[pdonis]

Which brings up the obvious advice: if you're going to take your kids to the beach, or to the pool, teach them how to swim! Teach them young enough that they haven't yet developed an instinctive fear of water; then they'll be natural swimmers for life. (I learned to swim at about age 6 months.) If you can't teach them yourself, find a program at the local pool or rec center.

[samspot]

I don't think you really learned to swim at 6 months. At that age you are learning to be comfortable with the water, but you have a ways to go before you can actually swim. Your parents probably told you that you were able to swim because you were successful in whatever they were trying to do at that age.

source: My children are in infant swim classes.

[pdonis]

I don't think you really learned to swim at 6 months.

You're correct that my statement is only true for certain values of "swim". :) Being comfortable with the water is probably a more accurate description of what's achievable at that age, yes.

However, I used the term "swim" to make the point that what kids learn as infants is just the beginning; to really reduce their risk of drowning, they have to continue advancing to the point where the really can "actually swim". I was at that point by about age 4 1/2.