Babies Swimming

[AllYourBase]

At what age is it safe/responsible to take my son swimming?

He's 11 weeks old at the moment and next week we are going for a break to the Lake district in a small estate with an indoor pool. I'd love to take him swimming (well splashing) in the kids pool. I know I would have to use swim pants and inflatables to keep him upright and above water line etc and take all the usual precautions, but I would be interested to know if other parents thought this was too soon or had any dos and donts based on their experiences?

[flolo]

I know some people say to take your child to the swimming pools early as possible but I personaly would not take a baby under 6 months. Swimming pools are chorinated but still full of unseen germs.I read somewhere that if you filled your bath as deep as possibe and hold your baby as if in a pool you have same effect without the hidden bacteria. Little lungs are too immature to deal with what may lurk in a public swimming pool.

[ethanryan]

you can take a baby swimming as soon as they have had there 12 week injections, well this is what my midwife told me. both mine went from 12 weeks and now love the water, they are 1 and 2 now. we brought a baby seat suitable for 3-12 months. it wont do him any harm at all.

[Psychick]

I first started taking my daughter when she was about 3 months old, like ethanryan, after her injections. She loved the water straight away and never had any health problems from being in a public pool. I intend on doing the same when baby number two arrives as well.
Again like ethanryan, I also had one of the in flatable swimming seats for mine. I would say it was one of my best buys for her as a baby.

[nat_84]

My midwife and helath visitor have told me i can take the baby swimming whenever i like. They said you DONT have to wait for the 12 injections due to the chlorine in the pools which should protect them (although you can smell that some over them are OVER chlorinated!)

[pixie_woo]

Hi

My local pool wont let me take Spencer until he's had all three injections (i.e 16 weeks) because of the risk of infection.
From what I understand, babies aren't very good at maintaining their body temp and get cold very quickly so the later you leave it the less chance of them getting chilly.

I'm dying to take him as is his Daddy so as soon as we have the all-clear we'll be there.

I've already signed him up for baby swimming lessons which start in Feb cos there's a massive waiting list.

You know your child better than anyone, if you think he'll be ok then go for it.

[VillageVicar]

We took both our children once they reached six months. We were concerned about doing it earlier for reasons mentioned above and our concern about our children's bodies adapting quickly to the cool water.

It was a wonderful experience for us and for the children.

Well done you for thinking of this for your child!

Fr Bill

[ganesh]

Just to add to the majority view, as soon as the injections are done and as soon as poss. My kids loved our swimming sessions, I wouldn't bother with swimming lessons,just have fun!