Swimming lessons at 6 months? Chlorinated pool?

[helkel]

I live in Australia and I am considering putting my daughter in baby swimming lessons.. the classes I'm looking at are just gentle exposure to being in the water, with the parent. I'd like her to learn to swim and be comfortable in water early, which is why I'm considering this. Just wondering if 6 months is TOO young. We're only planning to start solids around 6 months. Also, this would be a chlorinated pool and I'm wondering whether that would be too harsh on her skin.. any insight would be much appreciated! x

 

[linda73]

@helkel Hi also Australian. I think it’s a difficult balance here of weighing the risks vs the benefits and it’s very much about your particular culture and how frequently your kid is likely to be near a pool/beach.

One on hand, starting swimming at 6 months gives the baby a chance to adjust to the water and learn the basics like “don’t breathe in under water” and build confidence.

This study suggests than swimming lessons over 1 are associated with an 88% reduction in the risk of drowning. (No data on under 1).

On the other hand According to a this study, exposure to the chlorine used in swimming pools during infancy can lead to an increase in risk of bronchiolitis.

I know early swimming lessons are pushed hard here because swimming is often such a strong part of our culture. But I think if you are not likely to have kids near water (like you/your family don’t have a pool, you don’t live near a beach) there’s no dramatic loss in waiting.

 

[anndryperez]

@linda73 Our son has "reactive airways" and is currently treated with corticosteroids to control this. Our doctor told us to stop swimming for the time being due to the increased risk of bronchiolitis.

 

[satemplet41]

@helkel Started swimming lessons when baby was 2 months, he's now 10 months and very comfortable in the water. He's beginning to learn how to turn onto his back and hold on to the bar at the side.

He's never reacted to the chlorine but we do go to a pool which is specialised for kids so possibly the chlorine level is lower?

 

[chrisfromcuba]

@satemplet41 We go to a kids specific pool, and the crank the chlorine up to 11 lol. They actually did a PH test recently, and we came to find out that the water had too much P and not enough H.

 

[anndryperez]

@chrisfromcuba Sorry, pH stands for potential of Hydrogen so wether a liquid is acid (less than 7) or a base (more than 7). Normally a pool should be between 7.2 and 7.8 (slightly alkaline)

Not sure what you mean by too much P and not enough H

 

[betterdays]

@anndryperez Too much pee not enough hydrogen

 

[anndryperez]

@betterdays Lol... Walked into that one

 

[chrisfromcuba]

@betterdays Lmao that’s it

 

[oppmuntre]

@helkel As far as the chlorine goes, every child in Northern Europe learns to swim in a chlorinated pool or they don’t learn, as outdoor pools just aren’t a thing here (too cold for the majority of the year for adults, never mind kids). Just to give you that frame of reference.

 

[mss91z28]

@helkel The American Academy of Pediatrics says there’s a benefit to swim lessons for children 1-4 to prevent drowning, but no benefit under 1. However they also say there’s no harm in it, and it can be a fun bonding activity. I asked my pediatrician awhile back about it and she said she didn’t recommend chlorine pools until 6 mo, but no problem after that. We’re doing swim lessons with baby starting when she’s between 6-7 months (in just a few weeks!)

 

[jesuisroyal]

@helkel I taught lessons on an island and am moving to an island with my baby soon. 6 months is when we would offer lessons where I worked and I plan on getting in the pool and working with my daughter at 3 months! We spend a lot of time near and around water so I want her comfortable with it.

I always recommend getting children used to the water as early as possible and baby lessons are a good way to get them used to things like breath holding.

 

[thaonhipili123]

@helkel Queenslander here. All the swim centres around us offer baby splash sessions from 3 months due to the amount of pools in the state.

It is not recommended for babies head to go under water until after 6 months especially if chlorine, but general exposure is considered safe when given a wash following their swim.

 

[laura21]

@thaonhipili123 My baby had really bad eczema but as long as we rinsed off after swimming lessons he was all good!

 

[jenndiver09]

@thaonhipili123 “Especially if chlorine”

Are bromine pools common there? Or what else are you using instead of chlorine?

 

[thaonhipili123]

@jenndiver09 Most pools that I know of are salt water which is deemed safe for infants.

 

[jenndiver09]

@thaonhipili123 That’s chlorine, salt water pools are chlorine

 

[thaonhipili123]

@jenndiver09 Apparently not the same thing here in Australia.

 

[jenndiver09]

@thaonhipili123 It is, saltwater pools use electrolysis to get chlorine gas from the salt

 

[satan1568]

@helkel Started swimming classes at 5m, went ok for a while just speaking in the pool with parents and getting used to it. At some point around 1yo he started getting really cold and hating the pool. We had to cancel classes cause it was just miserable for everyone.

Started going back to the splash pad in the summer. At 3 1/2 he's now confident enough to swim with floaties on but not without.

Teaching kids anything is a non linear journey. Do what makes sense for you and your family