To keep young children safe, learn first aid and never leave them unattended near water. It's generally best to wait until your baby is around 6 months old before starting swimming lessons.
Being in the water engages your baby's body by creating billions of new neurons as your baby kicks and splashes in the water. Due to their delicate immune systems, doctors typically recommend that parents keep their babies from chlorinated pools until they're about six-months-old.
At What Age Should a Child Go Into a Pool? Although there is no absolute guideline – the general consensus by Pediatricians and other health professionals is that babies under 6 months (some would say 12 months) should avoid swimming/pools. Water safety is clearly important for all ages.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) doesn't have an official age recommendation for when babies can go in pools, but most pediatricians recommend waiting until your baby is about 6 months old or can hold their head up well on their own (around 4 to 5 months).
Most physicians recommend waiting until the baby is at least 6 months of age before going swimming with your baby. If your baby is less than six months old, avoid taking him or her to a large public pool, as the water is too cold. Make sure the water temperature is heated to at least 89.6°F before taking baby in.
STA recently released an article detailing that a baby's kidneys under the age of 12 months can have problems in handling high levels of salt, and in particular sodium. We all need a certain amount of salt, however too much can have detrimental effects.
Key facts. To keep young children safe, learn first aid and never leave them unattended near water. It's generally best to wait until your baby is around 6 months old before starting swimming lessons. New mothers should not go swimming until at least 6 weeks after the birth, or when you have stopped bleeding.
Keep things short
10 minutes in the pool may be a good starting point before building up to 20 minutes, but take your baby out of the pool and wrap them up in a towel if they start to shiver or show signs of being cold. Remember to never take your baby swimming if they are unwell.
Babies under six months need a temperature of about 32 degrees C, if they're not in a baby wetsuit. Lower him in the water until it reaches his shoulders, and keep him moving about, so that he stays warm. As soon as your baby starts to shiver, get him out of the pool and wrap him up warmly.
Limit their time in the water
Young babies should spend no more than 10 or 15 minutes in the water during their first few trips to the pool. When they're under a year old, you should limit your baby's time in the water to 30 minutes maximum.
Babies have sensitive skin that is typically thinner than an adult's. For this reason, they can be more susceptible to irritation. Chlorinated water can: Strip natural oils making the skin dry and hair brittle.
Standard swimming costumes are fine to wear at this age, but they still need a swim nappy. However, getting a tiny baby in and out of one can be tough, so choose a costume that you can lie flat and wrap around them, to make changing much easier.
The NHS advises that babies can be taken swimming at any age, and there's no need to wait until your newborn has had their first immunisations. Although your baby is safe to swim, to avoid infection, mum should wait until around 6 weeks or 7 days after vaginal bleeding after birth stops.
Moisturise all over, especially on any sore or dry patches, before swimming with a waxy balm like Skin Salvation. Moisturise afterwards too; pat skin towel dry and apply a balm or a body oil as soon as you can to lock in moisture and keep the skin in good, healthy, resilient condition.
Once you're both comfortable, gently bounce the baby up and down in the water. Next try moving your baby from back to front and front to back. Go for short sessions to begin with. 10-20 minutes is more than enough.
It is not true that babies are born with the ability to swim, though they have primitive reflexes that make it look like they are. Newborns are not old enough to hold their breath intentionally or strong enough to keep their head above water, and cannot swim unassisted.
Don't rely on inflatable toys (like water wings) to keep your child safe in the water. Don't dunk a baby underwater. Although infants may naturally hold their breath, they're just as likely to swallow water.
Babies of six months or under should be kept out of the direct sun, either in their buggy, under a parasol, or in a UV tent. Remember that it can be a few degrees cooler in the shade. If the weather is not very warm, make sure your baby doesn't get cold out of the sun.
There's no set age limit but it's commonly accepted not to take them into the water until at least 2 months old and their immune systems have had time to build up. Time of Day: Babies' skin is far more susceptible to the effects of UV rays than adults.
How do I keep my baby warm in the water? If your baby is under six months old, you should look for a pool that's heated to around 30-32 degrees. Lots of swimming classes will take place in specially heated pools.
This type of bleeding is called lochia, and it can last for up to six weeks after birth. Although your baby can go swimming at any time from birth, it's best to wait until he has his two-month immunisations before you take him to a public pool.
It is essential to regulate chlorine levels in a pool between 1-3 ppm, as levels exceeding 5 ppm can be hazardous. Swimming in a pool with high chlorine levels should be avoided. The highest safe chlorine level for a pool is 3 ppm.