how do you teach a toddler to hold her breath when going under water?

[lizandlulu]

yes it is an odd question, but i need a little guidance!
i myself cant go under water with out actually holding my nose, i took my dd 2.2,swimming last week and was terrified of her going under the water.
she can now touch the bottom of the pool and wanted to walk along without me holding her.

i know they have an instinct when born, to swim when umder water, but i think they loose this, so how do you teach them to hold their breath?
there was one little girl with arm bands on, going down the toddler slide all on her own, and going under the water. no problem, she was only about 3, so how can i teach my dd to do the same?
i have just bought her one of those float suit things, so if she does go under, she will come back up. when she did accidentally go under, she came up spluttering and coughing and it panicked me so much.

they just do

let her go under and she'll do it .. I do think though if you are exhibiting any fear / trepidation it might be wise to let someone else take her

let her jump in from the side and let her come up herself and give her a little hand at the end and grin widely when she does

and learn to do it yourself

Could you tell her to breathe out gently through her nose? It stops the water going up it.

I think at baby swimming you blow on their faces just before you push them under!

sit her on the edge and splash her gently in the face, make it fun. Then progress to getting her to 'jump' from a sitting position into your arms while you stand right in front of her and bobbing down in the water with her to chin level.
Maybe you're just going to have to learn to do it without holding your nose?!

At our baby (admittedly not "toddler", but can't see why it won't work the same) swimming you start by saying their name, then "ready" then "Swim!" and pour a cupped hand full of water over their face, wiping it off with same hand as you pass over the face.

You do this on Week 1, and practice every night in the bath.

To promote kicking in the water, child is belly down in the water; you support with hands on chest/ underarm, thumbs at front of shoulder joint and pull the child along in the water, pulling towards you and then walking away. Keep child's head above water, your shoulders in the water.

Child upright in the water, held under arms and "swayed" from side to side in the water also promotes kicking.

Week 2, you can try a "facial" in the water. Name, Ready, Swim! and dip face in the water very briefly whilst holding as described above.

You only do "under waters" about 3-4 times each session, less if child is distressed. Keep practising with cupped hand of water in the bath.

By week 4 you should be able to get full body under the water, week 5 you can do a short "release" from one person to another under water.

If the child isn't "getting" taking a breath before going under, blowing into the mouth with cause them to take a breath before you dip them.

My baby has done about 8 sessions now and at 7 mths old, now closes her eyes and holds her breath when I say, "Swim!".

twelveyeargap. thank you for typing all that!. i will certainly give it a go.
i do think thay my faer definatley shows and i dont want any of that to rub off on her.
i used to be able to do it when i was a kid, but when i got older, i didnt hardly go swimming at all, and havent been able to go under water for years now.
she doesnt mind water in her face at all, im just paraniod that she will stay under too long!