Clicky Poll - The "Dunk" Technique

MaggitobeBrooks

Ok, so SEVERAL people have suggested (in regards to water and swimming introduction) dunking LO underwater (quickly obviously) and then saying "yayyyy" or some other variation as a way of teaching them about underwater... this seems strange and horrifcially nerve racking to me.. [Poll]

TakYelgif

my mom did that to me when I was a kid it scared the hell out of me and did not make me feel less scared of the water.

MaggitobeBrooks

TakYelgif:

my mom did that to me when I was a kid it scared the hell out of me and did not make me feel less scared of the water.

ya, my step-mom says she did it with my sister and she was fine.. i don't think its for me/LO

Mrs.Hooper

I taught swim lessons for 5yrs.  Under water is very natural for a baby (like in the womb) ..We always blew air in their face (gently) to get them to close their eyes and we counted to 3 .and did half dunks.. (only up to their mouth) for a bit till they got used to it.  Then full dunks if they acted ready.  Its all about what you are comfortable with also.

IU_baby

I also taught swimming lessons and "going under" was a part of our lesson plans, even with the youngest students.  Getting used to having your face wet is a big part of swimming. 

ToledoDeux

That's awful.  I'm pretty shocked at the poll results here.

Wyatt's Mommie

My MIL did this to LO last summer - scared the crap out of me, him, not so much.  He didn't seem to mind it at all actually.  He enjoyed the pool and the lake the rest of the summer and I think this year he'll have a lot of fun b/c he's been blowing bubbles in his bath water and putting his face in the water lately.  I think he was born to swim!

fall-love

We did underwater dunks with DS when we were in Hawaii when he was 6 mos.  I held him with his face close to mine, with DH right behind me (like spooning me) and we'd count to three, then I'd blow in DS's face and we'd gently go under for just a second and back up.  Blowing in their face makes them hold their breath, and he never had any problem going under.  He actually kind of loved it after the first couple of times. It's very gentle and babies are kind of natural in the water if you get them used to it early, before fear develops.  DS has NEVER had any problem with water in his face, in the pool, the bathtub, or the shower. 
 

alicia_angell

We are in swimming lessons right now w/ DS and this is how they get the LO's to go underwater. Like pps said, we count to 3, blow on his face and quickly dunk - he does great with it and doesn't mind getting his face in the water.

MegGary

I think there is a difference between doing this with a technique like blowing in the face & slow progression under water.

When you say dunk I think of forcing a kids head underwater by pushing their head under the water.

I don't see any harm in the first.

miss.jess

We did this with Brooke last summer when we would go swimming.  She was 7-8 months old.  I would just blow on her face and say "1,2,3!" and dunk her under.  The first couple times she panicked and cried but she got used to it.  She quickly learned to hold her breath when she went under water though.

loveumike

I did this with DD last summer (9 months old).  She laughed each time she came up and now dunks her head in the bath tub.  I'll reintroduce it again this summer.

I grew up deathly afraid of the water.  I couldn't swim and almost drown when I was 7.  I refuse to have DD the same way.

blueshirt2003

MegGary:

I think there is a difference between doing this with a technique like blowing in the face & slow progression under water.

When you say dunk I think of forcing a kids head underwater by pushing their head under the water.

I don't see any harm in the first.

Exactly, when I answered the poll I wasn't considering techniques. 

alli2672

MegGary:

When you say dunk I think of forcing a kids head underwater by pushing their head under the water.

 

You mean you thought that a kid was sitting in a bath and you push their face down in the water?

No wonder people were so horrified.

LilMissLadybug

ToledoDeux:

That's awful.  I'm pretty shocked at the poll results here.

I am too. I can't imagine doing that. I would much rather wait until they're ready to start swimming lessons and are old enough to understand. 

KarBear

alli2672:

MegGary:

When you say dunk I think of forcing a kids head underwater by pushing their head under the water.

 

You mean you thought that a kid was sitting in a bath and you push their face down in the water?

No wonder people were so horrified.

I voted "yes," but I think most people don't actually "DUNK" their kids.  It's more like you allow them to quickly go under when practicing floats, jumps, and picking up toys.  Relax...it's not torture

lauren&matt

Oh goodness people... this is so not a big deal.  Like many of the pp  said, this is actually natural.  I taught swimming lessons for 10+ years and went under water with every kid during the first lesson. 

Here's video of Elise going under water the first time, around 5 1/2 months old.  I actually had no idea what her reaction would be.  And as you can see, she didn't really have a reaction

https://watchingourfamilygrow.blogspot.com/2009/05/pool-time.html

 

Mrs.C042807

We did the 1, 2, 3 blow technique at swimming lessons at 5 months + too.  He was fine.