38 votes
Accepted

When is it OK to take a newborn swimming?

Most sources will state no sooner than 6 months, but it kind of depends on the baby's size. Infants are notoriously poor at regulating body temperature when it comes to environment. They can't ...
anongoodnurse's user avatar
10 votes

When is it OK to take a newborn swimming?

If your child's doctor agrees, then whenever you are ready. I was an infant, 3 months, I think. My parents took me to the YMCA in Montreal in the 1950s. Supposedly, I learned to swim then and there. ...
WRX's user avatar
  • 17.4k
10 votes

When is it OK to take a newborn swimming?

Most of the baby-swimming classes in the UK will take them from birth (or sometimes as soon as they've had their first round of vaccinations). We started at 8 weeks, a few babies in the class were a ...
Chris H's user avatar
  • 291
5 votes

When is it OK to take a newborn swimming?

Here's some other tips not mentioned above. Here in Denmark we also have baby-swimming from 2 months of age, in specially heated pools, both in separate facilities and in public pools. I have had ...
hlynbech's user avatar
  • 151
5 votes

When is it OK to take a newborn swimming?

Another point not addressed in existing answers: There is some indication that exposure to chlorinated water may increase the risk of asthma. German authories recommend avoiding chlorinated water for ...
sleske's user avatar
  • 2,768
4 votes

How to encourage a child to learn to swim instead of playing at pool?

I made the experience that it is easiest to get children to focus by giving them a goal they want to achieve. I taught my niece (6years at that time) in a small local pool where the depth of the ...
Pudora's user avatar
  • 1,388
3 votes

When is it OK to take a newborn swimming?

I think in a lot of countries it's pretty normal to do it very early, unlike in the US. A co-worker of mine from Europe said they swim early, even dunking their kids at just a couple of weeks. In Asia,...
Travis Reeder's user avatar
3 votes

How to encourage a child to learn to swim instead of playing at pool?

In swim classes kids start to actually learn about age 4. Before that is mostly group fun and play and just getting water sense and comfort. Your son is 5, just one year off of average learning age ...
người Sàigòn's user avatar
3 votes

At what age should children start taking swimming lessons?

They benefit starting at an early age by having water be a natural part of their life. If water / water sports / boating etc is a big part of your life, having them comfortable with water is a good ...
Michael Broughton's user avatar
2 votes

When is it OK to take a newborn swimming?

Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation writes that 3 months and at least 5kg of bodyweight is their requirement. The weight limit is said to be set so that baby can keep the body ...
Mer's user avatar
  • 21
2 votes

When is it OK to take a newborn swimming?

We took our daughter from 3 months. I would say after your baby's 6 week check with the doctor. We went to special swimming lessons for young babies in a specially heated pool (private). The pool is ...
Ashley Brookes's user avatar
2 votes

Is a swim spa safe for a 5-year-old?

A swim spa will be interesting for kids maybe first 5-10 min. Water jets are not powerful but simply too boring after some time. Kids need space to swim. Any kind of swimming pool or swim spa in ...
nzambi's user avatar
  • 180
1 vote

Is a swim spa safe for a 5-year-old?

A hot tub is not a great place to learn to swim. It doesn't provide enough room for a person to learn the maneuvers and you generally don't want to teach someone to swim in moving water anyway. If ...
I wrestled a bear once.'s user avatar
1 vote

At what age should children start taking swimming lessons?

Apparently, there are two other things to consider: Babies that are young enough will have a reflex that prevents them from swallowing or breathing water so they can be exposed and submerged without ...
Fix.B.'s user avatar
  • 343
1 vote

At what age should children start taking swimming lessons?

My kids have both had/have 1-on-1 lessons with a good swimming teacher, who would not start teaching them until their 4th birthday when he considered they had the strength to be able to swim unaided. ...
Jamiec's user avatar
  • 345

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