Infant in swimming pool

When Can a Baby Go in a Pool?

Mr. Golden Sun is shining down and you’re wanting to discover if your baby will take to the pool with a splish and a splash.

But first things first! There are several things you need to prepare for and be aware of before you decide to take your little one for a swim. Read on to learn about the potential water dangers and the best ways to keep your baby safe while having some fun.

If you had a water birth, technically speaking your baby has already been in a pool. Of course, that’s not what we are discussing; but the fact remains that your baby can go into water at any age if the surrounding conditions are given your cautioned attention.

That being said, the chemical content and risks involved in most swimming pools mean that your baby should be at least 6 months old before taking a dip.

Before you take your little one in the pool, consider the following:

Pool temperature

Because infants have a harder time regulating their body temperatures, you will need to check the pool water’s temperature before allowing your baby to go in.

Most babies are very sensitive to temperature changes. The ratio of skin surface area to body weight is higher than that of an adult, so babies are more sensitive to water and even room temperatures than you are. If the water feels cold to you, it is definitely too cold for your little one.

Hot tubs and heated pools hotter than 100°F (37.8°C) are not safe for children younger than three years old.

Pool chemicals

Many chemicals are used to keep a pool bacteria-free. If the levels are not properly managed, bacteria and algae can grow in the pool.

According to a 2011 study, exposure to the chlorine used in swimming pools during infancy can lead to an increase in risk of bronchiolitis.

Children who didn’t attend day care and spent more than 20 hours in a pool during infancy were at an even higher risk with the increased chance for having asthma and respiratory allergies later in childhood.

Though this raises concerns about infant swimming safety, more research is needed to confirm the connection.

Keep an eye on the amount of pool water your baby swallows! You’ll want your baby to swallow as little pool water as possible. We’ll discuss the risks of bacteria and infection due to ingesting pool water below.

Saltwater pools have lower chlorine levels than traditional pools, but they are not chemical-free. The water in saltwater pools is gentler for your baby’s sensitive skin, but other risk factors and guidelines for safety still apply.

Infections and nasty poop

The cleanest of all clean pools can hold all sorts of invisible contaminants. A lot of the bacteria that contaminates a pool can cause an infant to have diarrhea.

And subsequent diarrhea in the pool can cause eye infections, ear and skin infections, respiratory and gastrointestinal issues… poop in a pool is bad.

Babies younger than 2 months of age have extremely vulnerable immune systems. It’s one of the main reasons you’re told to keep baby away from crowds for the first 6 weeks. And again, babies tend to put their hands in their mouths. Think about that for a moment.

Though swim diapers appear to “contain” fecal matter, swim diapers aren’t effective enough to prevent this poopy situation. Recreational water illnesses can be quite serious, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Should an accident occur, everyone needs to get out of the pool immediately. The CDC outlines how to rebalance and chemically clean the pool, making it safe to get in again.

Never leave your baby alone — or in the care of another young child — in or near a pool. Drowning is the number one cause of injury-related death among children 1 to 4 years old, with children 12 to 36 months old being at highest risk.

It takes as little as one inch of water, as few as seconds, for a child to drown. And it’s silent.

You should always stay within one arm’s reach whenever your baby is near the pool. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests using touch supervision. This means your baby should always be within an arm’s reach near the water, so that you could reach out and touch them instantly. This may be tiring, but nothing is more important.

Keep your towels, phone, and any other items you may want within an arm’s reach too, minimizing the number of times you have to carry your slippery little swimmer in and out of the water.

In addition to close and constant supervision, the AAP recommends using 4-foot high pool fences on all four sides of the pool and with childproof, locking gates. If you own a pool, be sure to check the gate frequently to make sure it works and locks properly.

Water wings, floaties, or other inflatable toys are fun, but don’t rely on them to keep your baby safe in the water and stay out of the deep end. A life jacket approved by the United States Coast Guard will fit more snugly and is safer than the standard arm floaties we remember from childhood.

Regardless of what you may use to help your small child stay afloat, always remain within an arm’s reach as your baby explores this weightless, free-range playtime.

For additional safety, keep rescue equipment (a shepherd’s hook or life preserver) next to the pool and enroll your little one in swim lessons as soon as he or she is developmentally ready.

Evidence reveals that many children older than 1 year old will benefit from swim lessons, though there are many classes available for infant “self-rescue” survival swimming (also known as ISR lessons).

According to the AAP, babies under 6 months of age should be kept out of direct sunlight. If you’re out and about with your babe, it is best to stay in the shade as much as possible and limit sun exposure during the hottest hours of the day (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.). Even on cloudy days, the sun’s rays are strong enough to cause a sunburn.

