National Water Safety Month on May, 2025: what do you know about water safety?
May, 2025 is National Water Safety Month 2025. Water Safety for Kids Parent's Guide To Kid Water Safety. Tips, Facts, and Information.
Water safety in the context of swimming is about doing a risk assessment before immersing yourself in any body of water that may challenge your aquatic skills. Water safety lessons may focus on improvising with clothing or other objects to stay afloat in dangerous waters. There's plenty online about water safety. The Amateur Swimming Association, England's national organisation for competitive swimming, has published a colourful resource pack for schools about swimming and water safety. You can download it from:
It has sections on the dangers of cold-water immersion, rescue aids, and a couple of "spot the danger" pictures.
May 2012 was national water safety month in the USA and there's a website to accompany it. Have a look at the water safety tips at
The page contains a great deal of practical advice.
How many ounces of water do you give your baby?
He shouldn't be having nursery water.
"Citing a major 2006 review of fluoride safety by the National Academy of Sciences, the ADA advised parents and caregivers on November 9th of this year, to not give infants fluoridated water in their formula or food. According to the ADA, consumption of fluoridated water puts a baby at high risk for dental fluorosis (a defect of teeth that causes staining and sometimes corrosion of the enamel.) The ADA's statement followed an October 14th decision from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that bottled waters with added fluoride cannot claim to reduce the risk of cavities for infants."
Furthermore, your baby doesn't really NEED water. A few ounces here and there will not hurt but giving a baby too much water can cause harm for them.
"Babies are very sensitive to electrolyte imbalances that too much water may cause in the body. When this happens, a seizure may occur. "
19 month old Baby Boy?
This is a two part answer.
Firstly I believe for their own safety if nothing else everybody should be taught to swim. My husband and I taught an adult friend to swim. My husband used to compeat in national school swimming events and I just love to swim. As a regular swimmer I've seen other people being taught using various methods and the majority struggle because their friend/teacher tries to get them to do too much at one time. The first thing you should do is get used to being in the water. Then with someone supporting you start off, not by learning a stroke, but in how to float on your back and then on your front. Confidence gained at being able to float unaided allows the pupil to grasp the stroke movements much easier because you are then adding to what you have already learnt rather than trying to put it all together at once while at the same time breath, move forwards and stop yourself from sinking at the sametime.
There is a way to help with the fear aspect without even going near a pool.
You need a large bowl which you half fill with water.
Take in a breath and hold it.
Place the lower half of your face (mouth and nose) in the water. It's up to you if you close your eyes or not.
Breath out, blow a steady stream of bubbles.
When you run out of air keep your face in the water for a few seconds - count if you want.
Lift your head and inhale.
Repeat.
Once you are confident with this start submerging your entire face including your eyes - wear goggles if you want.
The idea is to become comfortable submerging your head. Once you can do this without panicking you shoud find learning to swim much easier - the biggest hurdle in learning when you fear the water is having your head go under and panicking because you then feel like you are drowning.
There are classes available for adults who want to learn to swim - everyone is in the same position as you which can remove the embaressment aspect. You can also get one to one tuition.
Secondly. While you feel left out, it is good that your boyfriend has a special time to bond with your son. If you do manage to overcome your fear (hypnotherapy is also a potential solution), you don't have to actually swim with your son. Most pools have parent and baby/toddler classes - you stand in the water and the child plays with you - with the aid of an instructor your child is taught the basics of swiming.