Don't Blow Bubbles!

Why? It is unsafe for an infant to blow bubbles as this dramatically limits the time they could hold their breath if they ever got into trouble. They also need air in their lungs for buoyancy.

If you child is being taught to blow bubbles in the water as part of their Personal Aquatic Survival Skills then I need you to consider the following.

Unless we have a very high percentage of body fat most humans will sink, if they are in a body of water, unless they have air in their lungs. It is for this reason that we do not teach babies to blow bubbles in the water.

The reason we do not teach our babies and toddlers to blow out their breath is simple. While they hold their breath a baby/toddler will float on top of the water. If they are taught to blow bubbles during their early skill development and this becomes a habit then when a baby/toddler falls into a body of water they will more likely blow out their breath. As soon as they blow out their air they will sink.

At Water Guppies we have and ALWAYS will focus on learned breath control as a FIRST priority in all lessons. Breath control is a child’s ability to hold their breath before they go under the water. we also teach children to roll over and float if they need to take a breath. As most children under the age of 2 are not yet physically capable of independently lifting their head out of the water to take a breath.

Teaching a child to blow bubbles too early makes them less safe and can cause a range of problems. This is one of many reasons that we don’t teach survival lessons to children who are aged under 10 months. We use specific methods to establish breath control and teach children to hold their breath when their mouth and nose is submerged in water. This practice keeps air inside the lunge, which in turn, increases buoyancy. If a baby or young child has lungs full of air, they will stay close to the surface easier, giving them time in an aquatic emergency.

Blowing bubbles teaches infants to empty their lungs, which increases the chance of sinking under water faster.

The theory is that blowing bubbles to release air keeps children from inhaling water (aspirating). The reality is, when a child is properly taught breath control with correct professional instruction from the beginning, their body automatically protects itself from water going into the lungs.

If your baby/toddler is taught to hold their breath, relax and float on top of the water it may make the difference between life and death for that child.