1 - The emphasis in the sessions is very clearly on strengthening the bond between you and your child and the two of you having fun. However, there are also many more long-term benefits:

• Swimming from birth is excellent for your baby's health and development and its early introduction will avoid them experiencing a fear of water that can develop later on in childhood;  

• Water helps improve co-ordination and balance.  Lack of gravity also means that babies exercise more muscles (more effectively) in water than on land.  

2 - A German study found that swimming babies had advanced motor development, social skills and intelligence. Similar Finnish research showed that swimming babies crawled late but walked early - having developed excellent muscle control:

• Despite the gentle structure of the lessons, each half-hour session provides a complete physical work-out: strengthening your baby's heart, lungs and respiratory system, which in turn aids development of the brain; 

• Learning to respond to commands can make your baby sharper mentally and increases levels of understanding;

• Skin to skin contact is excellent for strengthening the bond between your baby and you.  Parents with more than one child also find it’s an excellent way to guarantee a weekly session where the focus is purely on their newborn; 

• Exercises that involve moving independently in water and holding on to the side are wonderful for your baby’s confidence. Many parents also find that becoming familiar with handling their baby in water and sharing such a special experience is excellent for their confidence too;

• Regular swimming in warm water both relaxes your baby and stimulates their appetite, leading to improved sleeping and eating patterns.
 

Source: Waterbabies