Can Poor Swimming in Swimming Pool Cause Infections and Cold in a Preschooler?

I am a swim instructor. It's quite possible at your son's first swim class that he swallowed a lot of water. That may have been why he vomited, the chemicals may have bothered his stomach. However, I'd bet he was exhausted, got worked up and then threw up. Learning to swim can be exhausting. Esp if you're scared and swallowing water.

As a mother I'd tell you his colds, sore throats, etc. are more likely due to having an immature immune system. MOST preschool aged children are first experiencing school (lots of other kids for a prolonged period of time), bad hygiene skills (picking nose, sucking fingers, coughing and sneezing all over, not good at hand washing), AND have a system that has been unexposed to a lot of the germs/virsuses out there so their bodies don't yet know how to fight them off.

Welcome to having a preschooler!

Now is the time to emphasize HAND WASHING, covering your cough/sneeze, keeping hands/fingers away from your face, changing clothes when you get home from school, staying off the floor/keeping shoes in the garage, etc.

It sounds like your son is a "normal" 3 yr old. Don't blame swimming.

y.

It's cold season.
He is likely getting sick because of that.
I've never heard of someone getting sick because they were a poor swimmer. Infact my daughter was in the water all this past summer and the summer before and she was never sick. If he is walking around with a wet head in the cold that might contribute.

It may be that he is swallowing a lot of water and if so, that could make him vomit. However, I would not think swimming would be the root of colds or sore throat if the pool is clean -- or at least has a lot of chlorine. If he was getting outer ear infections, then I would think it might be the pool. Of course, if he is chilled for a long time every time he comes out of the water, that could contribute to colds. Beyond this, though, when I took my kids to swimming class at that age at the YMCA, their methods of teaching swimming made it so the kids did NOT swallow a lot of water or get scared at the pool. If he is swallowing a lot of water at swimming class, then I might look for another swimming class or instructor.

I would suggest taking him to the doctor to have him checked for asthma and allergies. Is he swimming indoors? My son will start coughing when at an indoor pool if there is a strong chlorine smell. He has sports induced asthma which produces coughing which can lead to vomiting if it does not get under control.

Yes he probably swallowed some water. To work on that practice with him in the bath tub about holding his breath and keeping his mouth closed under water.

Its possible that all of the chlorine in the pool is causing him sinus issues. I know that our indoor pool has a ton of cholorine and my nose starts burning/running every time!

Also be watchful for ear infections. Getting water stuck in your ears, and not getting it out can cause ear infections. It used to happen to me ALL the time.
M.