Is swimming safe?

[november90]

I really want to take my little boy swimming. He turns 4 in jan and I was planning on swimming lessons this year which have obviously own not happened. I'm a bit nervous now taking him in a pool but it's such an important life lesson for him to learn and hair will help with his confidence loads. I'm just not sure I feel safe.... but at the same time I can't wait until he's 5/6 etc.....

Why can't you wait? Why not try it and see how you feel? Lots of pools are operating differently so you can find one that works for you.

My kids both love swimming . My eldest is 7 and has gained a lot from swimming lessons. She has been gutted they've been cancelled in our area. I'd planned to start the youngest (4) in lessons this year but this is on hold for the moment.

I have been taking them both to a nearby pool so they remain used to being in water. We go pool ready (long hooded towels are great for this!) and after swimming, I put their towels on and we head straight home for a shower.

We have to book in advance and the pool never feels overcrowded. I'm pretty happy with the covid measures they've put in place.

If you have a local FB group, might be worth asking how other people are finding your local pool.

My son started back yesterday at his lessons, all happy here. They've shut the pool to other swimmers, 2 lessons at a time in the large pool, opposite sides, have to come pool ready, 10 minutes after to change, no showers open. Adults must wear a mask inside and go in one way, out the other
If you want to start why don't you check out the pool you would go to and see what measures are put in place

Thanks for the replies everyone :)
I suppose I can wait but I don't want to put off him feeling confident in the water and learning to swim. I learnt to swim at around his age and it was a massive part of my childhood! I don't want this stupid virus taking even more for Nike.

I contact the pool and they're not considering new kids for lessons until nov and as far as public swim you have to book in advanced.

Is the water safe though? Would the chlorine kill the virus if someone was infected? I hope that doesn't sound stupid 🙈

my DD did waterbabies for 2 years till age 2, then hated it (she'd scream the whole way through the lesson) so much we stopped completely, and she barely went in the water for three years. Maybe one trip to the pool every few months?

We didn't get her doing swimming lessons till 6 as I was too disorganised, but she suffered no confidence issues and she was able to swim well by age 8 (i.e. easily swim a length front crawl with good technique and breathing). So I don't think there will be any harm if he starts in a year. If your DS turns 4 in Jan 2021 then I'd say he's too young to worry about it.

Having said that, DC are not very vulnerable to Covid-19 infections, and the chlorine in the pool almost certainly kills off any bugs, and most leisure centres have got really good measures in place, so it's very very safe.

Our swimming lessons are restarting this week, but because of social distancing, the newbies classes aren't included.

For beginners there are usually instructors in the pool with them, holding their hands etc, and that isn't allowed at the moment.

You might have to wait a while.

My sons have started back lessons- they’re really quiet BUT for the group classes with the younger ones the teacher can no longer get in the pool so a parent/ guardian has to just in case.

It’s the one activity that we were really pleased started back.

I am under the impression chlorine kills Covid.

Do some research online, check your local pools and weigh up the pros and cons to as much as you feel comfortable.

Ours are back in their lessons, not a family swim yet, and will continue to go until they can't.

I would happily go back in a pool we were able to family swim in the summer on holiday and we didn't get ill and everyone was much more relaxed there.

A number of scientists and doctors (Dr Bharat Pankhania is one who springs to mind) have said that the chlorine kills the virus in the water.

At my pool (council run) I have to book our session in advance - they usually give us an hour. When DD and I arrive we’re given a number for our cubicle and locker and we’re to only use that number. At end of the session the whole changing area and toilets are cleaned ready for the next session. I also take a hand gel which we use once we’ve left the building before getting in the car.

I think there was a risk chart somewhere that showed outdoor pools were low/moderate risk and indoor pools were moderate/high risk.

I think the chemicals in the water take care of many of the germs in the water. Chlorine definitely kills coronavirus, but I am not sure whether swimming pool water contains chlorine at an adequate concentration.

The air inside the pool area is where the virus will linger and that is why open-air pools are much safer. Plus don't go in any changing areas or loos, as pp said turn up in your swimming costumes and go home in them. Having said that, it depends on how much virus there is in your area.

I've been back swimming for the last 5 weeks. I don't think the risks are high and even if I breathe something in, I tend to swallow half the pool when I am swimming, so assume that the chorinated water will kill anything I've breathed in.

Swimming pools are full of sorts of nasties, you can't think about it too much, but to my knowledge I've never picked up anything more serious than a verruca from one.

Is your local pool allowing children?

I think you could wait a bit, my son didn't start learning until he was 5.5 and he still swims once a week now, and he's nearly 18. But I don't think you need to.

We’ve just started back to swimming lessons and we have told hold any equipment we use under the water for 20 seconds before Using it to kill the virus

My DCs are back at their lessons.
Encouraging arriving swim ready to minimise use of changing areas.
No showers to reduce time inside and this space is used to space the waiting areas between lessons.
Parents wait in the main spectating zone which has spaced out seating.
Use of one ways and multiple entrance/ exit points.
Have to wait outside between lessons.

Our lessons are currently frozen as they establish where the children are at and the class capacities. Frustrating for me as they are both on 100% awaiting their next class and have retained their form, and stuck into badly timed classes, particularly with the temporary sessions. Especially for DS1 who has been ready since January and was confidently swimming multiple lengths and is now stuck at swimming 10m for social distancing.

But yes, I feel that it is "safe" to go as in the benefits far outweigh the risks of catching any kind of illness in the pool or changing areas.

I've been swimming four times a week since they reopened. Changing room and showers open as usual. Most pools have restricted numbers and you have to book a slot. I always feel very safe.

Our lessons are currently frozen as they establish where the children are at and the class capacities. Frustrating for me as they are both on 100% awaiting their next class and have retained their form, and stuck into badly timed classes, particularly with the temporary sessions. Especially for DS1 who has been ready since January and was confidently swimming multiple lengths and is now stuck at swimming 10m for social distancing.

Same here. My DD was ready to move up in Jan but no space in next class, so she stayed put hoping to move up at Easter. She went back in the summer holidays to her original class, then when we went to book for September the next class up still had no space due to social distancing. I’ve decided to stop her lessons for now as she not progressing in the original class, but she’s on the waiting list for next class up and I take her myself as and when I can - not ideal but this year has been far from ideal.

@Deelish75

Our lessons are currently frozen as they establish where the children are at and the class capacities. Frustrating for me as they are both on 100% awaiting their next class and have retained their form, and stuck into badly timed classes, particularly with the temporary sessions. Especially for DS1 who has been ready since January and was confidently swimming multiple lengths and is now stuck at swimming 10m for social distancing.

Same here. My DD was ready to move up in Jan but no space in next class, so she stayed put hoping to move up at Easter. She went back in the summer holidays to her original class, then when we went to book for September the next class up still had no space due to social distancing. I’ve decided to stop her lessons for now as she not progressing in the original class, but she’s on the waiting list for next class up and I take her myself as and when I can - not ideal but this year has been far from ideal.

I'm sucking it up as some swimming is better than no swimming. Long term it's a good pool as it has a proper deep end which is good for him to get used to.

The DCs are happy to be back too. Overall it overrides the faff.

I'm sucking it up as some swimming is better than no swimming. Long term it's a good pool as it has a proper deep end which is good for him to get used to.

It’s a pain when you’ve found something that works but you can’t get it to keep working. Hopefully your DS won’t have to wait too long to move up and hoping my DD isn’t stuck on the waiting list for too long.