Should babies aged 2-36 months participate in hydrotherapy swimming lessons?

It is known that hydrotherapy swimming is a method of floating (usually using a neck float) that uses the buoyancy of water to massage and gently stimulate the baby's movement. However, this is not the only method to stimulate a baby's development and can easily become unsafe if not guided and performed by a medical professional or qualified person.

Hydrotherapy swimming can be unsafe if not guided and performed by a healthcare professional or qualified individual.

Natural swimming and diving reflexes in infants

Explaining the mechanism of hydrotherapy swimming, Master's degree holder and doctor Nguyen Trong Tin (Pediatric Traditional Medicine Clinic, University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City - Branch 3) said that at birth, babies' bodies still have a natural swimming and diving reflex.

Although this reflex will disappear due to physical changes and environmental influences, it remains in infants from birth to about 6 months of age. Understanding this, some Western countries often expose infants to water very early.

The scientifically proven benefits of hydrotherapy swimming.

According to Dr. Nguyen Trong Tin, hydrotherapy swimming is currently a method that brings certain benefits to the development and health of children. One of the significant benefits of hydrotherapy swimming is its ability to stimulate the swimming reflex, making it easier for children to adapt and learn to swim later.

In addition, the water environment in the hydrotherapy pool provides pressure and movement, stimulating the digestive, circulatory, and respiratory systems of children. These areas are stimulated during swimming, facilitating their physical development and strengthening.

A safer approach to help children grow up holistically.

Despite certain benefits, accidents during hydrotherapy swimming, or drowning incidents while learning to swim, are not uncommon.

When applying this to the Vietnamese context, Dr. Nguyen Trong Tin recommends that parents be especially cautious, because choosing a reputable place for their children to practice hydrotherapy swimming that ensures both safety and achieves the desired results is not simple.

Therefore, in addition to hydrotherapy swimming, infants and young children still have other methods to stimulate physical and sensory development for holistic growth.

"From the moment of birth, the human brain is constantly learning from its surroundings, with the senses acting as 'gateways' to receive information, including sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. Depending on the child's age, these senses gradually develop and become more complete. Learning through seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting milk and food, and especially touching different places, continuously stimulates the child's brain to learn," Dr. Tin explained.

Dr. Tin further shared: "Parents can help their children develop and learn from a very early age through activities such as cuddling, massaging, playing with them, holding and manipulating objects to stimulate their senses, singing to them, talking to them to stimulate their hearing, expanding their exposure to the environment, and helping them see more colors and images... All of these activities are not only safe and effective in helping children develop well, but also help strengthen the bond between children and parents."

What is the safe age to learn to swim?

Parents should also note that hydrotherapy swimming is just the process of introducing and familiarizing children with water, while learning to swim is a more advanced step when children are older.

Information from research by the American Academy of Pediatrics also indicates that swimming lessons for children should only begin when they are 4 years old or older.

"In short, swimming is an activity that brings many benefits to the body. Early exposure to water for children will also bring many benefits in terms of physical and psychological development. However, it is necessary to control the safety of this exposure to water to avoid unfortunate incidents," said Dr. Nguyen Trong Tin.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/co-nen-cho-cac-be-tu-2-36-thang-tuoi-hoc-boi-thuy-lieu-185230715101518631.htm