A few hours ago, Pilar Rubio shared a video on her Instagram account in which she was seen playing in the pool with her five-month-old baby, and making her first dives with him. His performance has not left anyone indifferent, and many people have criticized the presenter.
But the truth is that submerging babies, knowing how to do it correctly and having received the precise indications from professionalsIt is very beneficial for them, because it helps them to get acquainted with the aquatic environment and prepare to learn to swim.
A controversial practice
"Before his first dives, I count to three and I blow a little in his face. Although, if you have never done this technique, I recommend that you do it under the supervision of a professional."
With these words, the presenter Pilar Rubio yesterday shared a video on her social networks where she was seen enjoying a bath with her baby, Alejandro, while practicing with him his first dives.
Before his first dives, I count to three and I blow a little in his face. Although, if you have never done this technique, I recommend that you do it under the supervision of a professional.
A shared post by Pilar Rubio (@pilarrubio_oficial) on Aug 26, 2018 at 10:58 PDT
But as we have seen on other occasions, criticisms of a mother's performance have not been long in coming, and the presenter's publication has generated a strong debate. On the one hand, those who criticize this controversial practice, and on the other, those who defend it by ensuring that the dives help the child become familiar with the water and learn to swim as soon as possible.
Apnea reflex in the baby
Although it can be distressing to see the face of the baby just out of the water, we must know that after nine months surrounded by amniotic fluid, they are born with a reflex of apnea that makes them close the glottis when submerged underwater, to avoid drowning.
This reflection is lost over the months, so experts advise promoting as soon as possible the contact between the baby and the water, as the basis for future and rapid learning in the practice of certain activities.
According to a study published by the Research Unit in Physical Education and Sports of the University of Murcia, immersion is considered a indispensable activity in the process of development and adaptation to the aquatic environment, and should begin in the early stages of the baby's life.
There are two ways to do the dives:
- On the one hand, it would be the adult who performs it, submerging the child for one or two seconds underwater. To carry it out, it is important that the baby is calm, relaxed and done without abruptness.
Those who defend this water learning mechanism ensure that The baby learns in a short time to control his breathing in the water and, therefore, to adapt to this medium. All this will allow you to learn to float and swim right away, with the advantages and benefits that this entails.
- On the other hand, there are experts who advise that this learning not be guided by the adult, but be the baby himself who takes the initiative, and gradually explore its limits, being respected in their needs and concerns.
For this, it is recommended to carry out a series of water games and activities with children from an early age, which will help them to become familiar with the environment and control their breathing in the water.
In any case, it is very important to remember what the presenter commented in her video, and that is that the first dives must be made, or supervised, by people with training and experience.There is no exact age to start with matronation classes, it will depend both on the policy of the school where we are going to attend, and on the recommendations of our pediatrician. But in general, matronation is usually indicated after 4-6 months of the baby.
Therefore, if you have decided to enroll your baby in matronation classes, it is very likely that you will hear about the advantages and benefits of immersion, and even learn how to perform the technique safely.
But remember that no technique should ever replace the security measures that we must take into account when we go to the pool with the children, and among those, of course, never leave them alone without supervision.
Photos | iStock
