Is It Okay for a 3 Month Old to Go in a Pool?

We were in my grandparents pool from a couple of weeks old onward, and I had kiddo in the pool (a different one) from a couple of months old. I was actually swimming several months before I took my first steps (not underwater... my mum didn't believe in using the morrow reflex to teach infants to swim underwater. Not that she didn't believe in the reflex, she just thought it was too risky).

A number of safety things have to happen. Like watching for hypothermia (babies don't shiver, they have "brown fat" -aka vascularized- to keep them warm until the can shiver, so you have to watch for subtler signs). And you ALWAYS have to have 2 hands on them (don't use floaties at this age). And you need to go in slowly, so you don't shock them. AND not stay in for too long (as in try for 5 or 10 minutes tops, unless the pool is heated). But unless she's allergic to chlorine, or the pool is icy, you should be fine.

Most medical websites do not advise introducing a child under the age of 6 months to water that is below the child's body temperature. This is because under the age of 6 months, a child cannot generate its own body heat nor regulate its temperature. Hence, as the body loses heat in water, the infant can't replace its own body heat... so hypothermia in water is a significant risk.

Oh, there are so many mixed theories on this!

Consider the temp of the water. Babies get hypothermic very easily. See how baby reacts when you dip the toes in a few times...do not push it, if baby doesn't like it, then stop . keep baby's head out of the water for now. Wash any part of baby that is in the pool with what you regularly bathe baby in to wash away the chlorine. Then, apply lotion.

I would limit sun exposure, rather than use sunblock. If you are still uncertain, call your pediatrician.

I'd probably just dip the toes to the knees in not the whole baby.

In general, why expose a child to an eye-irritant like chlorine ? I would not.

SunScreen:You can find it at walmart. I got one for my son last weekend.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=1032...;

J.
www.PhotosBySri.com

When my son was just about old enough to sit without much help, I got a little oblong wash tub from the hardware store. I'd take it out on the deck, fill it half way with warm water and I sat on a towel to hold him while he splashed and had fun with a rubber ducky (with another towel ready to wrap him up). It was warm and sunny, but we were in the shade and he loved it! I'd be more afraid of the baby slipping out of my hands in a pool. They are so slippery and wiggly when wet. There are ways he can play with water without being in a pool.

I began taking my son swimming around 4 months old. He loved it from the very beginning, but he could only tolerate the (quite warm) water for about 10 minutes. I think it's a personal decision about the chlorine, but it will also depend if you think your child will actually enjoy it or is too young to care.

Sunscreens are not recommended for children under 6 months. Instead, you need to keep your son out of the sun. However, if your son does have to be exposed to the sun, I recommend Badger brand sunscreen, which has been given a "hazard rating" of 1/10 by the Environmental Working Group (http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/) for chemical and environmental toxins. Even though it is for 6+ months, at least you know the chemicals in it are not going to poison your baby!

yes it's fine. I started taking my daughter swimming when she was 8 weeks old.

Well your not supposed to put sunscreen on babies under 6 months. That's why you can't find any. As for baby in the pool. It's fine for a short period of time. last summer my oldest was 2 1/2 and my baby was around 3 or 4 months when we started going in the pool. I just put a hat on her swim diaper and bathing suit. I would sit by the pool with an umbrella to keep shade on my little one while my 2 1/2 year old was on the pool steps. Then when we started to get too warm we would get in the pool for like 10 or 15 mins. Then out and back under the shade. It worked out great and she never got sun burned or had any reaction to the chlorine. Some kids do get a little irritation on their skin from it. So everytime my kids were done at that pool they went right in the tub to wash off the chlorine. So really I think as long as your not in there with her for too long its fine.

For the sunscreen issue, I would recommend getting a GOOD swim diaper (not disposable) and a body suit with sun protection and a hat with a flap on back.

I asked my Ped at our 4 month check up about the pool and sunscreen. She said it was fine to take her to the pool just rinse her off afterwards to get the chlorine off her skin. She also said that if you are in the pool for 20 minutes are so to go without sunscreen...there is nothing really wrong with putting sunscreen on a baby under 6 months (it's better than them burning) but if you are only out in the sun for a short amount of time just go without and use a hat. The reason they say not to put sunscreen on an infant under 6 months is that their skin is sensitive and you run a higher chance of them having a reaction to the sunscreen. We are taking our 4 month old to the pool this weekend and since it is so hot outside I am going to put sunscreen on her arms, use her big floppy hat, and her swimsuit with sleeves. Have fun and enjoy your holiday weekend!

it's ok if the pool is really chlorinated.. like you can smell it... otherwise they say don't put them in at this young age with a lot of chemicals... if it doesn't smell real chemically.. then it should be ok for a short time.. like about 10 minutes.. if the water isn't to cold... if it's to cold.. i wouldn't do it.. you can also pick up a small blow up pool and put a little water in that.. most people do that with little ones before the age of 5 or 6 months.. good luck

Updated

it's ok if the pool is really chlorinated.. like you can smell it... otherwise they say don't put them in at this young age with a lot of chemicals... if it doesn't smell real chemically.. then it should be ok for a short time.. like about 10 minutes.. if the water isn't to cold... if it's to cold.. i wouldn't do it.. you can also pick up a small blow up pool and put a little water in that.. most people do that with little ones before the age of 5 or 6 months.. good luck

I have to agree with the other mamas on here. Our doctor told us no pool until 6 months because of hypothermia (and the fact that you may not even know your baby has it until it is too late), and no sunscreen until 6 months because your baby should not be out in any sort of sunlight long enough to need it. Have fun!