Check out this video of R&B singer Ciara watching her baby boy swim for the first time in a pool with his swim instructor.
Earlier this week, the proud mom Ciara posted a few Instagram clips of 7-month-old Baby Future swimming in a pool for the first time… smiling as he did a few spins, kicks and naturally floated on his back with the help of his professional swimming teacher who was right by his side.
Along with the video clips, Ciara posted a caption saying:
“Something Ive Learned That All Moms Should Know….The First Step Is Your Baby Knowing What To Do If They Fall In The Water… Baby Futures 1st Phase Of Being In The Water Is Called #InfantAquaticSurvival It’s So Hard To Watch Sometimes Because He Gets Challenged By The Water, But It’s The Best Feeling To See Him Accomplish It! #ProudMamma”
Check out the video below:
Ever wonder how young babies appear to naturally know how to swim? Is it true that babies are born with the ability to swim?
The BabyCenter reports:
No. It’s not true that babies are born with the ability to swim, though they have reflexes that make it look like they are.
A reflex called the bradycardic response makes babies hold their breath and open their eyes when submerged in water, says Jeffrey Wagener, a pediatric pulmonologist in Colorado. (Parents can cause this same reaction by blowing in their baby’s face, a response that disappears after about 6 months.
Also, until around 6 months, babies placed in water tummy down reflexively move their arms and legs in a swimming motion, which makes them look like natural swimmers.
“These reflexes don’t mean the baby can swim, though,” says Wagener.
Babies aren’t old enough to hold their breath intentionally or strong enough keep their head above water. In addition to the risk of drowning, it’s dangerous for an infant to swallow large amounts of pool water.
Still, many infant swim programs rely on these reflexes to help babies “swim.” However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) doesn’t recommend swimming programs for children younger than 1 year old.
