Baby and Swimming - what to take note of?

Created a thread on the above yesterday but disappeared somehow..anyway, we want to take our 11 week old swimming for the first time soon. What should we take note of and have ready - sun protection (are there sunblock lotions suitabel for his age), attire (just nappy or trunks/wetsuits), etc. Any advice will be helpful. Thanks!

I used Banana boat sunlotion for baby and little swimmer diaper for my son.

Washable baby swim nappy (better than disposables in my opinion, as you can reuse them like adult swimming costumes!)

Towel.

Sun hat if you have one.

Try to keep baby in the shade if possible.

Our baby cried for about 30 seconds, then loved it, and has loved it ever since - so have fun!

Wow, that's pretty young! A big blanket for laying on, baby sunglasses, big hat, layer with clothing that completely covers skin from sun. Late afternoon or evening swims or walks on the beach can avoid the sun issues. In a pool, you can also take a float toy that has a seat set inside styrofoam all around.

Hi,

According to a recent study I read in the French edition of "Parents", there is a strong correlation between asthma and bronchitisnand baby swimming in the pool, due to the chlorin they use to clean the water. It is even more the case in baby pools due to higher concentration of chlorin in shallow waters.

Hi Linece,


Thanks for your post. Did the article mention (or can anyone else advise) what would be a safe age to start swimming then? Because surely we have to expose babies to swimming eventually? Hubby and I go away for alot of beach holidays so wouldn't be too good if we've got a kid who's afraid of water :)

Hi Wheelymate my hubby and i are also beach/water people we took our bubs at 8weeks and she just loved it. We used the desposible "little swimmers" but the smallest size is 7kg so we used that and a little cossie over the top. We liked the disposible swimmers cause after her swim we could just tear them off and get her straight into a nappy as the swimmers do get soggy. We didn't use sun cream as it is not recommend for babies but went in the pool in the shade and used a peaked cap to keep the glear out of her eyes. We didn't and still haven't put her head under to protect her ears and mouth from the chorine. We swim her on her tummy put supporting her with our hand under her chin (her chin in the V of our fingers and thumb) we go together so one of us can stay in the water wither and the other get the towel ready by the edge of the pool when we've finished swimming. We wrap her up dry her off and take off the swimmers and put on a dry nappy. She is 12 weeks now and is already moving her legs and arms. She does grizzle for a few seconds at first but after that is actually laughing and cooing. We recently took her to Santosa Beach to swim in the sea did the same thing went in the shade but used the fresh water showers to get the sand and salt off her. Good luck and have fun!

The best way to prepare your baby for swimming is to allow the water from the bath and shower to go onto their faces - every day - even if they scream. (of course if you have shampoo in it then avoid the eyes)


I have taught many babes water confidence (I wouldn't call it swimming) and the ones who have the most trouble are those who have never had water splashed onto their faces - where mummy being so gentle wet towel wiped the precious faces.


Water confidence starts in the bath and shower - take the babe into the shower with you - holding them in a cuddle and put them under the spray - more than once - they will scream and cry - but if you want them to learn to swim later you have to be 'cruel' to be kind. Also teach them to 'blink' the water out of their eyes- do not swipe their faces with your hand or allow them to rub their eyes - water on the face is a good thing.


They have to get used to the sensation of water on the face before you can do anything. Also when you put them into the water - make sure you lay them on their back and let them 'float" - with you supporting just under the head, with the water coming up just under the chin - do not hold under the back - let them get used to the water holding them up - the earlier you start this , the better.


At about 2 months old you need to get the whole face under the water...working on the 1,2,3 breathe in technique.


Part of the skills a babe needs to learn is if he falls into the water, to turn onto the back, or to turn with faces under water and kick to the edge - it is possible to teach this but only if they do not panic when their faces go under the water.


If you use a flotation device make sure you take them out of it for 'free' time to get used to their own body holding them up.


http://www.babyworld.co.uk/information/baby/swimming/swimming_lessons.asp


I am available to 'teach' parents how to help their children become confident in the water if anyone is interested. I have extensive swimming teaching experience from the young babes to adults,(Australian Austwim Certificate / PE teacher) my own four children were able to swim well and confidently before they were 3 years old with no outside lessons.

Wheelymate to add to diamc4 we started taking bubs in the shower early on (2wks) but she enjoyed that right form the start and we do let the water spray a little on her face but as i said not really wanting to put her head under the water in the pool just yet incase or ear infections. And we didn't put her under at Sentosa either as the water isn't at all clean. Also bubs doesn't feel comfortable floating on her back so we didn't push it as we didn't wnt to put her off swimming.

My kids were in the water by 3 months, none of them have asthma. They've also been in the big bath since birth so got used early to lots of splashing. They could manage a width of swimming (rather unorthodox style) by around 3 1/2 years.

thanks for all the advice! actually, my husband had a shower with him yesterday just to see how he would react to water spraying on his face. thankfully he seemed ok with it!


i think i'll still take him swimming soon, keeping in mind not to dunk his head underwater (think splashing him will be a good start, don't want to shock him) and keep him shaded...will need to hunt for some swimming nappies!

Hi,

The article about the high connection between bronchiolitis/bronchitis - asthma and early swimming in the pool saif that when the child is 7 years of age, the lungs are fully developed and the risk significantly reduced. However it would be a shame for our children not to enjoy swimming until that age, isn't it...

What they said is that it was best to:

- swim in the sea opposed to swim in the pool,

- if swimming in the pool, then better to swim in the adults basin opposed to the baby pool (because the sweat/urine secreted by a higher concentration of babies in the water is combined with the chlorin and generates sub-products such as chloramin which is the toxic stuff, and cholramin is up to 50% higher in baby pools than in adults pools)

- choose a well-ventilated premises


The study, done on 340 little children in Brussels showed that 11% have asthma included 24% of former baby swimmers; 37% have recurrent bronchitis against 60% among former baby swimmers.