FOLSOM, Calif. -- A program called Infant Swimming Resource claims to save lives by teaching children self-rescue skills in the water.

ISR-certified instructor Stefani Norville teaches the program to children 6 months to 6 years old at the Folsom Aquatic Center.

"It is the most medically-sound, behavioral-based approach to survival swimming. We teach swimming, but survival in all situations is really the primary focus," said Norville.

ISR literature said even babies can use the method if they fall into the water.

While older children learn what is called the swim, float, swim method, babies learn to hold their breath under water, turn on their backs and float.

Children learn the method fully-clothed because accidents can happen at any time.

Michelle Houx enrolled her daughter in the course.

"It makes them become very safe in the water and they know how to save themselves and that's what's important," said Houx.

However, the American Academy of Pediatrics said swimming lessons for infants and toddlers do not necessarily make them safer in the water.

Kaiser Permanente pediatrician Dr. Zoey Goore is a mother of two young children and said any program that teaches children water safety is a good idea, but parents should not become overconfident in their child's abilities.

"I would really caution parents not to have a false sense of security that their 1-year-old or their 3-year-old or their 6-year-old is completely safe around the water," said Goore.

Goore likes the idea of teaching children to flip over and keep their faces out of the water, but wonders how long they can sustain a float position and how they might react in a real accident.

"It would worry me that parents would think this would save their child," said Goore.

However, it may buy a parent some valuable time during an emergency.

"Supervision is No. 1, but I haven't heard of a drowning yet that didn't have a breakdown in supervision," said Norville.

Jennifer Stong, a mother who has enrolled her infant in the program, said she wanted to make sure that her child had some skills to save himself if something were to happen.

Swim instructors said pools should have a door alarm, a locked gate and a fence and children should always wear lifejackets in lakes and rivers.

Children should always remain under adult supervision when around water.