So Cal Water Babies

We absolutely love Cathryn. My husband and I both feel very confident in her abilities as a swim instructor. She taught Isaac the basic survival float in 2 ½weeks when he was 14months old. We have now started the swim float swim at 23 months old and have seen great progress within the first week. Cathryn has a very calm and patient energy as well as great confidence and certainty. It makes me as a parent feel confident in trusting her with my child.

My son started ISR when he was 7 months old, we had a great experience. Ms. Cathryn was amazing with my son, she was patient but stern. We never had to wait like someone else stated. I’m hoping to take my son back again so he can learn to swim.

I can’t say enough nice things about Cathryn… At 9 mos old my baby learned to safely get into a float after «falling» into the pool. A year later, my daughter really did fall into the pool! Before my husband could reach in to grab her, she’d already turned into her float position. Now at 22 months, my daughter is back and learning the float swim sequence and is doing a great job!
Cathryn is so patient and always keeps her cool, despite the fact that she works with many crying babies a day. But my philosophy has always been that I’d rather my baby cry during lessons than drown because I didn’t want her to cry.
I can’t recommend Cathryn or ISR enough. The time commitment and financial investment is nothing compared to the DEVASTATING regret of needing this training but not having it.
And as an aside, Cathryn has always been very accommodating with her schedule, and has really bent over backwards the few times I was unable to keep my regular appointment. And on the random times I’ve arrived early, she’s also fit me in early as long as she had the opening.
I wish I could post a video of my baby swimming!

I have put my two daughters through Cathryn’s course. Cathryn is so intuitive with the kids. SHE WILL SAVE YOUR CHILDS LIFE should the unexpected happen!!! But you need to be ready for a BIG commitment. This is not for the light of heart. 10 min per day per kid and I was driving 30 – 45 min each way. The first year my daughters were 6 months and 2 years and they both accomplished the program quickly. My 6 month old could float completely on her own, and my 2 year old could literally swim the length of the pool completely on her own! Be ready for them to cry a lot and it can be hard to watch but just know that it works!!! They are just finishing their second year with her and now my 20 month old can SWIM too!!!

I contacted So Cal Water Babies at the end of May as I wanted to have a good few weeks of lessons behind us as summer was coming up. I have only done mommy and me classes with a 5 month old so this was a completely different type of swim class. Cathryn got back to me right away and was able to start my child’s lesson the following week. She emailed me information and I had to register and pay a fee with Infant Swim Resource. I read through all of the information that I was given and was prepared to let my 15 month old learn how to float. I had to track her food, sleep, odd behavior and bathroom habits. Its called the BUDS form and you must fill this out for younger children because it helps their comfort in the water and it makes is possible for the teacher to be effective. I highly anticipated these lessons but knew it was the only way to actually teach my toddler some type of water independence. She did great and in a few weeks her comfort level was great. She was getting the hang of the technique and she could float. I decided to put her in for a little longer to have her properly swim float swim. Now as she is learning this new skill she is doing amazing for a toddler. I really appreciate the end results of the swim lessons with Cathryn. She totally eased any worries I had, she was kind and patient to my toddler. She is truly a master at what she does, she watches their breathing, helps them let out air when needed, plays soft relaxing music and is just a kind person all around. I also have an almost 6 year old who was complaining of feeling like she was sinking while swimming and I also had her take lessons with Cathryn. In just the first week she learned how to properly swim freestyle and backstroke. My daughter would doggie paddle because thats how the city lessons taught her for the past two summers. Now she is doing amazing because Cathryn was able to steer her swim stroke the proper way. I highly recommend So Cal Water Babies for children and babies for swim and floating lessons. Do your research, read up on the subject and the method of teaching. There are a lot of unfortunate things that can happen in a pool and this is the best way to be prepared. Our lessons started on time and maybe 5 minutes after start time a few times. She is punctual for the most part. I saw kids before and after my own children and I knew they were having an awesome experience as well. Other children had comparable progress and great success from my own experience as a spectator. She is well loved by the parents and her students, she knows what she is doing and takes so much care with each child. I had our final swim lesson yesterday with my toddler, I had to go in the pool with her as she floated and swam. Catherine helped me assist my child properly and now I am comfortable having my toddler swim assisted with me. Happiest customer So Cal Water Babies has ever had, it takes a lot to please me and Im super picky with who I send my kids to! Thanks a bunch, the experience was invaluable, effective and simply awesome!!! A +++ #1

