Water Babies – Academy Swim Club

Can infants really swim? You bet they can! Most infants, from birth to between four and six months, have what is called a Swim Reflex. When submerged and released underwater, they actually show rhythmic and synchronized movement of the arms, legs and torso. They can hold their breath for about 10 seconds, and swim three to four feet.
The best teacher for your infant or toddler is yourself, unless your own fear of water interferes with their learning process. You know your child’s personality and fears, and can best judge your child’s special needs or appropriate pacing during the swim sessions. And who can love your child and give them confidence better than you?
The safety benefits are that the sooner you start, the more likely your baby will be holding his/her breath and surfacing to a float by the time she is old enough to accidentally crawl into the pool. With circumstance and judgement involved, a child is never water safe. You can only hope to increase the chance of survival in an emergency, by decreasing panic and fear through practice and increasing their skill. Most of all, early swimming helps to increase the child’s love, appreciation, and respect for water.
For more information, contact Academy Swim Club at Swim4Life.com, info@swim4life.com, or (661)702-8585.