YOU can put your child underwater! It is so good for your baby!
I want to teach you this parenting skill.
Watch this video and do this with your baby!
Even with my experience with so many other babies, I was nervous and excited his first time with Parker at the pool at 3 months. We played and floated and I poured water on his face like his parents have been doing in his bath. I really don't get too many babies that young and was afraid he would choke on the water... Don't you feel that way too? Well, even though I pretty much cut that out of the video, he did choke a little but it only lasted about 2 seconds and then he was fine. I stroked his cheek and talked him through it. I knew that I had to do it again and told myself that if he choked again I would work more in the tub... Thankfully, the second time going under, he was fine. It works!!!
As you can see in the video, soon he was gliding and smiling.
This is baby swimming that is good for you and your baby, and research supports it.
Have an attitude of fun!
Parker underwater - grandchild number 6 - swimming early!
Even if you can't get to the pool, continue pouring water on his face at least once a week, don't let him forget! Go to a pool once a month even in the winter!
Write me your ideas and suggestions as well as your questions and concerns!
Once your child will willingly glide underwater to another person, we can say that he is "swimming"! Now your job is to have your child gain more control in the water. He is not water safe, and needs you every second. Thanks to my friend Linda for sending me this video that I want to share with you. Here, little Andrew is being a shark. Listen as Andrew yells: "I eat your fingers" while he swims back and forth between Grandma and Daddy, never tiring, doing more and more.
Children need to feel confortable swimming in any type of water: pool, ocean, or lake. Practice with them and teach them how to be safe always enjoying every moment! Watch my grandchildren practice swimming in the ocean on St. Simons Island, Georgia.
The underwater world is strange to a baby and has weird sounds. Everything is blurry if you don't wear goggles. It can sometimes be scary to a young child. But if he sees your face when he is under the water he will get excited and forget all his troubles. Your child will just kick and dig and have fun while "swimming" to your face! Don't worry about your hair, or makeup. It is all worth it! You will be amazed at how he will love going under the water! And the best thing is that after a few times it won't matter if your are under there or not. Your child will love it!
The Learn to Swim with Miss DVD can give parents knowledge to teach their children to be safe in the water from their first bath. Many parents don't think about swimming until their child can walk. But early water safety skills can save your baby's life! The most basic skill is for your baby to be familiar with having water on the face, knowing not to swallow water. Even without going to swimming lessons, parents can play games with their baby in the tub and pool that can save their life.
Babies can hold their breath for even more than 2 minutes! This is longer than adults. Many drowning rescues occur in that time frame. If a baby can hold his breath, he will survive. The Learn to Swim with Miss Bea DVD has many more activities for the bathtub and for the swimming pool for children up to 4 years old.
Don't wait till you child is ready to swim; there are things you can do to make your child want to swim, even if your child is scared of the water. You may believe that you can't teach your own child, but that is simply not true! Parents will feel confident in teaching their own children following the simple step by step demonstrations by parents and their children on the DVD.
Two twelve year old boys started a nonprofit organization called Goggles for Guppies. They are making a big difference, one child at a time. Here is the Goggles for Guppies facebook page When you watch the video, watch especially the first and last parts.
This is from the Goggles for Guppies website: Goggles
for Guppies, a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation, was founded in 2011 by
southern California twin swimmers Chris and Matt Hales. We are a
volunteer organization that distributes donated swim equipment to
underprivileged children while providing community service opportunities
for athletes as well as for intermediate and high school students who
need to fulfill their community service requirements for graduation. Since
our beginning, we have distributed well over $250,000 worth of swim
suits, caps and goggles to encourage underprivileged children to learn
to swim. We solicit and accept all sizes of donations of unsold
inventory from sporting goods manufacturers, distributors and retailers
for distribution to learn-to-swim programs throughout America that
provide basic, life-saving swimming skills to disadvantaged kids. Today,
we are proud to be the exclusive distributor of donated swim equipment
for the USA Swimming Foundation's Make-A-Splash initiative.
Goggles
for Guppies, a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation, was founded in 2011 by
southern California twin swimmers Chris and Matt Hales. We are a
volunteer organization that distributes donated swim equipment to
underprivileged children while providing community service opportunities
for athletes as well as for intermediate and high school students who
need to fulfill their community service requirements for graduation.
Since
our beginning, we have distributed well over $250,000 worth of swim
suits, caps and goggles to encourage underprivileged children to learn
to swim. We solicit and accept all sizes of donations of unsold
inventory from sporting goods manufacturers, distributors and retailers
for distribution to learn-to-swim programs throughout America that
provide basic, life-saving swimming skills to disadvantaged kids. Today,
we are proud to be the exclusive distributor of donated swim equipment
for the USA Swimming Foundation's Make-A-Splash initiative.
"The Make-A-Splash initiative has experienced exponential growth since its
inception in 2007 and has granted $2.5 million to provide free or
reduced cost swimming lessons to children who might not otherwise have
the chance. To date, more than 1.5 million kids have received the
life-saving gift of swim lessons through the Make-A-Splash Local Partner
network, comprised of more than 550 qualified lesson providers across
the nation".
Here is their facebook page and video that highlights their efforts. Be a part of it!
TAKE STEPS TO BE SAFER AROUND THE WATER
- Learn to Swim!
- Follow pool rules.
- Never swim alone. Use the buddy system and choose locations with certified lifeguards whenever possible.
- If someone in the water is in trouble, reach, throw, but don’t go!
WHY MAKE A SPLASH? - Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of childhood accidental death
- Ten people drown each day in the U.S.
- Seven out of ten African-American children cannot swim
- Six out of ten Hispanic children cannot swim
- 40% of Caucasian children have low or no swimming ability
- Children from non-swimming households are eight times more likely to be
at-risk of drowning
- Participation in formal swim lessons can reduce the likelihood of childhood drowning by 88%.
BABIES UNDER 6 MONTHS:The swimming reflex makes
babies look like they are swimming. Babies will naturally move their
arms and legs underwater. You won't need to teach your baby any
underwater motions. That is why you want to start your baby swimming
very young!
FOR CHILDREN 6 MONTHS TO 2 YEARS OLD:
If your baby doesn't naturally kick, get low in the water and have him lean on your shoulder.
Move your baby's legs up and down at the knees while you walk backwards.
Have another adult move your baby's legs up and down.
Hold your baby securely. As your baby kicks, you walk backwards towards a toy or another person.
FOR OLDER CHILDREN NEEDING HELP: Use a floatie
Place your child's hands on the float.
Use your arms to move your child's legs up and down, bending the knees, flopping the feet, while moving to a toy.
Try to achieve a happy medium of bending and splashing.
You can also place your arm just above your child's knees to prevent his legs from going too deep.
You child will continue to kick until he reaches the toy. This is the beginning of swimming!
FOR OLDER CHILDREN A BETTER KICK:
Hold the child facing you. Have the child kick really hard, while you pretend to crash the wall.
Hold the child under the arms and tell him to kick to the toy while you walk toward the toy.
Have the child push off the steps and kick to you getting in a horizontal position.
