ISR - Infant Swim Resource Classes

Rebecca M doesn't know what she is talking about and obviously has not seen the results first hand!! I have a 12 and a 10 year old and did the classes with them when they were toddlers, and now my 3.5 year old is on his second refresher course (he did the initial ISR course 2 years ago, then last year he did the refresher, and now he's doing the refresher again.) I obviously think it's awesome and have seen great results to have my 3rd child do it and to have him continue to do the refreshers, because it's NOT cheap! After teaching the child to float (as well as turn over and swim toward the edge of the pool), yes, they put the child in fully clothed. Thank goodness they do that! The idea is because often a child will fall in a pool or other body of water when they DON'T have their bathing suit on, and this is training their brain to understand that you can do this floating no matter what you are wearing (even shoes) AND no matter how heavy the clothes gets when it's wet. I have a photo in my cell phone of my son in jeans and a sweatshirt and sneakers, floating in the water! Now that he is 3.5, his instructor is having him do his lessons while holding or swimming toward a toy because it is realistic that a child will have a toy in his hand while playing at the pool's steps or possibly have something in his hand when he falls in. This is the best money I have spent!!! Find an ISR instructor (Safe Start at the YMCA is the same program, though I have liked private instructors better than the Y myself) and go and observe and make the decision for yourself. You do have to be committed to 10 minutes a day for SEVERAL weeks, and you do have to be strong enough to let your child cry (or actually SCREAM), knowing in your heart that you would rather hear screaming for 10 minutes a day than never hear your child's voice again because he drowned.

I am with Ree on this.....My kids took the class 1 1/2 yrs ago, they were almost 2, 3 1/2 & almost 5.......at 1st i only put my 2 yr old in (due to cost) but then my other 2 saw her & really wanted to join & the instructor made me a deal i couldnt pass up so all 3 were in........my husband was extremely skeptical but was soooo amazed at the end of the class (6 weeks)....we were so happy with the results & the kids were so pleased with themselves & loved the instructors......we went on vacation 3 months after the class & they were amazing in the swimming pool, everyone kept coming up to us & asked how we taught them to swim so good.....they dont swim with strokes they swim underwater...........our kids are begging us to put them back in swimming lessons with Ms Andi & Miss Dawn & if we can afford it they will start in june.

I agree with Rebecca that it would be hard for a child or adult to survive being fully clothed in rough waters.....but i do think the chances are very good in a pool, but most importantly isnt it a little reassuring to know that you are providing the possibility & the know how to your child in case this happened to them! I hope you do it.

Both of my boys (3 and 5) have been through ISR training. I feel it is one of the best gifts you can give your children. I just moved to Arkansas from Florida and am so sad there aren't instructors here. All it takes to prove the program is to be a pool party in FL and see a small toddler (12-18 months) fall in and immediately turn over to a float. The child isn't paniced either. The parent of course immediately gets their child out of the water but ISR can save their life. I wish the lady below could see some of the situations I have seen and been there. Yes, a child can be fully clothed and float in the water on their back. I watched my kids do it every year to graduate. Know though your child may never be a "swimmer" like my older one was for a few years but I knew if he fell in, whether it was a lake, the ocean or a pool, he would flip over to float. To me, it wasn't about them swimming or even loving the water but saving themselves if I am not right there. Now he is a crazy swimmer. This program works. It teaches them to NEVER rely on people, a wall, a floatie or anything-which is the real world. Hope you decide to do it!

Hi Zoo Momma-

Be careful how this class is taught. People often think because infants 6 months and younger can swim, you can keep up with the lessons, and a 12 month old can as well. This is not true. Young infants have a natural reflex to swim, but lose that reflex at about 6 months. This can be misleading to many parents.

Some of these classes will try to teach young children how to survivie in dangerous situations, like throwing a fully dressed infant into the water! Yikes! Your child cannot save themselves no matter how many lessons they have. Not only do they not have the skills, but they do not have the strength. Being fully dressed adds a lot of weight to a person, and an infant cannot save themselves.

If you use this class as a way to introduce the water to your child, have fun and reduce fear, GREAT! I have never heard of the classes that say they can teach your baby to rescue themselves working in the 16 years I've been working with children and families.

Just a little FYI.

Good Luck

R. Magby

Not sure what that is, I took both my kids to swimkidsusa for survival swimming when they were around 12 mos. old. They've been swimming ever since. I am so happy I did it!

II wanted to do it but I just cant afford it. good luck, let us know how it goes. xo

My sis in law took my neice. They LOVED it!
I wish it would have been available to my kids.