2007-06-25 05:47:43 · 19 answers · asked by tayshea143 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I don't think you're actually teaching them to "swim". They don't have the muscle structure, strength or coordination to keep themselves afloat. Baby swim classes are fun, but it's mostly teaching them to hold their breath, float and not be afraid of the water.
2007-06-25 05:51:59 · answer #1 · answered by Jennifer M 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No--you can't really teach a 6 month old to swim.
Problems:
1) A 6-month old doesn't live in the water. While it may be nice for the parents to have a child who is water ready by the age of 3, it's not safe.
2) A 6-month old shouldn't be put through the stress. Enjoy the water with the child, but don't force lessons. Don't force his/her head underwater and encourage basic enjoyment. It's far too early to teach how to stay afloat or strokes.
3) It's just not safe. Having a child be comfortable around the water is not a blessing but a curse. You want a child to have some fear of the water or you'll find an overconfident 3 year old who thinks that s/he can swim in the deep end.
2007-06-25 12:52:23 · answer #2 · answered by FaZizzle 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well yes and no I suppose, you can get them used to the water and paddling and kicking their feet but my daughter is almost three now and she still falls on her face in the baby pool sometimes although when she has swimmies on she can swim well with out me holding her. But I would never let a child that young into the water without a life jacket or some kind of protection its just too dangerous.
2007-06-25 12:52:53 · answer #3 · answered by Jessa 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
technically you can, but probably dont want to attempt until they are atleast 1. i used to instruct swimming classes and never saw anyone younger than that! a good rule of thumb is to take them when they can atleast walk on their own with no problem. plus if a 6 month old accidentally swallows chlorinated water, they arent fully developed enough to maybe handle that in their body..
2007-06-25 12:56:12 · answer #4 · answered by Florida~Girl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course you can. The sooner you teach a child to swim, the better. It's all still instinct by then. Go to your local YMCA and sign up for a class.
2007-06-25 12:51:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Babies can swim the moment they are born. I was born in June and my parents had me in the pool the week I came home. I swim like a fish now. My friend and I had her 9 month old in my in-laws pool and she began kicking (sort of like a frog kick) when we placed her in the water.
2007-06-25 12:51:45 · answer #6 · answered by Katie 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I took my babies to a program at the Y - it was called "Baby and Me" they all swam by 6 months old. Its great cause it teaches them how to stay afloat so the chances of drowning are way less!!!
2007-06-25 13:04:19 · answer #7 · answered by elaeblue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no!!!!!!!!
a child that young is just learning to sit up swimming contains a lot of muscle control a child even as young as 3-4 can barely swim . NEVER LEAVE YOUR 6 MONTH OLD ALONE BY WATER OR IN WATER!!!
2007-06-25 12:50:53 · answer #8 · answered by tyedyestarz 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
there has been courses for yrs that teach infants the basic teck. of floating.... they call it swimming , but, it realy is not..... they can teach them how to be safe, come to the surface and float..... after about a yr. the *swim* part comes into play...... God bless
2007-06-25 12:53:39 · answer #9 · answered by Annie 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I know it's possible, although I wouldn't know how to do it. But they do swimming lessons for very small babies at a lot of places
2007-06-25 12:51:12 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