Controversial Video of Baby Struggling to Swim Goes Viral, Receives Mixed Reactions
It's every parent's duty to protect their child. That is why when mom Kerri Morrison learned about infant swimming, she did not think twice about letting her child take lessons. But not all are in the same page with Morrison. According to a report by New York Daily News, a video of Morrison's six-month-old daughter became viral after some internet users saw the baby seemingly struggling to swim while her mother watches her.
The two-minute long video shows a baby girl being lured out to the pool with a flowered sandal. AS she reaches for it, she plunges in the pool with her head going under. But instead of picking her up, the adults who are seen or heard in the video watched her struggle to floating on her back. Someone saying "good girl, good girl" is then heard in the background as the baby continues to keep her head above the water. Before the video ended, the baby is taken out from the water.
The source noted that the video has been viewed more than 600,000 times already since it was posted. But while some were impressed with the mother's initiative to teach her daughter how to swim at a very young age, there were a couple who thought that it was reckless and dangerous. Some also commented that it was a cruel thing to do for the baby. The video became controversial with viewers divided on whether the idea of infant swimming is good or dangerous.
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In a report by Fox News, Morrison defended the video of her baby swimming. She said that her daughter, Josie, was not struggling in the water, in fact, it was the opposite. She then shared the driving factor on why she started Josie young with swimming.
Morrison, who is from Palm Beach County, Florida, had a son named Jake who died in 2013 because of drowning. "My son is no longer here because he didn't have these skills," she said. "To me, I'm protecting her, and that's what a parent is supposed to do -- to protect her child -- and I feel like I failed my son, and I'm not going to fail my daughter."
Morrison, together with her husband, is now an advocate for Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) Self-Rescue technique. It's a method for teaching babies to float independently in case of emergencies. She said that the lessons are safe and effective. For those who are interested, they can check out the Live Like Jake Foundation website for videos and information on ISR.
