Can you float on your back? Can your family?

it is how the mass is distributed I think... and the fat/muscle ratio...it is all in how your body displaces water..

When I worked as a lifeguard and a swim instructor, we used to float during our 20 minute breaks. Only a few of us could effortlessly float for the whole time. I've wondered what the difference was between those can can and those that can't. I have 3 boys, and they can't float like I do.

I answered "no, and my relatives can't" although it's not strictly true...


I can NOT float on my back without my legs sinking but I have no idea about anyone else, because I'm the only person in my family that can swim at all.

I can float on my back but I float low in the water with my face just above water level and feel like I have to really push my abdomen upward to stay afloat...does that make sense?

DH and my kids float much more effortlessly.

My youngest son is so relaxed and still floatin in the pool that I think somehting is wrong when I see him!

Yes, we were all taught to float when we learned to swim. I have a harder time staying/swimming under water.

My mom sometimes talks about this. As a young girl, she had a friend that could float/swim effortlessly. She tried but just couldn't get it for the longest time.

My uncle could sit in the water and read a newspaper! Amazing !


Yes I can float forever, but I like to do it when there are just a few people in the pool. It is very relaxing.

I'm a good swimmer and of course know how to float. But laying on my back, my feet always want to sink. I really have to work at keeping them up. I don't know about the rest of my family. Now I need to conduct a survey.

Yes, I can float for ages. I love it, so relaxing. Most people I've known can float ok-ish, but none like me.

Yes I can float and I think everyone in my family can.

I have not been in the water for a l-o-n-g time, but in the past I could. I had to arch my back a little to do it, but I float low in the water.

ugh... both my DSs just rejoined swimming lessons after almost 2 year break (one excited and one hates it). both are sinkers.

the instructor said in her experience it is more common with boys and specifically anyone that is either very skinny or very muscular. youngest DS is a skeleton with muscles and skin stretched over it. older DS is really sturdy thru hips and has super muscular thighs.
it is frustrating both of them, esp with backstroke. hoping we can get past it but i keep hearing "push your hips up to the ceiling" for 45 mins twice a week!

After spending an entire year taking DD to weekly swimming lessons, now she can float on her back without problems. She was the only girl in her last session and the three boys that were in that class with her all struggled with it. They also couldn't kick without bending their knees to save their lives!

I don't know about DH, but considering his swimming skills (which are very close to being described as non-existent, I don't think he has swum since he did his National service thirty years ago) I kinda doubt he has any floating skills to brag about either, but both my kids can and I could almost fall asleep. I sometimes claim I'm part otter.