When Can Babies Swim? Right Age, Safety Tips, And Benefits

For those of you who love to swim, you may be keen to introduce your babies to the pool too. But, when can babies swim? What is the right age to train them to swim? If these thoughts are running in your mind, reading this post could help. With the plethora of health benefits that swimming offers, most parents like to teach this skill to their babies from an early age. However, you must be aware of some important facts and precautions before you plan to take your baby to the pool. Keep reading to know more about how and when to introduce swimming in babies.

When Can Babies Go Swimming?

The AAP states that swimming lessons can be indicated from one year of age. There is no evidence currently that early swimming lessons have a long term beneficial outcome on the prevention of drownings. However, in many places, aquatic classes or water safety classes are promoted from six months onwards.

At these classes, the parents are in the water with the infant. Some drowning prevention skills might be learned at these classes although that is no substitute for adult supervision at all times.

At six months, your child is no more a newborn and also has greater muscular dexterity like the ability to roll and sit without support (1). Considering the development, six months is usually an appropriate time to start aquatic classes.

Swimming would be not only fun but also beneficial to your baby.

What Are The Benefits Of Swimming For A Baby?

Here we list them:

1. Lower risk of drowning: Children aged one to four, who learned to swim as infants, displayed lesser susceptibility to drowning (2). It means that a baby feels more confident in water if he learns swimming earlier in life.

2. Better body balance and control: Swimming helps improve body balance and muscle control. It is perhaps due to the extensive use of muscles when swimming (3).

3. Promotes bone health: Swimming is said to improve bone health and strengthen joints, owing to the intensive body movement during the activity (4).

4. May benefit those with asthma: Swimming, like most exercises, may help children with asthma cope better (5).

5. Better cognitive and physical abilities: Children who start swimming early in life display advanced cognitive and physical abilities (6).

The benefits of swimming for an infant are debatable and do note that not all babies reap the same advantages. Also, most infants may benefit from swimming, only once they are older than 12 months.

Nevertheless, swimming can be an excellent pastime and exercise for a growing baby, provided you are selecting the right pool.

How To Choose The Right Swimming Pool For Your Baby?

Keep the following points in mind when choosing a swimming pool for the baby:

• The pool should be exclusive for infants. Pick a pool that is only for babies and not older kids. That reduces the risk of infection.

• They should have fresh water. Prefer pools that circulate and filter freshwater to the ones that use chlorinated water.

• Look for a well-shaded and ventilated facility. The swimming pool must have adequate ventilation and shade, yet be properly lit.

• Go for a shallow pool: You cannot hold your baby well if you are busy keeping yourself steady in the water. Exclusive baby pools must be shallow enough for an adult to stand comfortably with head above the water. The water level should preferably be up to the shoulder for an adult.

• Presence of lifeguards is a must. The facility must have a lifeguard who can help in the case of emergencies.

With these criteria, you are sure to choose the right pool for your baby but do not forget to pack all the things that the little one may need.

What To Carry In Your Baby’s Swim Bag?

A baby’s swimming bag should contain the following items:

1. Swim diapers: Conventional diapers will not work in the swimming pool. So, get a pack of swim diapers as they do not swell on contact with water and also have extra cuffs and elastic to prevent leakage when the baby is in water.

2. Water toys: These are water-proof, floating toys that keep the baby engaged when in the pool.

3. Towels: Pack adequate soft towels to wipe and wrap the baby in after he’s out of the pool. You can also consider using a baby bathrobe that your little one can wear immediately after coming out of the pool.

4. Feeding bottle and snacks: Your baby will be hungry after swimming. Carry a feeding bottle either with formula or expressed milk. You can also carry some snacks such as mashed bananas or fruit purée.

5. Extra clothes: Some additional clothing for after the swim.

If you are planning to take your baby to the pool regularly, then you may teach him to swim.

How To Teach A Baby To Swim?

Here are the different techniques to teach infants to swim and nurture their swimming reflexes (7):

1. Bouncing: Hold your baby in your arms and step into the pool. Get into the water slowly until the baby is halfway into the water. Allow the baby to feel the water. Gently bounce up and down with the baby in your arms.

2. Swaying: Hold the baby straight, and move him forward and backward in the water. It helps acquaint the infant with the sensation of moving in water.

3. Dipping: Hold the baby face to face, with one hand on the baby’s back and another on the chest. Gently blow some air on his face while you slowly dip the face underwater, and then, bring the baby back up to your chest immediately.

Blowing on the face triggers baby’s diving reflex and makes them close the mouth shut and hold their breath, to prevent them from gulping down water (8). Try this a couple of times more until the baby gets accustomed, and the diving reflex will initiate on its own.

