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Swim classes help parents keep babies safer

Swim classes help parents keep babies safer
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Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children under 5-years-old, according to Safer 3 Water Safety Foundation.

With the weather warming up, and summer approaching, parents are trying to make their family safer by taking swim lessons at American Kids.

"Swimming is such an important life skill to learn. We start as young as six weeks here at American," Swim Director Michelle Williams said.

The idea of taking a newborn into a pool may sound daunting, but mothers say it makes them feel safer and bond with their baby.

Click here to contact American Kids to sign up for swimming lessons.

"[Bath time] isn't as worrisome because I know that she can handle the water, and going under the water and pouring water on her head," Mother Natasha Norris said.

Norris has 7-year-old twins and said it's night and day when she compares the children and how they react to water. The twins started swim lessons much later than little sister 7-month-old Raelyn who has been swimming for a few months.

Norris said Raelyn doesn't choke on water like she used to, "she kicks, and tries to come up and puts her head up."

"Friends just having babies right now, I've told a lot of friends about the program," Mother Melissa Morales said.

Morales has a 9-month-old baby and he used to hate baths, she called it a "scream-fest", now he loves the water and she feels safer bringing him to grandma's house that has a pool.

"It makes me feel good, I don't want him to be afraid of the water, but I also want him to know we can't just get in all the time," Morales said.

While Williams says you can never be 100% safe around water, she says we can always be safer. American Academy offers free swim lessons for babies 6 weeks to 6--months-old.

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