Kelly, Waterspout4...swimming question..

How do you get them to hold their breath when you dunk them under the water????

You should see Caden in the water...I swear he can swim..is that possible at 9 months??? I want to nurture this love of the water not torture the poor kid...

Im a non swimmer myself...although I can do a mean doggy paddle..

Re: Kelly, Waterspout4...swimming question..

First let me say I had a 5 month old "student" my last year teaching who could swim underwater from me to his mother just a few feet away. I had never taught that young before so even I was amazed to see that. But they say its instinct at that age as they are used to being in a water environment from the womb.

Anywya, an easy way, just before you are to dunk them count to 3 with them, then blow in their face. Most infants instinct is to close their eyes and scrunch their face. Then do a quick dunk.

I think the other Kelly has more expereince teaching younger kids/babies so she might have some other techniques.

Re: Kelly, Waterspout4...swimming question..

Posted by Kelly9904

First let me say I had a 5 month old "student" my last year teaching who could swim underwater from me to his mother just a few feet away. I had never taught that young before so even I was amazed to see that. But they say its instinct at that age as they are used to being in a water environment from the womb.

Anywya, an easy way, just before you are to dunk them count to 3 with them, then blow in their face. Most infants instinct is to close their eyes and scrunch their face. Then do a quick dunk.

I think the other Kelly has more expereince teaching younger kids/babies so she might have some other techniques.

Re: Kelly, Waterspout4...swimming question..

Shameless bump...

Re: Kelly, Waterspout4...swimming question..

I never saw this post until now. (It was a related topic)

For them to hold their breath, it just happens. There is no magical thing that they get in their first 5 years. I say 5 years because you can feel all secure that your baby/child holds their breath, then they can regress once they suck water into their nose. regression happens in 95% of children, typically from 3-4 years of age. (Even those you figured were holding their breath for years.)

One thing to help them is to make anything a game. If they are old enough, you can try a few pool rings to help.

Message edited 6/26/2010 4:40:55 AM.