New swimming guidelines for toddlers

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - This is indeed swimming weather, but before you take a dip with your little ones, the American Academy of Pediatrics has a message for you.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued new guidelines about swimming lessons for toddler's between the ages of one and three.

New evidence suggests that some swimming instruction may be beneficial and help prevent some of the near 1,000 drownings that occur every year in the U.S.

Mike Piciulo, Aquatics Director at the Tonawanda Aquatic Center, said, "The parents and the kids that do it that take the lessons learn water safety principals and how to be safe in, on, and around the water. A lot of times its simply instructing the parents how to hold the child get them used to certain positions in the water."

One parent said, "It's hard at first because they cry. It's foreign, but the end result is wonderful."

Previously, the AAP only recommended swim lessons for children four and older, but they now recognize the benefit. The ISR has already 790 documented cases where children have used their self-rescue skills to save themselves in the water.

Some parents are still not entirely on board.

Pediatrician Dr. Mark Groshek said, "That's the worry that people have, that parents will be falsely reassured that a 6-month-old, 9-month-old or a 2-year-old can just go in the water and be safe, and that's not true."

Pediatricians say that no parent should ever be further away than arms length from their child in a pool.

"The kids that are at greatest risk of drowning turn out to be toddlers and teenage boys," said Dr. Groshek.