2007-06-04 15:56:25 · 5 answers · asked by Do It All 1 in Sports ➔ Swimming & Diving
I've had both my kids in the pool as early as 3 months. I think it's less a matter of chlorine than it is sun exposure.
I also have my own pool. I'd wait longer to visit a public pool (my kids got diarhea after visiting public pools). I think the first time we put them in a public pool, they were about 6 or 7 months old.
2007-06-04 16:07:35 · answer #1 · answered by ChickPilot 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Exposure to pool water should be avoided until the umbilical cord heals and the scab falls off to avoid infection. After that, you're home free for parent-child swim lessons. The chlorine won't affect an infant any more than it affects an adult so that's not a concern. As for actually being able to swim, some babies can float and stay above water by 18 months. It depends on motorskill development, comfort in the water and exposure to the necessary skills to keep them up. Moving and "swimming" usually come about in the toddler years, 24 months and beyond as the child becomes more aware of his or her limbs and motoskills develop. By age two and a half some toddlers can swim like fish! The earlier you start your chlid in classes or start developing their comfort and skills in the water, the sooner your child will be swimming on his or her own. Your local YMCA or swim club probably offers parent-child swim classes, these are a great place to get your baby sued to being in the water and socializing as well as developing skills that will be used later in swimming. Most classes require a child to be at least 3 months old. However, you can take the kid in the pool with you any time you want as soon as the bellybutton heals. Just be careful, encouraging and enjoy it. Babies and water can be so much fun!!!
Good luck
2007-06-05 03:18:15 · answer #2 · answered by Kristy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd say wait til they are good at holding their head up during tummy time. After that should be cool. As long as the baby isn't stuck with their face in the water.
2007-06-04 16:00:58 · answer #3 · answered by ladytaurus83 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I've heard that all humans are born with the instinct to "swim" (in other words use their arms and legs to move around in the water) but we lose that instinct after 4 months of age.
As for the rest of your question~ it's best to wait until the baby is one year old.
2007-06-04 16:08:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Babies can learn to swim at one day old. He's been swimming in the placenta for nine months.
2007-06-04 17:46:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