4. Front dipping: Place the baby in your arms with its back to you. Gently move his head forward so that it dips in the water. Pull back immediately. Front dipping habituates the infant to come in contact with water face-first.

5. Floating: Place a hand on the baby’s chest and another under the legs and hold the baby horizontally with the belly touching the water. Gradually remove your hand to let the baby float. The baby is likely to move the hands and feet instinctively, to swim and stay above water. Keep your hand close to the baby as a safeguard.

6. Reverse floating: Repeat the same steps as with floating, but this time with the infant facing upwards and his back to the water.

7. Underwater scooting: Use both your arms to hold the baby in a horizontal position such that the head faces to the left, feet to the right and belly to the water. Now gently bring down the baby, in a sideways direction, into the water and pull him out after performing an arc-like or swoosh-like movement underwater. This technique will help the baby in getting used to the underwater action.

8. Free swimming: If the baby seems confident in the water, then you can try and leave him all by himself to explore. However, stay close to the baby to prevent accidents.

The objective here is to make the baby comfortable in water while also letting him enjoy. Although the above mentioned techniques can be done at home and have been used, it is still the safest and advisable to use a qualified swimming instructor to help guide you and your baby through the process.

Can Babies Swim On Their Own?

No. Babies cannot swim on their own. So they will need your support when in water.

Infants have a set of neonatal reflexes that make them comfortable in the pool, but these reflexes often disappear after 12 months (9) (10) (11). Babies aren’t physically developed to swim and cannot wade independently even if they spend a lot of time at the pool.

Teaching a baby to “swim” is all about acquainting them to being in the water and floating.

How Long Should The Baby Swim?

There is no set time, but the ideal duration is 15-20 minutes. Be watchful for signs of discomfort, such as shivering and fussiness. If your baby appears irritated, then get them out of the water right away.

Of course, you have to follow safety measures when the baby is in water.

How To Keep Your Baby Safe In The Pool?

Here is how you can ensure the baby’s safety when you take them for a swim.

1. Never leave your baby alone: According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants can drown in as little as two inches of water (12). Accidents of drowning are preventable through adult supervision. So, never leave your baby unattended in a swimming pool.

2. Avoid pools with intense chlorine odor: Experts state that if you can smell chlorine at a pool, then there is probably excess chlorine in the water. Chlorine can irritate baby’s nasal lining and eyes and should be avoided (13).

3. Keep electrical appliances away: Ensure that there are no potential hazards such as electrical devices near the pool or the tub that the baby is in.

4. Learn CPR: Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation is a first aid measure to revive someone who has stopped breathing due to suffocation (14). You can learn CPR from local support groups. If there is a lifeguard around at the swimming pool facility, then check if they know CPR.

To make swimming safe for a baby, pick a pool with clean water and supervise the baby when in the pool. At times, it is best to keep the baby away from swimming in any water body.

When Not To Let The Baby Swim

Avoid taking your baby for a swim in the following situations:

1. Diarrhea: If your baby has diarrhea, then do not take him to the pool (15). Even the best swim diapers do not guarantee protection against the transmission of pathogens into the water. This contaminates the pool for others.

2. Ear infection: Swimming for too long can increase the risk of an outer ear canal infection. The condition is called otitis externa or swimmer’s ear (16) (17). If the baby already suffers from an ear infection, then swimming may complicate the problem further.

3. Cough and cold: A runny nose and cough can contaminate the water. And the cold water can aggravate your baby’s problem. Going for a swim is certainly a bad idea when your baby has a cold.

4. Eye infection: Swimming with an eye infection can irritate the eyes, while also transmitting the pathogen to the others (18).

5. Asthma, eczema, and allergies: If your baby has asthma or other allergies, then consult a doctor before taking him for a swim. Chemicals, such as chlorine, in the pool can exacerbate the symptoms of these conditions. If your baby has eczema, then you need to take special care, such as applying petroleum jelly all over his body, before getting into the pool (19).

The general rule is that your baby should be completely healthy when you take him for a swim. If the baby is unwell, then wait till he recovers and is healthy.

Next, we answer a few commonly asked questions about swimming for babies.

If you still want to take your baby to a beach for a swim, then choose a protected one beach that is less polluted. Check with the lifeguard about the high and low tide timings for the day and the presence of any dangerous sea creatures around the shore.

Only waddle in shallow water and do not step deep into the ocean with your baby. After the swim, shower your baby with clean, fresh water to wash off the salt.

Swimming is an excellent exercise and can keep a baby healthy. But never leave the baby alone in a pool, for he cannot swim alone.

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Author

Rohit Garoo

 

Rohit Garoo is a writer-turned-editor with over 9 years of experience in content writing, editing, and content marketing. He did his bachelors in Science at St. Xavier's College, Hyderabad, and masters in Business Administration at Osmania University.

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