Probably the most bizarre video I've seen on YouTube yet!

I found the first part of the video a bit disturbing to be honest, watching the baby in distress was a bit odd.  Can see where they're coming from though, water does seems to be second nature for small babies. I watched on tele years ago (70's) Marium Stoppard throwing her baby into a swimming pool, the baby went straight under, floated to the top & started swimming along. She also hung the baby from a washing line & the baby's grip was so strong it hung there!

Don't they loose these instincts as they get older?   These children are having constant contact with the water.  My granddaughter has been going to swimming classes since she was tiny.  She was fearful over a year old.  However she only went into the water once a week.  Since she has started the next class which needs her to go in without her mother she won't go at all.  She will have to start learning confidence in the water all over again when she is older.  She isn't 3 yet until March by the way.   However the babies were not just thrown in - apparently there are classes that do just that so my daughter says.  But not out here 'in the sticks'

I did think they left it floating for a bit too long! I wonder if a baby would even retain the skill unless you practiced it often until it was old enough to swim properly.

I did read years ago that a baby will swim if thrown into water - can't say I would feel brave enough to try it (but I bet a lot of people have done after watching that video!). In America they give classes on how to teach babies these skills although there is some debate about possible water intoxication.

When would you ever need to hang a baby off the washing line? :-D After you've chucked it in the pool? :-D

When I was in Grand Cayman many years ago there was a pool beside the beach and a man was in there with his young (9month old) baby.. He was pushing the baby into the water and the baby could 'swim' to the surface, the baby was laughing and giggling every time he surfaced and the man , his father i presume, was loving every minute.  Have to say i always thought of trying it but was never brave enough.  However my daughter is now 15 and it is very tempting!  I do think that babies are supposed to have this 'reflex' action and that they do indeed lose it at around 12 months, something to do with being in the womb surrounded by water i think.

Oooh that creeped me out a bit.  I see their point but surely a baby that young wouldn't be left unattended anyway, especially around water.  I know accidents happen but now I can see parents flinging their kids in water to see if it works!!
Zarah I agree about the washing line, LMAO!!

I didn't like it, as a parent of young children its always one of my fears. I have heard about those swimming classes though...is it called water babies or something?

I did not like it either, ok it may be proving a point, but to video this is sick, I have young children and my heart sank while watching it, I wanted to stop watching it but also wanted to make sure the baby was ok!
This ad could go the wrong way and give SOME parents the idea that their young children would be ok around swimming pools etc:
Sorry did not like it at all xx :(

i dont find this video 'sick' the child is not being abused and he is obviously in no danger, i have a 2 and a half yr old and hes been going swimming since he was 4 months old, doesnt panic, loves the water and even screams when he has to get out, admittidley i dont go in the water with him as im nervous about swimming and have panic attacks if i cant touch the bottom so my partner takes him in, as i didnt want my nervousness to rub off on my child, being in water comes naturally to a small child, as for the nine months you are pregnant they are surrounded by water, if everyone took their children swimming as small children and carried on with it rigorously there wouldnt be as many cases of children/adults drowning.

hayley123
i dont find this video 'sick'

I don't think that is what we meant ;-)

yes i was thinking that a while ago, that it wasnt said that it is sick but that taping it is, soz.