We took our older daughter to Cathryn at So Cal Water Babies 2 years ago
And had pretty good results
I will say that you only get a 10 minute appointment each day and 9 times out of 10 we had to Wait 20 to 40 minutes as she always said she was running late
When we were even 5 minutes late we heard about it
It was quite annoying but we tolerated it as we wanted to get our oldest child
To learn to swim
When we took our younger Daughter a year ago at 1 ½ years of age we went through the same problem having to drive 25 minutes each way for a 10 minute appointment and then Constantly having to wait 20 to 40 minutes
You will most likely get the long wait for appointments sitting by her pool wondering how she could be late 30 minutes day after day when she wants you there
At a certain time
My child finished half of her survival classes and said we will finish next year in swim season
So we starting calling 7 weeks ago (14 phone calls), we also sent (11 emails) saying we are going out of The Country and we desperately need to finish the classes as my child would be in the pool Every day and did not want to worry about her drowning
Now we are leaving in 5 days and not a single call back or email to schedule
An appointment for my Daughter and very nervous she could drown
The communication skills from the owner Cathryn is outrageous and And so unprofessional and honestly makes us so appalled
This school provides survival skills from drowning and swimming lessons, I am sure she will disregard your urgent phone calls or emails too
Do Yourself a favor and avoid this place at all costs! If i could give 0 stars we would She does not really Care about your family
Or child, go some place else where they have good communication skills and cares if your
Child would live or die in the pool alone!
If you are reading this and have similar experience it is important you sign
Up for Unilocal so you can warn other potential clients of what they have to look
Forward to if calling up So Cal Water Babies

I have two children I have put through these lessons. Cathryn is a wonderful instructor and I highly recommend her to everyone I meet! She does get busy and she books up really fast. I guess that is what happens when you are the best.
My older son is 3 and he loves the water, thanks to these lessons. At the end of his lessons we’d have to drag him crying from the water because he didn’t want to leave.
This was the greatest investment we ever made!

My 2 kids just started to learn to swim last feb 2015. My son made it to the piranha swim team (novice) after 1 month with Ms. Katie. My daughter is doing awesome, she is just doing 2x a week practice. Im so thankful to Ms. Katie for her patience and expertise. Ive never felt the need to look elsewhere for swimming lessons because i know she is the best. My kids enjoyed each session and they’ve developed confidence around water. My son is 6 and my daughter is 2. Im so proud of them especially when they’re swimming. Thanks to Ms. Katie.

After being called by the owner Katherine I have decided to change my review. I am no longer in the position to be able to take my kids to swim school but she pointed out to me that my review had nothing to do with her actual service (swim school). I don’t want to ruin her rating just because I didn’t get a call back 6 months ago. When I did speak to Katherine she was very nice and accommodating. She was genuinely concerned that I hadn’t had a call back. And if I am ever in the market again to take my kids to swim class I will definitely call her first.

Just finished our sons lessons and we are very happy with all that he learned! The instructor was always on time and very professional. She was exceptionally patient with our stubborn son. The money was definitely worth it!

My 1 year old just wrapped up her lessons today. I cant say enough good things about Ms Cathryn. My baby came away with an incredible amount of confidence while in the water. Watching how well she can float and swim, I now feel completely confident that she has the skills to help herself should the need arise. My daughter had a habit of soiling herslef at almost every lesson, and Cathryn was so gracious about having to deal with all that mess. She engaged with my daughter so well, and made me feel confortable while watching her struggle through the beginning lessons. We will definitly be back next summer, and every summer after as long as it is needed.