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782550 tn?1333484257

Son no longer tries to swim when drowning. Why?


I went swimming with my 3 year old son. He was very excited about being on the water and open to working on getting his face wet, blowing bubbles, and holding breath in water. He wanted to try to swim by himself without his son vest and began to sink. In the past (last summer and the summer before) he would move around and try to get back to the top of the water. This day, he just stopped trying to swim once he went under.  After I pulled him out the water he would wipe his face, spit water or his mouth, and say let me go I want to swim by myself. After several trials... There was no change to his reaction to sinking under water. He has never been this way in the past when in water. What is going on? It scares me that he wouldn't fight for his life in the water.

I've also noticed in the past 4 months he has been more apt to walk away from me in places.

He has been meeting all age appropriate milestones.

From birth to a few months old, he would randomly stop breathing while asleep or awake. He would restart breathing after a tap or light thump to the mid section. Doc said he'd grow our of it. From a few months to now (still an issue) he occasionally stops breathing for brief moments only while asleep. Recently discovered he has large tonsils. Doing a sleep study, having tonsils and avoid removed.

That's the only medical thing he's had going on. What is wrong with my child? Why is he no longer fighting to stay above water when sinking? Please please please someone help!
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189897 tn?1441126518
COMMUNITY LEADER
   I taught swimming and was a lifeguard for years, and never came across something quite like this.
   Rockrose has a good point.
   My other thought is that he may have realized the joy of being underwater and being completely weightless.   It is something that I still enjoy to this day - to just "hang" there suspended in water.
    Obviously, he needs to be watched.  But you also might try teaching him how to swim underwater.  In fairly shallow water place a toy or rock or some object that he needs to swim down to get.   Also have him by the wall, sink down and push off the wall and guide to you.  Once he can do that, then have him start kicking in a prone position, then doing the breast stroke.
    Finally, and this is a bit scary - let him stay underwater a bit longer and see what he does.  Chances are when he runs out of breath he will come to the surface.  Or make it a game- if he can count - stay under till 3 and come up.  Then go to 4, etc.  
    By the way, I am assuming he can open his eyes underwater.  If not teach him by putting rocks on the bottom of very shallow water or get him goggles.
      Let us know what happens.  
Helpful - 1
13167 tn?1327194124
I dom't know exactly why,  but I do know two boys who were like this,  and they were at real risk for drowning.  Unlike other kids who are at least trying not to drown (you still have to watch them closely,  but at least they're also taking steps not to drown) these two boys could be pulled out of the water and go right back in,  needing to be rescued again and again.  Both are now adults but it was nerve racking to go to pools with them,  because you had to focus entirely on them to the detriment of the other kids who might be there.  One of the boys was a daredevil,  and the other had sensory integration disorder,  which usually makes kids unwilling to put their faces in the water.

The mom of the kid with SID theorized that her son didn't feel the same panic other people feel when deprived of oxygen.
Helpful - 1
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189897 tn?1441126518
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