This incredible footage of a swimming toddler has to be seen to be believed. According to the article in the Daily Mail, at just 16 months old the little girl was able to swim a length unaided in a pool.
Though she likely hasn't even been walking for long, the infant manages to paddle face down in the water, before flipping onto her back for a breather.
The girl's parents, who filmed the amazing feat and posted it on YouTube, have received torrents of criticism from viewers. But the couple claims they are trained professionals (a registered nurse and experienced life guard, respectively) and that at no point was their daughter forced to swim.
Little Elizabeth received training in the infant swimming resource (ISR) technique of swimming and self rescue.
"Elizabeth is a very determined little girl and sometimes she wants to roll over and breath [sic] as she was taught and sometimes she wants to hold her breath the whole way," wrote Adam BC.
While he stresses the importance of giving children this life skill ("because it only takes a moment for them to slip under and drown"), Adam warns against throwing babies into the pool and simply expecting them to swim:
"That is both dangerous and a quick way to traumatize your child and scare them from ever swimming. ISR uses specialized techniques in training infants and toddlers." See how to spot warning signs of drowning.
Scary or spectacular? Is there such a thing as too young when it comes to learning to swim?
Want YOUR baby to learn to swim like this? Here's what you need to do!
Printer-friendly version