Using umbrellas, stroller canopies, hats with neck flaps, and UPF 50+ sun protected clothing that covers your baby’s arms and legs will help prevent sunburn.

For sunscreen, don’t apply anything less than 15 SPF and be sure to cover the smaller areas, like your baby’s face, ears, neck, feet, and back of hands (don’t forget how often babies put their hands in their mouths).

You will want to test the sunscreen on a small area of your baby’s back first, to make sure it doesn’t cause an allergic reaction. Remember to reapply sunscreen after swimming, sweating, or every 2 hours.

If your baby gets a sunburn, apply a cool compress to the affected skin. If the sunburn blisters, seems painful, or if your baby has a temperature, contact your pediatrician or family doctor.

• Consider becoming CPR certified. You can find CPR classes with infant-specific training through your local fire department and recreational centers or via the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association.
• Do not swim during a storm. Conditions can change quickly.
• Never leave your baby alone — or in the care of another young child, or an adult under the influence of drugs or alcohol — in or near the pool.
• Don’t keep your baby in the pool water for longer than 10 minutes at first. When you get out, be sure to wrap your baby in a warm blanket or towel immediately. Babies younger than 12 months shouldn’t stay in a pool for longer than 30 minutes at a time.
• Install a four-feet high fence, with a child-proof gate lock, on all four sides of the pool (even inflatable pools).
• Don’t leave pool toys out, enticing your little one to venture near the water.
• Do not let your baby swim if your baby has diarrhea. Always use appropriate swim diapers for little ones who aren’t potty trained.
• Don’t take baby into a pool if the drain covers are broken or missing. Do a safety check on the pool each time before entering.
• Enroll your baby in swimming lessons as soon as you feel your child is developmentally ready.
• Rinse off your baby with clean water after swimming to help prevent potential skin irritations and infections.

Even though it is safe for your baby to got into the water at any age, even you should wait to go in the pool until you’ve been cleared by your doctor or midwife to avoid getting an infection post birth (usually about 6 weeks, or until 7 days after vaginal bleeding stops).

Waiting until your baby is 6 months is also safer for your little one’s growing immune system and body. In the meantime you can enjoy warm baths for water fun.

This may feel like an overwhelming amount of precautions but following the guidelines and tips mentioned above can help keep your baby safe as you enjoy the warmer weather and some poolside fun with your little one.

When babies can go in swimming pools

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Photo credit: iStock.com / romrodinka

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).

When you do introduce your little one to water, keep the following safety tips in mind:

• Practice "touch supervision," meaning that an adult stays within arm's reach of an infant or toddler whenever they're in or near a body of water.
• Always hold your baby in the pool, and don't wade into water too deep for you to maintain firm footing.
• Once your child can walk, teach them some basic pool safety tips: Don't run near the pool, and don't get in the water by yourself.
• Inflatable toys like water wings, inner tubes, and pool noodles are fun to play with, but aren't meant to serve as flotation devices. Have your baby wear a personal flotation device (PFD) that fits properly and is approved by the U.S. Coast Guard.
• If you're going to a public pool, make sure a lifeguard is on duty.

If you're using a swimming pool at home:

• Drain inflatable or plastic pools after use and store them in an upright position.
• If you have a permanent pool, completely enclose it with a fence at least 4 feet high, though 5 feet is preferable. Lock the gate after each use with a latch that your child can't reach.

It's highly unlikely that your baby will get sick from swallowing some pool water, but make sure any device that dispenses chlorine is kept out of reach so your baby doesn't accidentally ingest or inhale chlorine.

Take care that the water isn't too hot or cold. Babies aren't able to regulate their body temperature as well as adults, so their temperature can change very quickly in water that's too cold or hot. And don't let your baby or toddler in a hot tub, spa, or pool heated to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit until they're 3 years old. The high temperatures in hot tubs can cause a child's heart to race or pose other dangers.

Sun exposure is another factor to consider when getting ready to take your baby in the water. Be sure to lather them up with sunscreen, and have them wear a wide-brimmed hat or sunglasses to protect their eyes. And keep an eye out for signs of overheating: cool, moist skin; dizziness; and leg or stomach cramps.

The AAP recommends starting swimming lessons once your baby's about a year old, though you may see lessons designed for parents and babies as young as 6 months. There's no harm in enjoying some pool time with your baby at that age, and it can be a great bonding experience for the two of you.

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Erin Heger

Erin Heger is a freelance journalist who writes about health, parenting, and social issues. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, HuffPost, Business Insider, and Rewire News Group. Born and raised in Kansas, she lives just outside Kansas City with her husband and two kids.

