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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

What is the earliest that you can take your baby swimming?

17 replies

beth2440 · 16/01/2012 12:53

Anyone have any advice on how early you can go swimming with your baby? I'm thinking that the chlorine in there can't be good for delicate skin?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Seona1973 · 16/01/2012 12:57

I dont think there is a minimum age but be aware they can get cold quickly so dont stay in too long (10-15 mins probably to start with)

KatAndKit · 16/01/2012 13:00

I presume you can't go swimming yourself for the first six weeks or at least while you are still bleeding, so unless you get your partner to take the baby in, you'd probably be looking at a couple of months old realistically.

Original poster

beth2440 · 16/01/2012 13:02

True never thought of that - I actually was hoping to take bump swimming at about 10-12 weeks so I should be fine by the sounds of it.

OP posts:

Oeisha · 16/01/2012 13:05

Just thought you might like to see this link.

BrandyAlexander · 16/01/2012 13:10

Took both of mine weekly from 4 months after all their jabs. Both hae been fine. Suggest lots of aqueous cream afterwards and make sure you shower them off properly however tempting it is to run for the changing rooms!

Bonsoir · 16/01/2012 13:12

No, the chlorine in public swimming baths is not good for babies; and even despite the chlorine etc public swimming baths are full of germs and not a good place for little ones.

However, if you have friends with their own pool, go for it!

Original poster

beth2440 · 16/01/2012 13:13

Great link thanks. Thanks for the info, I am very keen to go swimming on our centre parcs holiday bump will be about 12-14 weeks (not booked yet).

OP posts:

Fuzzywood · 16/01/2012 13:13

I took both of mine from around 7/8 weeks old. Apparently some places do/ used to insist they had had their first set of jabs before taking them but the NHS website states its fine to take them before this as chlorine kills pretty much all of the things vaccinated against. As said above just make sure you dry them properly and apply cream in necessary. Personally I think the earlier the better as they get used to the water really quickly which helps when they are starting to learn to swim.

GlaikitFizzog · 16/01/2012 13:16

Our pool have a 12 week rule or after the second set of injections. We took DS at 14 weeks. I second using the shower to rinse most of the chlorine off and lots of moisturiser. Best bit is they sleep for ages afterwards!!

melliebobs · 16/01/2012 13:36

Where I live there is a centre where ucan take them as soon as you like. However they for cold quick so you may only be in 10 mins or so.

The other pool near me they have to have had their first lot of jabs. Whenever they are

OneOf8 · 16/01/2012 14:12

Hi I took my son from 2 months.

I am a qualified swim teacher and on the refresher/seminar (about 3/4 years ago?) for working with babies, the advice from the session trainer was as soon as they could support their own head babies were ok to start swimming. Obviously advice changes, but at the time "there is no right answer" (or so she said) - so mainly down to when you feel able.

We kept it to minutes (5-10) for the first few visits, and done these over the course of 1 week. We then went weekly and increased the time in the water slowly and made sure he did not get cold - taking him out when he was still happy splashing etc. so some weeks he was in there longer than others.

Once you are home, a bath or shower will remove any chlorine still on the skin. We use emulsifying (sp) ointment - similar to aqueous cream - can be used like soap to clean and moisturises at the same time.

NotJustKangaskhan · 16/01/2012 14:20

Make sure to have a non-swimmer on stand-by to hold DC in case s/he doesn't react well to the water so they can be taken care of quickly. My DD2 had a very bad reaction to the chlorine/cleaning chemicals (she screamed, DH lifted her out of the water and you could see the red rash spreading), and having him able to go right away to wash and cream her thoroughly helped reduce the inflammation (and guilt...). Also, as Seona said, babies get cold quickly so if you want to swim you may want to go on your own and have baby join you later or have baby at the start, have them towelled up soon after while you go for a swim. Check the rules of the place your going as they are all different.

hearth · 16/01/2012 14:22

First thing in a morning after the pool has opened.

whostolemyname · 16/01/2012 17:47

Waterbabies and other formal swim classes accept babies from birth. We go to waterbabies and its in a warm water pool. We love it!

hippieshake · 16/01/2012 22:07

My mum is a swimming teacher and she does a 'mums and tots' class, the youngest there is 6 weeks. x

babybouncer · 16/01/2012 22:23

I started classes with my LO at about 9 weeks - it was in a warm pool (bath temperature) because the main issue is with them getting cold.

thistlemuncher · 17/01/2012 08:09

We were told (by the paediatrician) 6 months as there is a high risk of ear infection especially if it's cold outside. I don't know if this is because he was a winter baby and it gets very cold here (-10 today), I didn't ask. So we waited until the summer.

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