Hello!

At what age can babies start swimming (having a splash) in a chlorinated pool? DD is 15 weeks & we’d like to take her to a heated indoor pool..


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  • I remembered my first kids swimming teacher told me some parents bring their child in at six weeks old ! . I mainly worry about ear infections as it is so easy to get as a child . Maybe talk to your family doctor or nurse first and see what they think .


  • Pretty sure baby swimming lessons start at around 3-4 months of age. Best thing to do would be call the pool and ask. They may even have swimming lessons available


  • Yes I’m pretty sure that most places start lessons from 3-4 months old!


  • Check with your local pool if they have rules. I would say about 4 months would be safe. Make sure it’s nice and warm though!


  • I would start with splashing water over your baby during bathing. You need to be aware of the danger of your baby swallowing water and it going into her lungs. She may not show immediate problems. There has been warnings given and it can be serious, even fatal if not treated quickly enough. It is known as secondary drowning. If your daughter suddenly becomes lethargic and quickly develops a high temperature rush her to hospital urgently. You need to stress the urgency that she could have swallowed water down into her lungs as otherwise they may look for other problems first. Otherwise you may not get priority treatment if they are busy.


  • Depends on the pool rules, we started our daughter at 6 months, however there were younger babies in the other groups.


  • Swimming lessons start from 4mths due to the child’s immune system and they’ve had immunisations by this age. I would suggest apply the same principles to casual swimming in pools. My gp always tells me they are full of germs which is so something to remember


  • Yes. Most places start lessons from 3-4 months.


  • That’s fine, I think they usually start going in at 6 weeks


  • We were told at our local pool that they need to be 4 months old before being allowed in the pool. We went as soon as she turned 4 months and she loved it! I’d highly recommend as it’s a great activity for everyone.


  • I would say its different for each kid we started taking our kids when they could hold their heads up when doing tummy time and there necks wernt like floppy rag dolls. Its really your decision. Pools are a little like daycare centres where they can pick up bugs quite easily. Due to the hummid temp of the pools. When my son was young and doing the bubs swimming lessons we found he was sick every second week and missed his swimming lesson the only thing we could put it down to was the pool. We soon stopped his lessons till he had a better immune system.


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