Overcoming fear of water

by Irene Nam (Subscribe to Irene Nam's posts) Aug 30th 2006 7:30AM

When I was pregnant, I remember watching little 9 month-old babies swim underwater on television and being completely fascinated. I am not a great swimmer, but I've always wanted my children to experience the feeling of uniqueness, the sense of calm, achievement and safety that swimming provided me with.

But Sean and Will have always been afraid of water. The first time we took them to the beach, their little bodies shivered with terror every time a wave came near. When we went to the pool and tried to play with them in the water, they would grab our necks so hard we could not move. I admit I was a bit sad -- and probably disappointed, too. I looked at pictures of this amazing 3 year-old and hoped that one day, my sons would jump in and experience joy in the water too.

Well, that day came. After more than four years of encouraging, reassuring and soothing words, Sean and Will eventually managed to overcome their fear of water during our family trip last week. They realized that arm bands allowed them to float and control their movements. It was very moving and exhilarating for me to watch them swim and jump and laugh. I realized that I did not need to worry. My sons just needed more time than other kids.

What about you? Were your kids afraid of water? How did you help them overcome their fear?

Comments (13)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ginny 8-30-2006 @ 10:06AM

Hi Irene, nice to see u posting again! My son and daughter were night and day about water. My daughter has NO FEAR. My son isn't necessarily afraid of water, but he is afraid to stay under and swim. I think it has EVERYTHING to do with the fact that my MIL threw him away from her in the pool one day to force him to swim to her. (Thankfully, I was there to grab him and my husband was there to rip his mother a new BLANKhole, but I digress). I think it depends on the kid. I ended up getting a small pool for our back yard and allowed them to play in that pretty much daily. My son is much more comfortable around water these days and I think it's because he's been exposed to swimming much more.

mamaloo, the doula 8-30-2006 @ 10:26AM

Here is a movie of my 3 year old swimming with the help of a noodle. I almost cried I was so happy for him!

http://momcast.blogspot.com/2006/08/kieran-swims.html

anna 8-30-2006 @ 10:34AM

i feel for you. my 2 1/2 year old son has a fear of the water as well. it started as a fear of baths. but he now loves baths as most kids and is really only afraid of getting into the pool. he will happily play around the pool and loves to throw things into it, much to our dismay. so we'll probably be like you and give him lots of opportunities to swim and lots more patience.

mckenna 8-30-2006 @ 2:43PM

My son is so fearless of water it makes my DH and I nervous. He's 20 mos., and he's been in the pool off and on since he was 5 mos. Now when I take him to the pool I have to keep one hand on him at all times or he'll bolt to go jump in. We plan to put him in lessons as soon as we can. For now I'm just trying to teach him restraint! My mom has similar stories of me, so I guess he comes by it honestly...

Michelle 8-30-2006 @ 4:26PM

My daughter, who is nearly 4, has absolutely no fear of anything. Which of course, strikes a very deep fear in the heart of her Mommy. She just jumps into the pool, whether there is anyone there to catch her or not. On the other hand, my son, who is almost 2 clings to me ferociously in the pool. He loves the bath, the toilet, anything wet, except the pool.

Since I often am with them by myself, I had to buy her a speedo floating suit. It allows her to float at arm's length like a buoy while her brother is clinging to me like there is no tomorrow. That way, she gets a little freedom, I don't have to live in fear of drowning one child while trying to save the other, and she is right there where I can reach her.

The Wenn's Mom 8-30-2006 @ 5:25PM

Maiwenn started swimming when she was 3 months old. We take her to this great swim school in Half Moon Bay called La Petite Baleen. They have a baby class that is just great. It's only half an hour long and when they are that little, its really just making them comfortable about the water. So they play little games and sing nursey rhymes and just have fun.

She's 8.5 months old now and has been going ever since, and i really think it made a huge difference about her feelings about water. She LOVES it. As the babies get older, the school focuses on teaching skills that will save their life if they ever fall into a pool. (Holding breath under water, going to the stairs or edge of the pool, etc.) It's a great program and i feel really grateful to have found such a great school.

Elaine 8-30-2006 @ 8:05PM

If it helps any, that 3yo you mention? His parents own a swim school, so he kinda had no choice but to love the water!

Both my kids are freaked out by water... sigh, it'll get better one day.

Greg 9-23-2006 @ 1:53AM

To Ginny

You said "Thankfully, I was there to grab him and my husband was there to rip his mother a new BLANKhole"

I am just wondering.., was the thing that made your son afraid of water, your MIL throwing him in, or you and your Husbands shock at this happening? I often wonder how much our Children "feed" off our fears and emotions...

Just a thought

Aruna 12-07-2006 @ 6:56PM

My 2 1/2 yr old daughetr loved to swim (with arm bands on). But, recently when we went to Cambodia when she went for a swim at the hotel pool I forgot to take her arm bands along. It was a wading pool but she had got so used to the arm band that she tried to float not realizing she may not be able to float. She went under water for a couple of seconds but we pulled her out quickly. From that incident she has been absoultely terrified to enter a big pool. She is happy to be in the toddlers pool. When I see other kids learing to swim and fearlessly diving into water I feel sad. I am hoping some day she will overcome her fear.

Joanne 2-05-2007 @ 4:11PM

I am the inventor of a new product that proved favorably at the Seattle's Children's Hospital when an autistic boy would not reach under the water for his toys. He played for one hour after using the Ear Protective Swim Goggles I invented. The new neoprene swim bonnet for toddlers is another new product designed for age 1-5. http://www.freewebs.com/epggoggles/ is the web site to find out more. It is now being sold on line at four stores but you can contact me jodeangelis@aol.com and I will be glad to give you more information. Thank you.

Joanne 2-05-2007 @ 4:09PM

Hello,

I am the inventor of the Neoprene Swim Bonnet that just arrived in the USA late last summer and is now being sold at www.swimoutlet.com Search by product name, EPG. The bonnet was designed to protect baby from the harsh rays of the sun and also and most importantly, to help prevent water from damaging the ear canals of babies. The product was advertised in AQUA and Aquatics International Magazines.

Please see the EPG web site for further details, http://www.freewebs.com/epggoggles/
The product is being sold on line at www.splashinternational, www.leisurepro.com, www.divetonight.com
and www.swimoutlet.com. I can offer a discounted price to the trade and can ship now via UPS from the New York factory.

Please feel free to contact me at jodeangelis@aol.com and I will show you a picture of the product and the articles
mentioned above.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Joanne Marie DeAngelis
Inventor

Joanne 2-06-2007 @ 9:24AM

Joanne 2-06-2007 @ 9:26AM

I just want to let Mom's know about this new product because I am a mom who invented it!

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