool with little one initially.

Typically, our swimming lessons for 2-year olds will have between 4 and 10 parent and child pairs in the pool depending on the size of the pool and the wider facilities.  

A comfortable swimsuit or swim shorts are ideal. If your child isn’t toilet-trained, you’ll need a swim nappy, and many pools also require a snug neoprene nappy cover over the top. Always check your pool’s policy before your first lesson. 

This can vary by provider and pool, but toddler lessons are typically kept short and structured to suit attention spans. Our Penguin lessons are 30 minutes long. 

At this age, it’s about strong foundations: water confidence, floating, body position, coordinated arm and leg movements, and breathing skills (learning to exhale in the water and surface to breathe). Water-safety routines are also introduced and reinforced. 

Expect a gentle introduction to the pool environment, the lesson structure and the teacher’s routines. A good first lesson is focused on comfort and familiarisation. Some toddlers join in straight away, while others prefer to watch and warm up. Both are completely normal. 

Most toddlers benefit from weekly lessons. Regular repetition helps your child recognise the routines, feel more confident in the environment, and build skills steadily over time. 

Two-year-old lessons are more active and more independence-focused. While baby lessons centre on supported holds and early familiarisation, toddler lessons introduce more energetic activities and a stronger focus on technique foundations, breathing skills, floating and water-safety routines, all taught through play. 

The Turtle Tots philosophy is to ensure safety and water confidence, encouraging parents to fully utilise the benefits and enjoyment that can have swimming with their children – whether that is at our lessons, on holiday or trips to the pool. We also provide a great social environment for parents and toddlers, giving them the opportunity to meet other families and children, forging friendships for life.

The age a child learns to swim independently depends on many factors including ability, confidence, and regularity of swimming.

Introducing children to Turtle Tots from an early age, and continue regular lessons, means that by the age of 3 and a half many children will be swimming short distances independently.

Swimming underwater is not the main focus of Turtle Tots swimming lessons. Our award-winning swim programme does include natural submersions once your little one is ready. This will be different for every child and our teachers are fully trained to understand when this will be. However, most of our activities take place above the water, with lots of fun and games.

We always move at your child’s pace. Familiar routines, calm repetition and gentle encouragement help children build confidence without pressure. In Turtle Tots preschool lessons, you’ll remain in the water with your child throughout, but we gradually help them feel less dependent on your presence, so the transition to parent-free swimming lessons at age 5+  feels easier. 

At Turtle Tots, our preschool lessons focus on water confidence, stroke development and essential life-saving skills – all of which naturally lead to independent swimming. Throughout our programme, we always keep things playful and supportive, so your child’s swimming lessons are fun and something they look forward to! 

This usually happens between two-and-a-half and three,  but it’s about the right stage rather than a perfect age or moment. If your child is confident, coordinated and ready for a slightly more structured lesson, preschool classes are often the right next step. 

Attending swimming lessons regularly helps your child practise their listening skills, gently increase their attention span, build confidence, interact with other children and become familiar with routine – all super valuable skills that will translate positively into the classroom when the time comes for starting school. 

Most children work on independent front and back swimming, floating, treading water, diving to collect objects, basic stroke development and water safety awareness. At Turtle Tots, we always adapt our activities to suit your child. 

Preschool lessons are designed to gently prepare children for this transition. Independence is gradually encouraged, with parents remaining in the water for reassurance and support. 

They help children practise listening to a teacher, following routines, moving independently and feeling confident in a group – all skills that support school swimming and classroom readiness. 

Yes, our lessons are designed for parents to accompany their child into the pool. Our pools are warm and comfortable and shallow enough to stand up in so parents do not need to be confident swimmers to join in. Our teachers are fully trained and experienced in helping parents and carers to feel confident in the water and will support both you and your child throughout the whole programme.

The Turtle Tots philosophy is to ensure safety and water confidence, encouraging parents to fully utilise the benefits and enjoyment that can have swimming with their children – whether that is at our lessons, on holiday or trips to the pool. We also provide a great social environment for parents and toddlers, giving them the opportunity to meet other families and children, forging friendships for life.

The age a child learns to swim independently depends on many factors including ability, confidence, and regularity of swimming.

