What age did you introduce your baby to the swimming pool?

Leanne - posted on 04/23/2010

we took our 25 weeker at 6months from birth so about 4months corrected

Jo Anne - posted on 04/20/2010

I used to teach a Mom and Tots class at the Y. 6 months is a great time to introduce your kids to swimming. They are already used to water surrounding their bodies. Don't let it freak you out when you see them fall towards the water in the class. They know just what to do...I think you will be very pleased once you have completed this class. I should also mention that I attended a Mom and Tots class with my son when he was 7 months....He loved it.



As for ear infections....you need not worry about them if after every class you gently take a q tip dipped in alcohol and swab the ear. The alcohol dries the water. My son never had a problem with ear infections and he swims like a fish....he'll be 16 next month.

Toni - posted on 04/19/2010

I took my 10 month old to the pool for the first time and he had a look of contentment like he was in a luke warm bath. My friend told me not to waste the money on lessons till there about 3.

Maria Fernanda - posted on 04/19/2010

The sooner the better i have seen 8week old babies doing underwater swimming. My son is a year old and a great underwater swimmer he loves been in the water bath he cant wait for it and as soon as he see's the pool he gets so excited. our pediatric said that for public pools as long as he has injections by the time his 16weeks he is good to go. But the underwater lessons that we do our in a special pool at a temperature of having a bath. if you leave it for to late your little one may be scared and not very willing.

Andrea - posted on 04/17/2010

Our pool says they have to have had their 2nd round of shots. So both my kids were in the water by 5 months as I delayed thier shots to their corrected age.

Lindsey - posted on 04/15/2010

hiya my lill girl was 6wk early she is now 6months and iv taken her swimming twice the first time was after she had all her injections so i think she was about 4months i took her early cose of how she was in the bath she just loves water and when i took her second time which was this easter hoildays she loved it even more as she got used to the water.. also she weighed 4.10llb when born and she only 13.8llb now so she still small. i think as long as your ok n calm then ur lill ones will be fine just take it slow.. hope this helps huni xxxxx

Tara - posted on 04/14/2010

From what I have read, swimming lessons for children as young as 6 months are for survival purposes. So, if your child was walking around a pool, say at the age of 1, and fell in, they would be able to survive and float to the top. During these types of lessons, they do have the children go under water and jump in the pool (if they are capable). Just from my knowledge, the lessons for babies are not to learn how do strokes and certain swimming positions, but just for survival. Anyways, don't be afraid to expose your children to pools or swimming lessons. My daughter was a preemie and last summer she was about 8 months when we first used our community's pool. We just put her in a floaty with a shade attached to it. It didn't really phase her, and at times she would splash in the water. Now, she is almost 19 months, and summer is approaching, so it will be interesting to see how she reacts.

Shanica - posted on 04/14/2010

I just started swimming lessons for my son who is 10 months old, corrected 7 months as he was a preemie baby. He loved the water from day one, unusual for preemie babies as I have been told so we couldn't wait to take him in the pool. He is in a class for babies that are 3 months -18 months and he is the youngest one. It's a parent and tot class so you take the baby in and sing songs in the water and play with toys. Since our little man is still small and having some muscle tone issues, my DH just holds him and lets him enjoy the water.
Kim, I'd say it doesn't hurt to take your twins in the water right now, make it a short period like half an hour and ensure you wash them throughly after to get rid of any chlorine. And you do not need to put their heads under the water, just let them enjoy the feel of the water. Good luck!!!!

Alda - posted on 04/14/2010

My twins were born at 28 weeks, so extremely premature. They're now 19 months (16 corrected) and they've been having swimming lessons for 6 weeks. It's in a private indoor pool with salt water chlorination. I must say though, it's a lot harder to introduce them to swimming at this age, as they're already quite strong willed. The much younger babies (under a year old), find it much easier to relax and float in the water, whereas mine can kick up quite a fuss. I would recommend starting them as early as possible.

Breanne - posted on 04/13/2010

I took my son swimming the firts time at about 4 months. The Dr. had told me to wait until he had had his first set of immunizations at 3 months. He really didn't like it to much the first time but loves the water know more than anything.(At a year old)

Claudelle - posted on 04/13/2010

My son was 6 months old. He was born in Winter, so no swimming during that time and I wouldn't put him in a heated pool, don't think it is good for them. My oldest son went in the pool after 2 weeks, but only in those kiddies pool with the water touching his legs and feet. I wouldn't put them straight away in a lot of water, I would start them with a kiddies pool with a little water and gradually increase it. That is how I started both my boys off. Enjoy the water with them.

Crystal - posted on 04/11/2010

my son was 14 months, but was niece was 3 months. They both were natural swimmers. My niece didn't go under water until she was almost a year. We also didn't do public pools. Now they are wonderful swimmers and about to learn to dive.

Andrea - posted on 04/10/2010

My lil one as 9 months old when we let her (with daddy letting only waist down in the water) and about 18 months when we let her sit in a floatie and paddle around. These were privite pools. We also have a lil blow up pool that we let her splash around in when she was a lil over 12 months. I think it is all about your comfort levels. If your not sure if they can do it from being a preemie baby talk to their Dr and see if he/she has a problem with it!!!

Jacqueline - posted on 04/10/2010

I have a preemie myself and his first summer he was 8 months and he floated around the pool with no problems. He loved it infact, we just made sure he had a floatie with a cover and wore a hat. It was a personal inground pool at the in-laws so we were able to monitor all the chemicals and not a lot of people were around. With our first son he was only 4 months his first summer and we did it the same way and never had an issue. Both our boys love the water, our oldest taught himself by the time he was 3 1/2 since he was in it from such a young age and never was afraid. Good luck!

Kim - posted on 04/09/2010

thanks for the advice, we have a green pool that is not disinfected with Chlorine, but I worry about germs and such, plus my little ones are smaller due to being premies, but my guy sure loves to splash in the bathtub all the time!

Wanda - posted on 04/09/2010

I was told not to put my son in a pool until he was a year old - I don't remember the reason but it had to do with the chlorine levels and breathing. He's 2 now and has been in both pools and the ocean. He loves water and am serioiusly considering starting him in swim leasons when they start again.

Sandra - posted on 04/09/2010

It totally depends on your comfort level. I took my oldest child swimming at 2 months old. At that point he did not put his head in at all. Swimming lessons begin for kids at 4 months. Research says that children who are introduced to water early in life are less likely to be afraid of water later in life.
The other thing is that the swimming lessons for children under the age of two do not require the children to put their heads under the water so that the risk of ear infection is not an issue.

Katarina - posted on 04/08/2010

I should add, my son is a year old and hasn't been in the pool yet. I'm really worried about his inner ear balance. But also the amount of chlorine they add to pools. I really don't want him swallowing the water.

Katarina - posted on 04/08/2010

My Doc told me to NOT put my son in the pool until he was atleast 8months old. Our local pools won't let them in the water before that age either. Check with your pool and they can tell you.