Babies are born to swim. Why do they lose their innate skills when they grow up?
Recently, a short video became popular on the Internet, and even many netizens said that "it is better to be a child than to live so big". It turned out that after a baby was put into the water by the coach, his little hands and feet began to flutter, even his eyes were open. If they are adults, they often choke on water, but babies don't. They swam freely in the water without sinking to the bottom, and soon reached their destination. There is also a baby standing on the edge of the pool, jumping into the pool without hesitation or fear, flopping a few times and swimming into his mother's arms. It is not difficult to find that these children are not afraid of water at all, and even when they are in the water, they are particularly happy, which makes parents feel at ease. After all, there are so many benefits of swimming, and it is also a good thing that children can swim from an early age. But many parents often find that children are not afraid of water when they are young. Even without any deliberate teaching, they can swim and seem to be "degraded" when they grow up.
According to investigation and statistics, there are not a few teenagers who drown in swimming every summer vacation in China. Behind every accident is a family disaster. Some parents can't help asking, how can a baby move so freely when he is in the water, but he is prone to danger when he grows up? This phenomenon is not uncommon. Many babies who can still freestyle as children seem to lose their natural skills when they grow up, and even become afraid of water, which makes parents puzzled.
Why are babies born to "swim"?
1. The environment in the uterus determines
Babies can move freely in the water without teaching, as if they were born to swim, mainly because of the living environment before birth, that is, the mother's uterus. As we all know, there is amniotic membrane wrapped in a large amount of amniotic fluid in the uterus, and the fetus lives in this amniotic fluid until birth, which is the water environment. Moreover, although the fetus needs to breathe, it does not use its mouth. The oxygen and nutrients it needs are transmitted through the placenta and umbilical cord, so the fetus does not actually breathe with the lungs. After birth, the umbilical cord was cut by the doctor, and the baby made the first cry and officially began to breathe with the lungs. After many babies enter the water, it is like returning to the environment of amniotic fluid, which evokes memories in the womb. Know to hold your breath and you won't choke on the water.
2. Special physiological structure
Some people who can't learn to swim mainly choke, so it's not easy for them to learn to swim, and babies are prevented from choking because of their special physiological structure. In the first six months after the baby is born, there is a special valve in the throat to prevent the baby from choking on water or milk. After entering the underwater environment, this valve will automatically close, like a valve to protect the airway, which is why the baby will not suffocate when swimming. Of course, babies can only hold their breath for a short time, which is more like an instinct to survive.
3. Lack of understanding of fear
Only when the body is relaxed can the body float in the water and learn to swim. Some people who are too afraid are afraid of water, so it is always difficult to learn to swim. The baby's fear of water is not so deep, and even has a sense of intimacy. Naturally, he can be more relaxed when he is in the water. Coupled with the fluttering of his calf, he can learn to "backstroke" almost without teaching.