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The First Big Splash!
Playing It Safe With Super-sized Backyard Pools and Babies
By Laura Cone
She discourages the use of any types of floatation devices because they give children a false sense of security, and she takes a more serious approach to swim lessons. "I don't endorse the mommy and me blow bubbles, sing songs type of swim lessons," Sandy says. "Those types of lessons attract children to the water. Because that's where they sing songs with Mommy, it's even more inviting. And that's a very scary thing when you have a child who does not know what to do and how to get air. Our focus is getting the child safe and getting them competent and then it becomes fun."
Parents should know their child may seem frustrated at first while learning to swim, says Sandy. However, once they have mastered a skill, they will have more fun.
In Florida, Arizona, Texas and California, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for infants and young children under the age of 4. "Children would not drown if they instinctively knew how to swim," Sandy says.
When it comes to holding their breath, most infants will hold their breath as an instinct because their face is covered, in a sense. "Some places will have you blow in a child's face before you place them under water," she says. "All that is, is a reflex. It's the same reflex they have when they just go under water. You don't need to blow. As soon as their face is covered they hold their breath."
At the same time, she says it's important to make sure your baby inhales first before going under water. If your baby begins to cry, wait until he or she has calmed down.
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