Swimming Tips
Swimming tips to help make the swimming experience even more enjoyable for your child:
- Make bath time fun.
- Gently splash water over their body and head.
- Lay them on their backs, support them and move them through the water.
- Go swimming yourself, but during quiet times and make sure the water temperature is higher than 29°C this is usually the case with children’s pools.
- Take little toys with you, sing songs and make it fun, go with a friend with a child of a similar age.
- Remember to relax yourself if you feel relaxed and confident your baby will too.
- All children have off days so don’t be disappointed. If this happens it is usually better to take things slowly and to use songs, games and toys on the surface for encouragement.
Immunisation
Parents used to be advised to wait to take their children swimming after they had had their 2, 3 and 4 month immunisation, but government health experts no longer feel this is necessary. Over the last 50 years no baby has contracted diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus or polio from a swimming pool.
At Aquaschool we will start babies swimming from three months. If you are unsure always ask your health visitor or GP.
Points to remember when coming swimming:
- Leave 1 to 2 hours before their last feed.
- A double layer of swim nappies and a costume on top are compulsory. It helps to prevent any little mishaps!!!
- If your child has a skin complaint check with your GP to make sure chlorine will not aggravate it.
- If your child has eczema. When swimming for safety issues it is best to avoid using lots of cream, their skin becomes too slippery and you are unable to hold them safely in the water.
- It is best to avoid swimming if your baby has any of the following conditions:
- A bad cold.
- An ear infection.
- Conjunctivitis.
- Sickness or diarrhoea or anything that is very contagious.
- If you are unsure please seek medical advice.
- When swimming long hair must be tied back or a cap must be worn as a safety precaution.
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