Introducing children to Turtle Tots from an early age, and continue regular classes, means that by the age of 3 and a half many children will be swimming short distances independently.

In Aquanatal Yoga, your movements are supported by water, which can feel lighter on your joints and bump. The exercises in our Turtle Tums programme are specifically chosen to help improve core stability, maintain mobility and reduce any back and joint pain. 

In pregnancy yoga, you’re on a mat, and the sessions tend to involve more traditional floor-based movements and stretches. 

Both can be invaluable for supporting your strength, flexibility and posture throughout pregnancy, as well as helping you practise breathing, relaxation and coping strategies for labour. They both also offer a calm environment to tune into your body and begin the early stages of bonding with your growing baby. 

Many Turtle Tums mums enjoy a mix of both water-based and land-based yoga sessions – it’s about what feels right for you. 

Yes. Being in water takes the pressure off your spine and pelvis, which may ease lower-back or pelvic girdle pain related to pregnancy.  

The water also supports your joints while you move, which boosts circulation and may reduce swelling in your hands, feet and ankles.  

Your Turtle Tums teacher will always help you adapt exercises if you’re experiencing pain, and will remind you to stop anything that makes discomfort worse. If new pain appears or existing pain suddenly gets worse, speak to your midwife or GP. 

For most healthy pregnancies, you don’t need permission. But we always recommend letting your midwife or GP know you’re planning to start Aquanatal Yoga classes, so they can give you any advice specific to your individual pregnancy. 

There are two things to think about: when your baby can start swimming, and when you personally feel ready to get back in the pool. 

NHS guidance says there is no minimum age for a baby to start swimming – there’s no need to wait until they’ve had their vaccinations, as long as they are well.  

If you want to get into the pool with your baby, NHS advice is to wait until at least seven days after your postnatal bleeding has stopped to reduce the risk of infection. Ideally, wait until after your six-week GP check for complete peace of mind. 

If you’d like your baby to start swimming lessons earlier than this, a partner, grandparent or other trusted adult can bring them to their Turtle Tots baby swimming lessons while you continue to recover. 

For most mums-to-be, it’s safe to swim or attend Aquanatal Yoga classes throughout all three trimesters, as long as you and your baby are healthy, you feel comfortable, and you listen to your body.  

Many Turtle Tums mums carry on right up until late pregnancy, adapting movements as their bump grows. Your teacher will always encourage you to rest, step out or modify anything that doesn’t feel right. 

Of course, every pregnancy is different. If you have any medical conditions, pregnancy complications or have been advised to limit exercise, follow your midwife or doctor’s guidance first and foremost. 

Yes! Turtle Tums Aquanatal Yoga classes take place in warm shallow pools in selected locations across the UK. If you can’t swim, our teachers will ensure that you are fully supported and stick to areas of the pool where you are comfortable.

If you would feel more relaxed with your partner accompanying you, please speak to our team and we’ll ensure that arrangements are put in place for you.

We recommend that you ask your midwife to get the latest advice and personal guidance on taking part in any activity during your pregnancy. However, mums-to-be can often start Aquanatal Yoga classes from week 14 of their pregnancy.

Your normal swimming costume should be fine in the early stages of pregnancy but you may wish to purchase or borrow a pregnancy specific swimming costume as your bump starts to develop. Some women find wearing a sports bra under their costume offers them more support but is not a necessity.

Our Turtle Tums Aquanatal Yoga classes are designed to prepare your body and mind for the arrival of your newborn. The exercises in our programme help to improve core stability, maintain mobility and muscle tone, improve posture and reduce back and joint pain.

Our relaxation sessions give you the opportunity to develop an awareness of the baby growing inside of you and begin the early stages of bonding.

Of course! We will put you in touch with a successful franchisee who can tell you more about running a profitable business.

Lots! Visit our support page for details.

Our territories are defined by postcode areas. Each territory has a population of roughly 400,000 people, and franchisees have exclusive rights to deliver Turtle Tots lessons within their territory.

We prefer our franchisees to not have other businesses or jobs, as this can impact the success of a Turtle Tots business.

Franchises are awarded for an initial five-year term, with no charges to renew for subsequent five-year terms.