A NEWPORT baby became one of the youngest ever to take the plunge at a swimming lesson with Water Babies.

Little Mia Robins was just thirteen days old when she took her first swimming lesson with Water Babies, who offer specialist baby swimming lessons in Newport.

From a water birth right the way through to her first underwater photo at just eight weeks old, Mia has taken to the water like a mermaid.

Mia’s mum, Emma, always loved the water and worked as a lifeguard and swimming instructor at Newport Leisure Centre, and she even opted to have a water birth at the Royal Gwent Hospital.

She said: “After seeing so many four year olds start swimming lessons petrified of the water it was always important to me to get Mia confident in the water as early as possible.

“Mia literally came into the world swimming and at just nine weeks old Mia could hold on to the side of the pool unaided. I know that the skills she is being taught could one day save her life, which for a parent is invaluable.”

She came across Water Babies three years ago when she spotted a vacancy to teach the baby swimming lessons across South East Wales, and she took up the challenge teaching children from the age of four.

She added: “I’ve never looked back and it’s amazing to see how relaxed and happy the babies are in the water.”

Water Babies teaches thousands of babies across the UK every week, with the focus on bonding between parent and baby, while teaching children life saving skills,such as not panicking if they fall in and swimming to the nearest solid object.

Aletia Griffiths, who runs Water Babies classes with Jacqui Grant, across South Wales said: “On average, babies start lessons at around six weeks, so thirteen days is definitely unusual and makes Mia one of our youngest ever babies, especially as she had her underwater photo shoot at just eight weeks old. She really is our little mermaid.”

Aletia and Jacqui run Water Babies classes across central South Wales. For more information call 01633 278504 or visit www.waterbabies.co.uk