Getting a baby familiar with water and letting him be in the water can be therapeutic and healthy for the child.
Their inbuilt swimming ability lasts for about a year, so they can retain and develop their swimming skills much better if they are familiar with the water before that. Generally, there is no age limit for babies to start their water and swimming journey, but it is recommended to wait until they reach six months of age.
You might be interested to learn about the right age of your child to bring him to the beach. If yes, please click here.
How to introduce pool to a baby?
You can start gradually by letting him enjoy himself in the bathtub or introducing water games. Once he is familiar with splashing water, enjoying his bath time with lots of bath toys and fun games, and familiar with water surroundings, you can bring him to private pools with controlled temperature water to prevent the baby from catching a cold.
Public pools have cold water and lots of contamination, even though the water might seem crystal clear. So it is best to avoid using public pools for the initial days. Let the baby get acquainted with a private pool that accommodates lesser people and has cleaner water, and then as the baby grows, you can introduce him to public pools as well.
When can a baby go in a pool?
Hannah Holt
For the initial acquaintance, you should only make the baby comfortable with his surroundings, let him explore, and get used to floating, gliding, and making natural moves. With age, he will gradually learn more skills. You have to be consistent and cautious during this activity.
What precautions should be taken while making a baby swim?
Some necessary precautions to be taken include:
- Adult supervision is necessary during the baby's entire stay in the pool. Furthermore, the adult should stay in shallow water and hold the baby if he is less than a year old. After that age, the adult should be at an arm's distance from the baby.
- The baby should use any floating tool in the pool to avoid drowning.
- The baby or a kid should never be left unattended in the pool, even for a few seconds, because this time is enough to drown a baby.
- Avoid public pools for babies and younger children, as they can result in several health issues.
- Keep the baby away from chlorinated pools to prevent inhaling or ingesting chlorine.
- Make sure the temperature of the pool is controlled and not cold.
- Keep safety and emergency equipment near the pool to deal with emergencies.
FAQs:
Q: What should a baby wear for going to the pool?
A: make sure the baby has pooed and peed before going into the pool, and make him wear swim panties and diapers to avoid any nasty accident. Pooing or peeing in the pool is disgusting and harmful for the baby and others.
Q: What to do with the baby after coming out of the pool?
A: The baby should be wrapped in a towel to keep him warm. Please give him a shower to wash off any chemicals or contaminants and then dry him up; apply moisturizing lotion to keep the skin hydrated and make him clothed.
Q: What to do in case of an emergency?
A: Babies and very sensitive and have very weak immunity. Great caution should be taken while the baby is in the pool. Keep an emergency kit ready near the pool for emergencies. A CPR-certified professional should be present near the pool to deal with emergencies. For severe emergencies, rush the baby to the nearest hospital.
