Not one more child drowns-ISR

Here is that exciting new post!!!!

Major started a swimming class today. It's not really a swimming lesson, per se, it's more a self rescue class. It's called ISR; Infant Swimming Resource and it is awesome! Babies as young as 6 months are taught to go from face down in the water to rolling over and floating so that they can rest and breath for the precious moments that it would take for someone to find them should they fall into the water. The babies are basically taught to roll over in the water and stay in the resting position. At age one and all the way to age 6 they are taught swim-float-swim. Kids are put into the water on their bellies. (This is the nutshell version) They are face down in the water and are taught to swim underwater, rollover to rest and breath, then to continue to swim face down. This sequence is repeated for as many times as necessary until they reach the steps or the side of the pool. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children be face down for no more than 14 seconds at a time. With ISR they limit that time to 4-7 seconds. They use stimulus control to teach the child to know how long that is. The reasoning behind 4-7 seconds is they don't want the child to wait 14 seconds and be desperate for air. Rolling over and resting to breath is supposed to be peaceful and calming. Never do they want the child to panic or "search" for air. It is the most amazing thing in the world to watch itty bitties in the water swimming and surviving.

Here's how we came to know about ISR.
Josh and I were swimming with Major at JFFC about 2 weeks ago and their was a woman in the pool with her 2 sons. We got to talking with her and she described ISR to us, gave us her card and we went on our way. The next day, we were at the pool again, but this time Kelly was there for a lesson. Just so happens that I knew the girl and her son who were taking from Kelly. The little boy is 2 and I was in awe as I sat and watched him get into the pool swim-float-swim. He was so happy and confident in the water. That night Josh and I signed Major up. We were set to start in June. Well at the pool 4 days ago, again Kelly was there giving a lesson, and Josh, Major and I were in the shallow end of the pool. All the sudden guess who is swimming???? Josh said OMGosh! He is swimming! Major loves the water anyway, but still I was so surprised to see him swim on his own with so much confidence. Kelly noticed and after her lesson spoke with us. She agreed to go ahead and start Major bc she felt that he would progress very quickly!!! His lesson this morning was great. He listened and did awesome. He isn't afraid of the water, which is in part why we wanted to do a rescue type of class. I am so so so proud. She said that she is very confident that by the time his lessons are over he will be fully skilled and will be able to swim-float-swim all on his own!!! I am really happy and very, very glad that we stumbled upon her and ISR.

I don't have any pictures or videos of him yet. They only allow that on Friday classes, but here are some general pics and a link to the website.

Check out this video

Here is the website for tons more info, pics and video! http://www.infantswim.com/

I am sold! I want everyone with small children to know about this. There is no reason any baby or child has to drown.