Swimming

Allison - posted on 04/15/2010

Like Naomi ssuggested, clear the sunscreen and swimming with your Dr. In general, we only use limited amounts of sunscreen (and other products) in our family to avoid excess chemical exposure. We just do common sense stuff to keep him (and us) out of the sun (clothes, umbrellas, etc) and avoided sunscreen til at least 6 months.

For example, if it was moderately sunny, we only left him "uncovered" for a max of 30 minutes, but we never took him out in the sun in the heat of the day - always morning or evening. After he turned one, we would occasionally take him swimming on hot days, but slathered on the sunscreen.

Keeshea - posted on 04/15/2010

My son hasn't been in the pool yet and he's 10 months old. We will introduce him to the water this summer.

Naomi - posted on 04/15/2010

Clear it with your baby's doctor, and also clear sunscreen with the baby's doctor if you'll be swimming outside.

Allison - posted on 04/15/2010

Some pools have less chlorine than others, which is definitely preferred, so check around. But you also want to be sure it's really clean so they don't get infection or sick (b/c they probably will drink some of it, lol!)

We also took our son in starting at a few months old, but then it was winter and we waited til the next summer (when he was 1) to do a lot of swimming. It does dry out their skin, might get in the ears if you're not careful, but I don't think it will really cause any permanent damage if you make sure they are always feeling OK. We kept our son's head out of the pool water until he was over 1. So there are pros and cons, but in the summer he just loved it, so we went for it. I trusted that if it was making his body feel bad (ears, eyes, skin) he would fuss and wouldn't want to do it anymore, so I really paid close attention, and he never had any issues with it. Have a great summer :)

Jenn - posted on 04/15/2010

Hmm....something to think about for sure Belinda. I may just have to get one to see out of curiosity - however we have a well as we live in the country - but it would still be interesting to see what I really am drinking! :S

Belinda - posted on 04/15/2010

well really its hard to tell what u r drinking, but get a pool chemical test kit and check ur warter, i have and my pool has less chlorine then the tap water here in the us.

Karen - posted on 04/15/2010

At 6 months at the earliest for lessons. You can take her and enjoy in the pool just as you have been until then. Once she is able to sit up by herself and crawl (which is technically when she can potentially get herself to the water), is a good time as her motricity at that point would enable her to participate more actively in lessons.

I am a believer in self-rescue swimming lessons up until they are at least 4 years old.

Jenn - posted on 04/15/2010

@Belinda - I hope I'm not drinking pool water from my tap! EWWWW!!!!!!!!!!

I think it would be OK to take them swimming so they can splash around.

Karen - posted on 04/15/2010

i started taking my son to the pool at 2 months and once he turned 3 months i started him in mommy and me swim classes...he LOVES it and my dr told me that it's a great thing to be doing with him..just remember the swim diapers! lol

Melissa - posted on 04/15/2010

It is definately not to early to take your little one to the pool. At 3 months I could put my little girl underwater for a second. I had been following the advice on the Laurie Lawrence 'Kids Alive do the 5' DVD about kids and water from newborn - 5yro. I was 100% sure that it was ok for me to do this with Emily. Do not try it with any child unless you are completly comfortable and confident that your little one will be ok. The DVD is free to everyone in Australia.

Beverley - posted on 04/15/2010

My little one was 3 months when i took her to the swimming pool the first time and she loved it. She's 6 years old now and swims like a fish.Had a swimerthon last week with 8 schools competing and she came first I am so proud of my little angle you'll be doing your child a big favour by taking her to the swimming pool believe me.

Jodi - posted on 04/15/2010

Here is some information about swimming with your baby :)

http://www.babycenter.com.au/baby/develo...

Vanessa - posted on 04/14/2010

Great question. Our guy loves water too and he's 8 months. I'm thinking of putting him in the baby swim classes.



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Belinda - posted on 04/14/2010

well this was nearly 30 years ago,maybe this is true never had any ear trouble and if you check your tap water it has the same chemicals in it

Katarina - posted on 04/14/2010

Where I am from(BC,Canada) our local pool will not allow any infant under 8 months in the pool. My Dr. said no as well. It can upset their inner ear balance and there are just so many chemicals in the water.

Belinda - posted on 04/14/2010

asap both my kids were born in the summer and was in the water thier first months, so i say the sooner the better!!!!!!