Controversial Video Shows 6-Month-Old Baby Struggling To Swim As Mother Looks On

FLORIDA (CBS Detroit) The video starts with a pretty baby girl in a bright yellow dress perched on pudgy legs in the shallow end of a pool with a woman sitting behind her.

It ends in controversy.

"Not bad for a six and a half month old, sitting up like that," a voice intones over the video.

And then the baby girl reaches for a toy and plunges into the water face first, and ends up lying on her back and struggling to keep her head above water.

She's crying as mom croons "good girl, good girl."

"She fell in trying to get your shoe," mom says to another girl.

The baby floats for about another 30 seconds in silence, moving to the center of what looks like a deep pool. Mom eventually grabs her and pulls her out, saying "I've got you babies."

The video was posted on Facebook, where it garnered nearly 2,500 reaction, much of it supportive.

Erin Gooch wrote: "This baby has obviously gone through infant safety self rescue classes. To pass they need to not only be able to back float like this child but also do it fully clothed in jackets and boots. I don't see this as cruel. If this baby ever fell into a body of water, she would be able to save herself long enough for someone to come help her. A bigger shame is all the kids who are never taught these skills and who drown in pools and other bodies of water."

On the other side, someone wrote, "Secondary drowning can also kill kids if they get to(o) much water in their lungs they can die hours later glad she's learning but still getting to much water for my comfort."

So, what do you think: Is it a good lesson in learning to swim or dangerously bad parenting?