Parent and Baby Classes
For new parents, finding opportunities to exercise and bond with your baby can be a welcome respite from the daily demands of caring for an infant. Bluecoat Sports offers a range of parent and baby classes in Horsham that allow you to prioritise self-care while spending quality time with your little one. Whether you delivered your baby recently or over a year ago, Bluecoats has a class that will help you regain strength and flexibility after pregnancy. Our baby-friendly facilities and supportive instructors provide a nurturing environment for both parent and child.
Discover our range of baby and parent classes, including swimming lessons, pilates, stretching and more. Book onto one of our many classes today.
Parent & Baby Indoor Cycling
Return to exercise in our post-natal friendly indoor cycling class, designed to slowly build your stamina and strength in a safe and controlled environment, all whilst your little one watches on from the comfort of their buggy or our playpens.
Indoor Cycling is a great way of building your cardiovascular health at your own pace. This low impact form of exercise will get your heart pumping as you build your stamina week on week. And the best part? You can work out with your little one watching on from the comfort of their buggy or our play pens! Plus, you’ll be joined by other mums, creating a relaxed, informal and friendly environment to begin your postnatal exercise journey.
You must have been signed off by your doctor (6-12 weeks depending on type of delivery) before starting any postnatal fitness programme.
Suitable For : Postnatal women (You must have been signed off by your doctor)
Class Duration : 30 minutes / 45 minutes
When : Tuesdays, 10:10-10:50
Equipment Needed : None
Memberships Included : Full, Classes, PAYGO
Buggy Fit
This session will provide a friendly and supportive social environment where you can get your body moving & meet like-minded mums after birth. Follow our qualified instructor’s guidance as they take you through a functional whole-body approach with elements of low-impact cardio, core, pelvic floor restores and toning exercises with body weight and resistance bands.
You must have been signed off by your doctor (around 6-12 weeks, depending on type of delivery) before starting any postnatal fitness programme.
When the sun is shining, this class will take place outside in the fresh air! When it is raining, the class will take place indoors.
Suitable For : Anyone aged 16+
Class Duration : 45 minutes
When : Mondays, 10:30-11:15
Equipment Needed : Mat
Memberships Included : Full, Classes, PAYGO
Parent & Baby Pilates
Parent & Baby Pilates classes offer an effective way to strengthen and tone your body after having a baby whilst your little one lies by your side. All exercises are safely and specifically designed to enhance recovery of the abdominals and pelvic floor, balance your body and mind and focus on the muscle groups and areas affected by pregnancy. This form of exercise quickens postpartum recovery and helps with the new demands of motherhood whilst at the same time offering an opportunity to meet other new parents.
You must have been signed off by your doctor (around 6-12 weeks, depending on type of delivery) before starting any postnatal fitness programme.
Suitable For : Anyone aged 16+
Class Duration : 45 minutes
When : Every Thursday 10:30-11:15
Equipment Needed : Drink, Mat
Memberships Included : Full, Classes, PAYGO
Waterbabes: Parent and Baby Drop in 3 months – 18 months
A drop-in swimming lesson for parents or guardians to bring their babies aged 3-18 months. These sessions are run with a ratio of 1 parent : 1 child and are supervised by our friendly instructors, helping you and your child to gain confidence in the water and develop their swimming skills. Please pre-book your space by calling reception on 01403 247572 to attend.
Call 01403 247572 to book.
Got a question about getting your baby into swimming? Read our FAQs below or get in touch via bluecoatsswimacademy@christs-hospital.org.uk.
Suitable For : Ages 3-18 months
Class Duration : 30 minutes
When : Every Wednesday 11:00-11:30
Equipment Needed : Towel, Swimming Costume
Cost : £5.50 per session
Memberships Included : PAYGO
The benefits of baby and parent classes
Improves parental muscle strength and tone
Parent and baby exercise classes help new mothers regain strength and muscle tone lost during pregnancy and childbirth. Controlled movements in yoga, Pilates, and other programs help rebuild abdominal and pelvic muscles.
Supports parental healing and recovery
Gentle but effective postnatal classes aid the long healing and recovery process after delivery. Pelvic floor and deep core exercises target areas needing specialised rebuilding. Continued activity circulates blood flow to speed healing. Monitoring by our trained instructors keeps parents progressing safely.
Restores parental balance, mobility and flexibility
Through gentle stretches, breathing, and stabilised movements, parent and baby classes help restore the balance, mobility and flexibility that pregnancy can displace. Regaining proper alignment, range of motion and stability prevents future strain or injury while handling baby and postpartum demands.
Enhances parent-baby bonding
Laughing, playing, cuddling and interacting during parent and baby classes deepens attachment between parent and child during the critical first year. Whether dancing, singing, swimming, or exercising, these activities foster parental affection.
Socialises babies through interaction
From peek-a-boo to splashing games, baby classes provide playful interaction with instructors, parents and other infants. This motivates communication, engaging babies with positive socialisation during the first months of rapid development.
Provides peer bonding for parents
Common experiences like sleep deprivation, feeding struggles, and anxieties quickly bond new parents. Classes offer empathetic support and friendships between parents adjusting to their new roles. This peer interaction reassures and uplifts.
Supports emotional wellbeing
The social, physical, and emotional support supplied in parent and baby programs bolsters the wellbeing of both parent and child during the demanding transition into parenthood. Depression is combatted through connections and endorphins.
Develops baby water safety
Specialised baby swim classes build water adjustment and safety skills through play and repetition in a nurturing environment. Babies gain confidence submerging, surfacing, paddling, and righting themselves in the water, laying a foundation for safe swimming.
Baby swimming helps them gain water confidence
Baby swim lessons familiarise little ones with the pool environment through consistent, positive exposures to water. As instructors coax babies to kick, splash, and explore aquatic mobility, infants gain an important life skill by being in and around pools in preparation for future swimming.
Teaches floating, submerging and swim strokes
Through individualised coaching, encouragement and play, pre school swimming lessons progressively teach foundational techniques like floating, gliding, and basic swim strokes. Infants try paddling, blowing bubbles, submerging with assistance, and then eventually attempting independent strokes, setting them up for success as bigger kids.
Enhances motor skills
Little legs paddling, arms stroking, lungs blowing bubbles—baby swim classes utilise water’s resistance to strengthen growing muscles and reinforce blossoming motor skills. Balance, coordination, and core control progressively improve through instructors’ playful coaching.
Builds physical confidence
As babies float, submerge then surface again with assistance, they gain physical confidence in their growing capabilities. Clapping, cheers and encouragement from parents and instructors feeds this natural self-assurance, empowering continued skill progression.
Book parent and baby classes in Horsham
With classes tailored for every stage from newborn to teenager, Bluecoat Sports offers the perfect opportunity to combine fitness with quality bonding time. Our state-of-the-art swimming pool and dedicated studios provide a welcoming environment for parents and little ones to splash, stretch, and play together. Certified instructors guide parents through their fitness journey while entertaining babies with delightfully stimulating activities.
View our class timetable today and book one of our baby and parent classes today.
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