What is the best way to get a 1 year old to close his mouth while going under water?

Question

We have a pool and enjoy having our twins in it. We have been dunking them occasionally to help them learn not to be afraid and let them get used to the water. Which is great, except that they aren't closing their mouths. I have tried blowing at them and they giggle. Any other suggestions?

Answer 1

show them how you do so they will copy

Answer 2

bribe them  

Answer 3

We just dunked my son under water and he did awesome. Sure, they may swallow a little water initially, but that’s how they learn. My son is now almost 2 yrs old, and he has ZERO fear of the pool. Which is good and bad. We felt very strongly about teaching him to swim and to not be afraid because a) we live in Florida and if you don’t teach your children to swim, you’re a fool! and b) he already fell in a pool and we want to be sure he’s not afraid of it and that he knows how to swim in case it ever happens again.

So we took him right back in, first without floaties and the second time with floaties. He was VERY clingy at first but once he realized it was fun, you could splash and kick and make bubbles, he really fell in love with the pool. Now he’s 21 months old, uses regular floaties on his arms, and he LOVES jumping in the pool. We used to jump with him in our arms and we’d both end up under water and he always learned to hold his breath the right way. He might be a little “freaked” when he first comes up, but then he’s ALL laughs and smiles. And now he seriously loves jumping in the water and we allow it, as long as we’re right there.

I have thought about taking him to one of those infant classes. My mother saw it one time and it’s these BABIES (like 6 months and up) learning how to swim. She said it’s amazing how these small babies learn to float on their back in the event they fall in the water. I’ve thought about doing it for my son, even though he’s going to be 2 yrs old. Because well, a parent can never be too safe!!

Good luck with your twins!!

Answer 4

Young kids won't close their mouths til they are ready, believe me. lol. My mom babysat and she always told the kids they would pee blue if they drank the water and swim with their mouths open but it didnt work.  My cousin is 8 and she still doesnt keep her mouth closed but i was the same way til one day i just decided it would be best lol.  Im sorry i have no other suggestions.

Answer 5

As long as they are not swallowing or breathing in water it is no big deal

Answer 6

well since hes one he shouldn't go underwater at all because hes too young to understand he can't breath under water so its nothing you can do to control that and it wont be good if he breathes in water and if he is really really sleepy from the pool or beach don't let him sleep because water could of got in his lunges and that's not good at all....... look up dry drowning to see what I'm talking about but he's to young for under water you can splash him tho..........

have fun.....

Answer 7

uhm....hmmm....thts kinda hard... i didnt get taught to swim till i was 4 and 1/2 and ive was afriad of it till i was 11....but my little sister (5) just started the pool and she loves it...i think you shouldnt take them UNDER the water until there about 3 ok?

Answer 8

Just keep drunking them under. They will learn to close thier mouths.  I took my one year old son the the pool for the first time and every time he fell (it was a baby pool, deepest end he could stand up in without the water going over his head) he would get back up.  Sometimes he would swollow a little water, but eventually he learned to close his mouth and hold his breath.  And after going under about a dozen times, he would hold his breath mid fall and prepare for going under.  It didn't take long at all.  By the end of the day he was a pro.  Babies learn how to do things like that pretty quick.  Just keep dunking them under, they will learn.