Kayla Mason of Water Babies Charlotte
Charlotte Moms Network is excited to introduce Kayla Mason to our community! She is the franchise owner and operator of Water Babies Charlotte, a swim school that focuses on the youngest of children, allowing them to be comfortable, confident, and safe in the water. Read on to find out more about Kayla and about Water Babies’ first Charlotte location.
Tell us a little about yourself and about the origin of Water Babies Charlotte.
Hi, I’m Kayla! I grew up in a family that moved around a lot throughout the Midwest, and over time I learned how much community matters. I started my career as a nutritionist for Women, Infants, and Children, where I developed a deep passion for supporting mothers, babies, and young children. That work eventually led me to become a certified lactation consultant, and it really shaped the way I see early childhood, parent support, and the importance of those first few years.
When I came to Charlotte, I immediately loved the sense of community here. It felt like the kind of place where families truly want to connect, support each other, and find meaningful activities for their children. I always knew I wanted to start my own business, and when I found Water Babies, it felt completely aligned with my background and my heart for supporting families.
Water Babies started in the UK and has over 20 years of experience teaching babies and young children how to be safer, more confident, and more comfortable in the water. When I learned more about the program, I knew it was something I wanted to bring to Charlotte. What drew me to Water Babies was the quality and depth of the program. It is not just a swim class. The program supports water safety, swimming skills, confidence, bonding, and early childhood development in a way that feels really intentional.
I started Water Babies Charlotte because I wanted to create a safe, welcoming, and fun environment where caregivers can connect with their little ones and with each other. I especially care about supporting moms in the postpartum season and giving families a place where they feel encouraged,
informed, and supported. We are starting in South Charlotte, with plans to open a few more locations in the area. Within the next year, I also plan to begin expanding into North Charlotte.
What types of services does Water Babies provide?
Water Babies provides baby and toddler swim lessons for children ages 3 months to about 5 years old. Our classes are designed to teach water safety and swimming skills while also supporting developmental milestones, bonding, confidence, and comfort in the water. One of the things I love most about Water Babies is that every activity has a purpose. We take time to explain the “why” behind what we are doing in class, so parents understand how each skill connects to their child’s development and safety. Our teachers go through extremely extensive training, including 100+ hours of aquatic training. They are Red Cross lifeguard certified and also spend time learning about infant reflexes, developmental milestones, child cues, and how to support little ones in a calm and encouraging way.
Over time, I also plan to have our teachers become Swim Angelfish certified so we can better support children with unique sensory, developmental, and special needs. This is a population that deserves more resources, and I would love for Water Babies to become a trusted community partner for those families.
How has Water Babies evolved?
We are just getting started in Charlotte, so we are still in the early launch stage. Even before opening, the vision has continued to grow. What started as bringing an amazing swim program to Charlotte has become something bigger: creating a community where caregivers feel supported, children feel
confident, and families have a safe and joyful place to connect.
Where is Water Babies located, and when do classes begin?
Our first Water Babies Charlotte location is at the Wingate by Wyndham in Matthews. We are beginning in the South Charlotte and Matthews area, with plans to grow into additional South Charlotte locations and then expand into North Charlotte within the next year.
We are officially launching our first classes on June 9, and we are so excited to welcome families into the pool and introduce them to the Water Babies program. We also have a lot of exciting things planned for the future. Throughout the year, we highlight different themes in our classes. This summer, our focus will be on water safety, and as we move into the fall and winter, we’ll have fun seasonal and holiday-themed activities that I’m really excited to share with our families.
Is there something that you’d like to share about Water Babies Charlotte that makes it different from others in your field?
What I really want families to know is that Water Babies is different from a traditional swim lesson. Our core is water safety, swimming skills, and child development, but we approach it in a gentle, child-focused way that builds confidence, connection, and trust. We are not rushing children through skills or forcing them into something before they are ready. Every class is intentional, and every activity has a purpose. I truly believe Water Babies offers something Charlotte families have not seen before. I am so excited to connect with families across Charlotte and create a space where children can grow, caregivers can feel supported, and everyone can experience the Water Babies magic.
Be sure to follow Water Babies Charlotte on Instagram for all the latest information! You can contact Kayla and Water Babies Charlotte directly at [email protected]
