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Behaviour/development

newborns - what age can they go swimming

13 replies

PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 17/08/2009 19:16

I mean in a private pool rather than a public bathes.

I remembered it being 3 months, but I don't know if this is because of the germs/cold or if this is blanket recommendation?

Just curious as I am hoping to spend christmas in a property with family which has a heated indoor pool, baby will be 4-6wks, its a bit young no?

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Seona1973 · 17/08/2009 19:46

in theory they can go whenever you like but it depends on the temperature of the water as they can get cold quickly especially when tiny. I took ds from about 12 weeks.

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juuule · 17/08/2009 19:50

I got told it was after they had their first round of jabs. So that would be about 4weeks?

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sarahken · 17/08/2009 19:50

I asked the health visitor last week when I took my daughter for her 2nd injections- she's 12 weeks. Apparently once they have had their first set of injections at 2 months then they are ok to go swimming as they have the immunity required. But if you were taking them abroad they would prefer you to have finished all 3 sets. The only reason some public baths stating that they must be 6 months is because when they use to give polio orally they were scared it could be excreted into the pool and people would catch polio, but this risk has now been eradicated now polio is given in the injection.

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pinkem · 17/08/2009 19:51

They used to advise you to wait until after their jabs, but they changed it about 3 years ago to letting them in when you want. As Seona1973 has pointed out the only thing to worry about is the temperature and how long you take her in the water for.

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Chunkamatic · 17/08/2009 19:53

I think the advice used to be from when they had had their imunisations etc etc, but that has now changed and you can take them as soon as you feel ready. As Seona says though, the temperature of the water will have an affect, and dont expect to be in the water much longer than 20mins for this reason, even in a warm pool.

Generally though I think very young babies enjoy the water, reminds them of the womb! So go for it, I always enjoyed being in the water with DS when he was little, still do now but he's alot harder to contain!!

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PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 17/08/2009 19:54

oooh so it might be possible. I shall cours wait and see, got a while yet! But we are booking somewhere and I am wondering whether I will get to use the pool!

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juuule · 17/08/2009 19:56

I'm sure you've thought of this, but you might still be having some bleeding from the birth at 4-6weeks.

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PavlovtheForgetfulCat · 17/08/2009 19:57

juule gosh no I had not even considered that far! Luckily we are not getting the place because of the pool, it just happens to be available, and there are other family members who will love using it including DD.

If baby is early, like DD was, I will more like 7wks, but I am not banking on it!

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Sidge · 17/08/2009 20:01

You don't have to wait for jabs at all, as said by the others.

However even a private heated pool may only be 32-33 degrees which is not that warm for a tiny baby, as you know they are really poor at maintaining their temperatures. You may find a 5 minute dip is all they can tolerate.

I didn't bother to take DDs 2 and 3 swimming for ages - I had learnt my lesson from DD1 . DDs 2 and 3 just 'swam' in the bath!