Can babies swim straight after birth?
I’m not sure after reading the above posts, but i was fairly sure i had heard it from a nurse 😕 Looked it up for you. hen 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. That’s why you often see picture of babies swimming underwater with their mouths open! This reflex lasts up until 18 months of age so, from around 16 months onwards, we teach toddlers and older children how to swim in a different way to babies. There are, however, some general points to bear in mind. If your baby is unwell or has a cold, don’t go swimming as this might make symptoms worse. Also, once you’re in the pool, if your baby starts shivering, take them out and wrap them up warm. Babies should not be in the water for longer than 30 minutes and it helps to gradually build up the time they spend in the pool.
