can babies survive under water before they are 6 months old?

Answer 1

A nurse told me that new born babies can swim, cause they r used to the liquid they r into till they r delivered, so it's the fight for life instinct and if u choose to give birth to ur baby under water, he won't get drowned. But I'm not sure if he can be there for long time and what's the age when he loses these "swimming skills".

Answer 2

I think you might need to clarify "survive"... are you thinking of tossing a 5 month old in a pool? Are you asking about water births? There are many myths out there about babies and water.

Until a baby stops getting oxygen through the placents (the cord is cut or stops pulsing) it will be fine in the water. I have seen some pretty cool videos where the baby has been born in water and floats/swims underwater for several moments before being brough out of the water. Most of the time, though, a mama is too eager to see the baby they want them brought up right away! From Wikpedia: "The baby's first breath is triggered by the absence of the water over the face which triggered the mammalian diving reflex along with contact with air pressure on the trigeminal nerve area of the face. For the first breath to take place the baby switches over from fetal circulation to newborn circulation, closing the shunts in the heart, creating pulmonary circulation, changing the pressures in the lungs, pushing out fluids that are already present in lung spaces and allowing for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. This process takes a few minutes to completely initiate, during which time the newborn typically is still receiving oxygen from the umbilical cord. There is no threat that the newborn will inhale water during the birth process since his trigger to breathe oxygen is not present until he makes contact with the air."

Babies have several reflexes they are born with, like grasping a finger placed in their palm, or rooting around for mothers' breast. When a baby goes underwater their 'diving reflex' kicks in. The same sort of thing happens as when you swallow - the epiglottis closes over and blocks the throat so no water can get through. Many people take advantage of this and take their babies to an infant swim class very early on. Also, since the baby spent 9 months in water in the belly, it often really enjoys being back in the water again.

Answer 3

Newborn babies can swim, but they cannot survive under water for long.

As young as 5 days old, babies are being taught the initial steps for learning to swim. Babies are used to being surrounded by water and will take to swimming easier than a child who is older. The older kids get the more they develop fears and inhibitions. Sometimes these fears can already have taken hold by ten to fifteen months of age.

Studies have shown that babies who've learned to swim very early developed advanced motor skills, social skills and often - a slightly higher intelligence level. Babies who have learned to swim as an infant are also more likely to walk quicker than babies that didn't.

Answer 4

Are you freakin crazy?? I hope you meant can they hold their breath under water not survive under water. What kind of a person would even think that?? Yeah I agree with whoever said this can't be a real question, if it is you need help and if you have a child you need CPS called on you.

Answer 5

Okay 1 out of 10 on the scale of this being a real question.

Of course not, no mammal can live under water. We all, regardless of our age need oxygen, which is absent in water to survive.

This question makes me wonder if you are young, or perhaps have spent too much time under water.

Answer 6

Don't forget humans need oxygen to survive but for the baby it can't float

Answer 7

they can't breath underwater. they'll make swimming motions and carry their breath, yet after slightly they'll drown and die. in the womb children receive oxygen by the placenta. see you later because that's suitable they don't favor to breath. yet once the wire is decrease / the placenta isn't connected they prefer to breath air. A arising fetus does have gills for a couple of minutes even as they resemble a salamander more beneficial than a human, yet at no aspect have they were given operating gills. they in basic terms resemble our ancestors as area of progression.

Answer 8

i wonder why you chose 6 months. at a very young age, babies have the instinct to hold their breath when submerged, but they certainly can't survive for any longer that you or i could. please don't experiment with this.

Answer 9

okay? what kind of question is this?
why would you want to know if a baby can survive underwater.
thats retarded

Answer 10

Do these babies have gills like a fish? I hope you don't have a little brother or sister.