Should i dunk my baby in the bath

Dunking babies under water? Just wanted some advice from anyone who takes their babies to swimming classes. I've read that at swimming classes they get you to dunk your baby under water so that they get used to it. Is this true and if so can anyone explain how you go about doing it literally just dunk them quickly?

My husband and I have started taking our 10 week old swimming every week but not to classes and I'm just wondering what we should do with him while in the pool. See last answer. If you blow in their face they take a deep breath and then you can dunk them under. Here is something I found on line. Search for a thread.

I've been taking dd to a swimming class since she was 6 months old. The lesson follows the same basic pattern even a year on, we now just add extra bits now they have learnt a few skills. Splashing and trickling water over lo's head, wiping their face with a wet hand. Blowing bubbles. Floating on their back with head resting on your shoulder so their ears are in the water, kicking a ball whilst on their back. Swimming with teddy bear floats.

When it comes to the actual dunking you need to make sure your lo's whole face goes in. If you don't go the whole way in there's a chance he will try to breathe in. We then do a couple of songs where we quickly dunk them too. So why would a swim teacher or even a parent dunk a helpless infant or toddler? Nervousness, lack of training, ignorance or all three are all potential reasons. Let's talk about what we can and should do to teach baby and toddler swimmers breath holding, breath control, and basic swimming skills.

Use Baby Steps: Be patient and child-centered. If you are too task-oriented, you will likely make the mistake of pushing too hard for skill mastery. You want your mini students to love their swim lesson experience , so take your time. Use Conditioning: Teach the baby what to expect. Anytime you are going to pour water over the baby's head or face, introduce a start signal, and use the same start signal every single lesson.

We simply count 1, 2, 3, breath we take a breath and then pour the water. If you do this each time, the baby will become conditioned to expect it and this will make first-time facial immersions the next step easier. Many times, you will find that the conditioning works so well that babies as young as 12 months old will start voluntarily putting their head down as you begin to say your start signals because they are looking forward to the breath control or breath holding activity.

Use Progressions: Take one step at a time. If the water poured over the face doesn't bother the baby, go to the next step of the progression -- the dip. Start simple with one dip, then two dips, then three, and so on. The key in the breath control progression is to evaluate each dip as an individual attempt.

As your child grows, use your best judgement based on their size, but keep in mind that a tub filled halfway is deep enough for kids of any size to drown. Tub bottoms can be slippery, posing a real danger to wet, slippery kids.

Phelps recommends covering the spout with a sturdy but soft rubber cover. Toys that suck in water can pose a real risk to children after a few uses. Even if your baby loves the water, leaving them in the water too long can dry out their skin and, worse, cause hyperthermia.

Keep bath time between five and 10 minutes, Phelps advises. Two or three times a week is likely sufficient. Kids with eczema, on the other hand, should be bathed less frequently to keep their skin as healthy as possible. Sign up for the Fatherly newsletter to get original articles and expert advice about parenting, fitness, gear, and more in your inbox every day. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.

American Academy of Pediatrics. Infant water safety: Protect your new baby from drowning. Drowning prevention for curious toddlers: What parents need to know. Swim safety tips. American Red Cross. Water safety. Nemours Foundation. Household safety: Preventing drowning. Safe Kids Worldwide. Water safety at home. Drowning submersion injuries. Zero to Three. Water safety for children. Join now to personalize. A baby or toddler can drown in less than an inch of water.

Adult supervision is the most important way to keep your child safe from drowning. Make sure your child can't access any water sources on her own. How can I keep my child safe in the bathtub? Where are there hidden water dangers? How can I keep my child safe in a public pool or lake? How can I keep my child safe at a home pool? Is it true that public swimming pools aren't safe for young babies?

Should my child take swimming lessons? What water safety rules should I teach my child? What should I do if my child slips under the water? Never leave your young child unattended in a bathtub, not even for a minute. Other ways to help keep your child safe: Cover the bottom of the tub with a rubber suction mat to prevent slipping, and fill the tub with only 3 to 4 inches of warm water.

If your baby can't sit up securely on her own, support her back so she stays upright. For kids who can sit up, a bath ring may provide you with an extra "hand. Empty the water as soon a bath ends.