fao little swimmers re. dunking

[trixipaws]

we just ran a big bath for millie to get her used to floating in water etc in preparation for going to little swimmers when shes a bit older. she loved it being swished and bobbed about, didnt mind her face being splashed so we tried dunking her head under, only for one second at MOST- had the fright of my life she spluttered and couldnt seem to catch her breath, my boyf put her over his knee and i slapped her back. she seemed fine after, she didnt cry and we put her back in the water she was smiling and cooing.

what was the problem tho is she too young for dunking (10 weeks) or did we do it wrong (her head was tilted back)?

we wont try it again for now!

 

[Rosieroo]

Whenever I've dunked Ella it's been in the swimming pool not in the bath. They taught us to gently blow in their face then dunk them down (from holding them upright, not lying on their backs) and bring them back up within no time. Or do it as part of a rhyme (humpty dumpty had a great fall...dunk). Then go on to putting them on their fronts and move them along the water, like swimming, then push them under and up if that makes sense? Anyway Ella has no fear of the water and is a real water baby, so I'll do the same with Alex. Don't think she was dunked until she was a few months.

 

[maybebaby]

I think it probably had more to do with the position than her age, I've taken Austin swimming since he was 8 weeks and he loves it. I usually dunk him after a 3 count. Small babies have a shut-off valve so stop water going down, so there's no problem dunking her, just do it in the swimming pool and go straight down, or face first from a 'swimming' position like Kina said.

 

[Tiny Sue]

er



Sorry, not being mean - but is this a new thing? Why would anyone want to dunk the baby? I'm probably being ignorant, but it just sounds like it's frightening for the babies to me.


Sue

 

[paradysso]

i would agree it was to do with the postion, as water would have gone up babies nose?

Weve never taken alana swimming as she had such a phobia of water, would hate her juice dripping on her hand, only in the last 4 weeks is she getting better and shes 2 next month

Cant wait to take her swimming

 

[beanie]

When you take them swimming you are told that you should blow in their face before you dunk them. You hold baby in front of you, put them so both you chins are on the water, count 1,2,3 then blow on their face and dunk. This causes a reflex where they take a breath in and then they are under the water.

Seren gulps even when she is under a shower or having water poured over her head to rinse her hair.

Sue its not frightening for the babies if done as explained above, babies are naturally used to water, and it is a normal feeling for them to be submerged. You don't do it for long, and Seren loves it.

 

[xSuzx]

Lily loves it when we've managed to go swimming and loves splashing in the bath.

I've always known about dunking but as I remeber going swimming with my aunt and cousin and she used to do it to her, but having 2 boys to lily's only ever been in her floaty (which she loves).

Is lily to old to try this with? I would really like to get her used to having water over her face as whenever I wash her hair she gets quite panicy.

xSuzx