If babies know how to swim when they are born, why do people forget when they get older? It seems all animals know how to swim, instinctively, but we don't retain that.
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ANSWERS: 3
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Babies have been "swimming" in amniotic fluid since conception. It is natural that they would have some innate knowledge of swimming movements. However, we are not aquatic animals, so once out of the womb, those skills (which are only rudimentary after all) are no longer needed, so forgotten. Animals, in the wild, are hard-wired to be able to cross streams if necessary, so have a instinct of how to swim. However, the first time they ever have to cross water is always stressful for them, as their instincts need to kick in. THey usually learn (very quickly, much more than us) from watching others in their packs/herds.
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I'd imagine fear plays a part in that. If your thrown in deep water and you can't swim, you will most likely panic and thats where you will get into trouble. Babies and probably animals dont have that fear as they dont know.(aswell as above answer). We can probably all tread water just panicking is the worst thing to do.Mind you it would be hard not to.Heavy clothing,low stamina and poor fitness will come into since most of us sit about on pc's allday lol. Where as animals generally dont
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They don't "know" how to swim... they have an instinctive reflex that tells them to kick their feet, move their arms and turn face up when wet. This won't keep them afloat for any length of time, and is not a conscious act. Newborns also have an instinctive reflex to be able to perfectly determine if a closing object will come in contact with their face or not. Try it sometime, on an eight-week or younger baby! Move and object directly toward its face, it will turn its head. Aim the object for the space next to his ear, he'll stay still. We also lose that at about three months of age. Why? I dunno.
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