Swim, Baby, Swim!

Should You Teach Your Baby to Swim?

By Felicia Hodges

"Never just throw your child in or sneak up and dunk him. It could make him have a fear of the water that he will never be able to conquer," she says.

Since drowning is the second leading cause of death for children between the ages of one and 18, the most important thing any parent can learn about water safety is CPR.

"Nobody ever wants to think about something terrible happening to their child, but if your child does fall in your pool or wanders off at the beach, CPR could save his life," Dr. Scopec says.

"All parents should take a CPR class," Ottie says. "It could save their child's life or at least buy the child more time until professionals arrive or the child can be taken to a hospital."

There are a few programs in the United States that certify instructors or refer parents to infant swim instructors. Some, such as the National Swim School Association in St. Petersburg, Fla., certify instructors who teach classes to children from one week old to age 2. Call (813)896-7946 for a list of instructors near you.

The Australian Swim School in Santa Ana, Calif. offers infant swim programs for mothers and babies as well as certification for infant swim instructors. It can be reached at (714) 731-6666.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following pool safety tips for families with young children: Never leave children unattended near any body of water. In the time it takes you to run to the telephone or turn on the dryer, your child could fall in and drown. If you have a pool, separate it from your home with a 5-foot high fence or gate. Use a gate that self-closes and self-latches. The latch should be higher than your child is able to reach. Remove toys from the pool after you exit so children aren't tempted to reach for them. Learn Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

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