Infant swimming is a natural phenomenon of human babies and toddlers who can reflexively move themselves through the water while simultaneously changing their respiration and breathing rates in response to being submerged underwater. The slowing of the heart rate (up to 20%) and the change of respiration with water passing through the nose/esophagus and into the stomach is also known as the Bradycardic reflex. It also enables them to open their eyes underwater. This phenomenon is generally observed in babies from birth to 6 months old.
Other mammals share this trait with humans though. The infant swimming reflex causes children to tummy down while seeming to paddle reflexively making them look like natural swimmers at birth. It is important to note that despite this infant swimming reflex children are not strong enough to swim or hold their heads above water yet. It must also be noted that at this age babies cannot also hold their breath voluntarily underwater.
As a parent, it is important therefore to expose babies or toddlers to swimming with the needed guidance to avoid accidents. The American CDC in a study showed that one of the top causes of death to infants between 1-4 years old is drowning. It is therefore essential that while exposing our children to swimming lessons necessary precautions MUST be taken. Holding the child while monitoring the swimming movements would be a great way to take precautions.
Feel free to let your baby try out swimming as long as you monitor him or her all the way.
Our Baby Friendly
Well there you have it. Happy swimming babies!
I wish every parent can see this post, losing a child is very sad. Thanks for the info ✌
Nice, even though I do not think I’m brave or confident enough to put my child through it because even I cannot swim, but we’ll see. Thank you!
Ok
Extra precaution need to be taken while engaging in this process.
Thanks for the precautions
Very informative post.
Not bad but lacks adequate information and content to convince parents to take such risks of teaching their kids swimming. More factual information will be of great help And lends more credence to the article. Thanks.
Amazing I love every article ..wished I was taught too at and earlier age how to Swim..
Nice piece..will imbibe it to my baby when she comes.
this article have been helpful and i think i would take this into practice
I liked this topic but it did not really give me the information I needed.
This is very educative. All parents need to follow this precautions.
Nice article
Great content. Keep it up!!
Putting your infant in water is not such a risk parent want to take but I guess with a well researched means, it’s worth a trial.
Good try by the way
Yes.Inasmuch as infant swimming is good,precautionary measures should be taken when embarking on this exercise
Glad to know that children are natural swimmers but guidance has always been the key to safety, in order to avoid tragic incidents
I would really love my kids to start swimming early, I don’t want them to be scared like me.
[…] Source link […]
[…] Source link Newborn News […]