Infant Swimming Safety

Infants can enroll in swimming lessons as early as six months of age.

Swimming tones muscles, promotes relaxation and exercises joints. Infants can begin swimming lessons as young as six months old, which is a benefit as most babies love being in the water. Encouraging a child to enjoy the water can promote their feeling of safety in a pool or body of water. However, there are certain guidelines to follow to ensure the safety of your infant while in the water.

Considerations

Before attempting swimming lessons, parents should promote a feeling of safety in water. According to Dr. William Sears, "In the early months you should encourage your baby to get comfortable in water and have fun with it." Parents can start by bathing with an infant, using small tub toys and squirters. Nursing in warm bath water while snuggled against the mother's chest, or using a wash cloth to gently trickle water of the face and head are "tricks" that can be done to quell any fear the infant may have. Infants best benefit from frequent exposure to water for small periods of time. An infant can be ready for the transition from tub to pool as early as two months of age.

After researching instructors, a baby as young as six months may be ready for swimming lessons. Parents should take part in the lessons, and not just stand on the sidelines. If the baby has been introduced to water, he is more likely to succeed in his lessons.

Temperature Safety

Infants and children under five have skin that is thinner and more sensitive than that of an adult's. KidsHealth warns, "Just three seconds of exposure to hot tap water that's 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) can give a child a third-degree burn."

Keeping the thermostat on a house's water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celcius) will reduce the risk of scalding when practicing in the tub. Special thermometers can be purchased to measure the temperature of bath water. The water should always be tested by the wrist or elbow before exposing the child to it.

The danger of hypothermia increases when water below 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius) is introduced. This can cause infants to lose body heat rapidly. If a baby has blue lips or is shivering, she should be immediately taken from the water, dried and wrapped in a towel.

Skin Safety

Although babies need clean water, heavily chlorinated water should be avoided. If the chemicals can be detected by smell, they are too strong for an infant's skin. Ozone filters provide clean water without posing risk to skin sensitivities in babies. When introducing the infant to water in a bathtub setting, use only tear-free soaps made specifically for babies. After a swim, wash your infant's skin gently and thoroughly.

Sanitation

Infants are susceptible to diseases in pool water, as well as spread disease to other infants. Cryptosporidium is a parasite that lives in the digestive tract and is found in fecal matter. Infants who swallow the parasite can experience dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea and potential related weight loss. It can be spread into the water by leaking diapers.

When swimming in a public pool, only waterproof diapers should be used. They should be changed often, away from the pool, and the infant should be washed well during each change. Any baby with diarrhea should be kept out of a pool for the duration of the illness, as well as an additional two weeks.

Drinking Water

Infants can consume water while in the pool. This should be avoided. Babies who drink too much water can have adverse effects on their body chemistry. Swallowing water should be discouraged.

Risks

Drowning is a serious danger, but not the only risk when swimming with an infant. Swimming exposes an infant to an infection commonly called Swimmers Ear, caused by water trapped within the ear canal. Babies should have their ears thoroughly and carefully dried with a cotton swab after swimming.

Constant supervision is required when swimming with an infant. Although an infant may be able to swim a few seconds between two adults, they won't be ready to swim on their own. KidsHealth also states that it only takes two inches (six centimeters) of water for an infant to drown. Encouraging water play is important (KidsHealth also recommends all children know how to swim by the age of four), however, a baby who likes water can find trouble in unexpected places. Sinks, toilets, ponds, fountains, and even small inflatable pools pose risks if proper precautions aren't taken.

References

• Parenting.com: Too Young for the Pool
• Kids Health: Water Safety