age for public pool

[rhiOrion]

At what age would you feel comfortable taking your LO into a public pool? Assuming it's chlorinated like a typical pool. And assuming sunburn wasn't a factor (indoor or shaded pool)

My DD is 7 weeks and it's getting really really hot in North Carolina. But I'm worried about the chlorine bothering her skin. I've never even put any lotions or soaps on her, except for wipes!

[tzs]

we did at 4 months but i would have no problems doing it earlier.
i would just do it once and see how it goes.

[illumini]

Originally Posted by tzs

we did at 4 months but i would have no problems doing it earlier.
i would just do it once and see how it goes.

WSS! We are in Florida and its hot. So far we have gone to pools both public and private about a gazillion times. He was about 4 months when we first went, but I would have gone earlier if given a warm enough pool. Watch out for little old ladies who want to interrupt your chill though.

[tabrizia]

My pool requires that babies be at least 3 months before going in. DD was about 3 days from that point when we first let her really play in the pool. I would have been okay letting her in as early as 2 months, but we followed our pool's rules.

[MsVyky]

DD had swimming lessons starting at 4 months.

I'd wait longer if your pool is as cold as ours is . She screamed through the first half of the lessons that were in the big pool, but really enjoyed the portions int eh warm teaching pool.

[jenfl]

What do you do for swim diapers that little? The disposable ones don't seem to come small enough. And DH is worried that even a dedicated swim diaper wouldn't hold breastfed-baby poop.

[illumini]

Hi fellow central floridian! (and fellow computer geek!) We CD and use those in the pool as well. I've used everything from a prefold with cover to an AIO. So far he hasn't pooped in the pool yet but I've heard of other CDing people do this and it works for them.

[MsVyky]

We have Motherease swim diapers that worked great!

[tzs]

i like the comment about avoiding little old ladies!!! ha ha.

you can totally use CD's in the pool. i think the rule at ours was CD + plastic cover. i used the disposibles and taped them up smaller. i really don;t know if anything would hold in an ebf poop but i'm not sure if that's anything to worry about considering all the other um.....waste products...going in there. i even have a vivid memory of finding a real poop at the bottom of a ymca pool as a kid. for this reason i've always avoided kiddie pools although now that i have a pooper of my own i've had to suck it up.

[Asiago]

I'm glad that you posted this topic. I am concerned myself, as I have a seven month old and was concerned about exposing him to chlorine, realizing though that drinking water (and thus bathing) exposes him already.

I also don't want him to swallow it, my concern is that it will effect gut flora. I was reading about it pertaining to respiratory disease and am thinking about holding off or perhaps inquiring exactly how our local pool is sanitized.
Apparently there are non-chlorinated systems available also. Here is a quote from AAP

Researchers in Belgium compared the health of adolescents who swam in chlorinated pools to adolescents who swam in pools sanitized with a concentration of copper and silver. In children with allergic sensitivities (atopy), exposure to chlorinated pools significantly increased the prevalence of asthma and respiratory allergies. Study authors suggest the chlorine-based oxidants in the water or just above the water cause changes in the airway and promote the development of allergic diseases. The findings reinforce the need for further research and to enforce regulations on the level of these chemicals in the water and air of swimming pools.

Source
American Academy of Pediatrics

The Swimming Science Journal has numerous studies on this site link:

http://coachsci.sdsu.edu/swimming/chlorine/chlorine.htm

[Bena]

I don't have the complete study here, but I vaguely recall that this was concerning kids who were involved in some sort of competitive aquatic sport, and thus were in the pool several hours a week.

Originally Posted by Asiago

I'm glad that you posted this topic. I am concerned myself, as I have a seven month old and was concerned about exposing him to chlorine, realizing though that drinking water (and thus bathing) exposes him already.

I also don't want him to swallow it, my concern is that it will effect gut flora. I was reading about it pertaining to respiratory disease and am thinking about holding off or perhaps inquiring exactly how our local pool is sanitized.
Apparently there are non-chlorinated systems available also. Here is a quote from AAP



The Swimming Science Journal has numerous studies on this site link:

http://coachsci.sdsu.edu/swimming/chlorine/chlorine.htm

[Novus]

I wanted to take DS last summer (he was born in May), but the water was too cold even for me. I would've taken him in a warm pool, though, if we'd been able to find one. He did start going in at about 7 mos for an aquamom & baby class and really enjoyed it--still does!

[flavorfull1]

We started at 3 mo at the zero entry pool in Chapel hill (we are in durham too) and we have gone to our apt pool a couple of times. We just use a cloth swim diaper. He even pooped and it didn't get out. granted I knew he was pooping and got out right away. dunno if your lo is like mine but I can tell when the poop is going on Enjoy cooling off, it is hot here!

[waiting2bemommy]

we are planning on swimming at an outdoor pool this weekend....dd is 5 weeks old. she doesnt have a bathing suit but I figure a onesie willdo just fine...it's not like she's going to spend hours in the water anyway, and I will keep a close eye on her for signs of impending poop

[GreenTeaGinger61]

Rowena is six weeks now, and we may bring her into the pool this weekend. We likely won't stay in too long. My son was quite a bit older when he first went in but we lived in Maine and it's never warm:P My two Carolina girls went into the pool around six weeks. They loved it. I don't keep them in for very long at this age, and always shower right afterwards.

As for diapers, I picked up a Speedo swim dipaer which fits very well. I'll use that and look for signs of poop so we can get out. So far she doesn't seem to be a water pooper.

[Asiago]

Originally Posted by Bena

I don't have the complete study here, but I vaguely recall that this was concerning kids who were involved in some sort of competitive aquatic sport, and thus were in the pool several hours a week.

I believe so, the AAP one you are referring to right (?)
As per the sport journal, they list various studies of all ages. I also came across this recent info in Reuters article:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60P5IX20100126

Infant swimming tied to lung infection, asthma (Reuters Health) - Children who start swimming before the age of 2 may be at increased risk of a common infant lung infection, and possibly asthma and respiratory allergies later in life, a new study suggests.

I really need to research this a bit before my husband and I take the baby into the pool this summer.

[ann_of_loxley]

If I didnt have thrush and a swimsuit that I didnt feel horrible in (cause you know - the middles all flabby at the moment! lmao)... Then I would be taking him to the pool now! - He is 5 weeks old!
The only other thing to consider is when they sleep...they do a lot of that now and this little one isn't the type to be too happy awake too longer. He is either sleeping or eating mostly. So if I were to wait - it would really be until he is awake long enough to happily enjoy and explore the world!

Not sure about the chlorine. They dont use it in our pools here.
What about getting a little paddling pool?

[rhiOrion]

Originally Posted by flavorfull1

We started at 3 mo at the zero entry pool in Chapel hill (we are in durham too) and we have gone to our apt pool a couple of times. We just use a cloth swim diaper. He even pooped and it didn't get out. granted I knew he was pooping and got out right away. dunno if your lo is like mine but I can tell when the poop is going on Enjoy cooling off, it is hot here!

The aquatic center in chapel hill is probably the one we'd go to! i actually live down the street from the edison johnson pool in durham, but it's closed for a couple more weeks.

i think that maybe we'll try to go swimming this weekend. a friend loaned us an infant swim diaper