Baby swimming - articles from the specialists of the clinic "Mother and Child"

Arefieva Natalya Yurievna

Dentist, Dentist-therapist for children, Dentist-therapist for adults

Lapino-1 Clinical Hospital "Mother and Child"

arguments for

Immediately after birth, the child from the aquatic environment enters the air, where he begins to breathe on his own . But for some time after the birth, the child retains the breath-holding reflex, and sometimes he can even swim and breathe properly at the same time. Many methods of infant swimming are based on this, especially the technique called diving, when diving and breathing under water are fixed. Therefore, supporters of infant swimming believe that in the first months of a child's life, the swimming reflex and the ability to hold the breath must be developed and consolidated, otherwise they will simply be forgotten and in the future the baby will have to be taught everything again. nine0003

And of course, being in the water hardens the baby, trains his cardiovascular system, develops the musculoskeletal system, in general, strengthens the child's health in every possible way.

arguments against

Opponents of infant swimming, especially diving. have their own, and very weighty, arguments.

• The ability to stay afloat and hold your breath are protective reflexes, they are saved only at first for use in critical situations, which adults recreate in the pool. In other words, this is an artificial simulation of a critical situation, which is accompanied by stress for the baby. nine0024
• From the point of view of physiology, if the reflex of holding the breath in water should die out, then it must be allowed to do so - after all, this was conceived by nature for a reason.
• It is not necessary for a child to swim for physical development. This can be too stressful for a baby who does not even know how to crawl yet.
• Baby swimming (especially in public pools and baths) can lead to inflammatory diseases of the ear, nasopharynx, respiratory tract, and in some people even weaken the immune system. And swallowing water can cause indigestion. nine0024

what to choose

Bathing and swimming itself is not harmful, but rather useful. It is harmful to carry out this procedure incorrectly, not to take into account the developmental characteristics of the child and use the wrong methods. Pediatricians, neurologists and neurophysiologists believe that, for example, the so-called diving (when a child’s head is immersed under water so that he learns to dive) leads to brain hypoxia (albeit short-term), and it is not known how this will affect the condition of the baby. In addition, the stress that occurs at this moment is also likely to affect the child negatively. Both hypoxia, and stress, and simply extra loads often lead to some kind of developmental disorders. One child will start to get sick more often (and not necessarily with colds), the other will become more excited than necessary, or in the future it will be worse to concentrate. nine0003

Therefore, it is possible for a baby to swim, you just need to take into account several factors.

find a swimming pool and instructor

Being a swimming instructor is very important. As such, there is no specialty “baby swimming coach”: most likely, the instructor will take some short-term courses. The main thing here is his experience and your trust in him. Before the start of the lesson, talk to the instructor, or even better, go and see how he conducts the classes, how he relates to the desire or unwillingness of the child to do some kind of action, how comfortable the baby is with the instructor. First, the child must get used to the instructor, and only then should classes begin. No sudden movements, haste and discomfort. Both parents, and the kid, and the instructor should be on the same wavelength. nine0003

As long as the child is small, you can swim at home, in your own bath; when the baby grows up, look for a clean and warm children's pool with a good water purification system, with pleasant conditions and a benevolent environment.

listen to the child

It is impossible to find out from the baby himself how much he likes what is done to him while swimming. There are children who smile and laugh while in the water; there are those who scream and cry even during a simple bath, especially when swimming (and certainly when diving). And it happens that the baby, as it were, freezes emotionally during swimming - here it is generally difficult to guess about his reaction. Therefore, starting water procedures, listen and look closely at the child. And accept his wish. Start with a regular bath in a bath, then gradually move into an adult bath. And you can immediately dive into a large bath with the child, holding him in his arms or at his chest - this way he will be even calmer (though, for this, you will first need helpers). If swimming brings positive emotions to the baby, you are on the right track. If the child is naughty and nervous, the more clearly he demonstrates his unwillingness to swim, give up this idea and postpone swimming until better times. nine0003

simple exercises

You can train with the baby on your own, just do the following exercises:

• steps in the water - an adult holds the child upright, helping him to push off from the bottom of the tub;
• wiring on the back - the baby lies on his back, the adult supports the head of the crumbs and leads the child along the bath;
• wiring on the tummy - all the same, only the child lies on the stomach;
nine0023 exercise with a toy - you need to lead the child after the toy, gradually accelerating and explaining: our toy is swimming away, let's catch up with it.

When swimming, don't aim for anything spectacular, as long as your little one's health, safety and enjoyment are paramount.

There is no unequivocal opinion whether a baby should swim or not, because the experience of each family is individual. There are children who, even before the age of one, easily and joyfully master the aquatic environment, and there are those who do not like water for a long time and agree to classes only at a conscious age. Therefore, focus only on the desire of your child. nine0074