Swimming with your baby

Getting your baby used to water early in his life makes sense from a safety point of view. Swimming is also great fun and good exercise.

Here’s some advice on taking the plunge with your little one.

When can I start swimming with my baby?

It's best that you wait until six weeks after your baby's birth before you go swimming. If you go sooner, there’s a chance you could pick up an infection.

If you’ve had a caesarean section or a perineal tear, your child health nurse or doctor may recommend that you wait longer than six weeks, usually until after your postnatal check.

Even if you gave birth with no intervention or tears, you’ll experience some bleeding as your body gets rid of the lining of your womb after birth (lochia). It's normal to bleed for anything up to six weeks after birth, and it’s best not to use tampons during this time.

If you’re keen for your baby to be introduced to swimming before he’s six weeks old, your partner or someone else can take him.

Your baby can go swimming at any time from birth, although most baby swimming classes start at six months (Austswim nd). There's no need to wait until your baby is immunised (NHS 2016) before taking him to a pool.

If your baby is younger than six months old, only take him to a pool that's heated to about 32 degrees C. Big, public pools are too cold for young babies.

What will I need to take to go swimming with my baby?

Top of the list will be swim nappies. Accidents can happen, so take more than one. You'll also need to pack:

• The makings for a warm bottle of milk for after the swim if you’re bottle-feeding.
• A towel, preferably one with a hood, or a towelling dressing gown.
• A snack if your baby has started solids. Swimming makes babies hungry.
• A few of your baby's bath toys to encourage a relaxed and fun atmosphere.
• Changing mat and nappy bag.

How do I keep my baby safe in the water?

• Make sure the pool is warm enough (ROSPA 2015). If necessary, ask the pool attendants to check the temperature for you. Babies under six months need a temperature of about 32 degrees C. Make sure the water comes up to your baby's shoulders to keep him warm, and keep him moving in the water.
• As soon as your baby starts to shiver, get him out of the pool and wrap him up warmly. Babies lose heat more quickly than adults, so they shouldn't stay in the pool for too long (ROSPA 2015).
• Start off with sessions of 10 minutes and build up to 20 minutes. If your baby is under a year old, limit your time in the water to 30 minutes maximum.
• If your baby has a bad cold or a fever, or seems unwell, don't go swimming. He shouldn't swim with a tummy bug, and should stay out of the pool until he’s been clear of vomiting and diarrhoea for at least 48 hours.
• If your baby has a skin complaint, check with your GP to make sure that the chlorine won't irritate him (ASCIA 2015). Always rinse the chlorinated water off your baby after swimming. Apply a moisturiser or emollient all over his skin half an hour before swimming and then again afterwards, especially if he has dry skin or eczema (NES 2017).

How can I make my baby comfortable with swimming?

Start by getting your baby used to the water. Make bathtime fun. Gently splash water over his body or lie him on his back and move him gently through the water.

When you first visit a public pool, pick a time when it’s not too busy (ROSPA 2015). Phone ahead to find out if there’s pram access and changing tables. Ask a friend to come with you, or join a mum-and-baby session. If you feel relaxed and confident, your baby will too.

There are lots of things you can do to make swimming fun for your baby and help boost his confidence in the water:

• When you get in the pool, hold your baby close and keep eye contact with him.
• When you feel more confident, try extending your arms and swishing your baby around.
• Talk to him and praise him all the time.
• Let your baby splash and play with his bath toys. Throw one a few feet across the pool and "zoom" him through the water to retrieve it.
• Put your mouth under water and show your baby how to blow bubbles. This is an important lesson for him, as he can't inhale water if he’s blowing. If your baby is very young, blow a toy across the water and get him to blow it back or at least copy you blowing.
• When he can sit up, put him on the side of the pool and sing “Humpty Dumpty”. When you get to the line, "Humpty Dumpty had a great fall," lift him down into the water with a splash.
• Lay him on his back with his head resting on your shoulder. Encourage him to kick his legs.

I’m not confident in the water. Should I still take my baby swimming?

Even if you're not keen on being in the water, you can make sure your baby gets the benefits that come from learning to swim.

You could try going for a few swims on your own in your local pool before taking your baby with you. Or you could join a baby swimming class. This will boost your confidence as much as your baby’s, and is a great way to meet other parents.

Learning to enjoy the water with your baby will strengthen the bond between the two of you, as well as making you feel more positive about swimming.

What happens at baby swimming classes?

Baby swim classes are usually made up of a small group of parents and babies. The classes are usually arranged by ability. If you join a beginner's class, it will be everyone else’s first time, too.

Baby swim teachers aim to make their sessions relaxed and fun, and to encourage learning through play. Young babies are born able to do primitive swimming strokes. Your teacher will build on these natural reflexes until your little one is completely happy moving in and through the water.

Once the two of you are in the pool, hold your baby in a way that allows you to keep eye contact. Give him constant praise to build his confidence. Your support and encouragement help him feel safe and secure.

Once your baby is confident in the pool, your teacher may encourage your baby to try swimming underwater.

It’s natural for you to feel anxious the first time you and your baby try this. Rest assured babies have a natural affinity with water. Plus, your baby's inbuilt gag reflex is generally strongest up to six months old. This reflex allows him to hold his breath underwater without even thinking about it (Cluett and Burns 2009).

How do I find out about baby swimming lessons?

Ask whether your local pool does swimming classes or sessions for parents and babies. Or find an accredited swim centre on the Austswim websiteOpens a new window.

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