Chlorine and babies

[Xavismom]

Ok, we are all for keeping chemicals out of the house.. we cloth diaper, we use handmade organic soaps for skin and hair, pure virgin coconut oil instead of commercial lotions, etc.... But there has to be SOME give and take I think...

I really really want to take DS to a nearby local pool. There are always a ton of moms and babies and kids there, baby pools, and they offer a Mommy/Baby swim class for 6mo+ that I want to do with DS now that he is old enough.

But my DH is freaking out over it, and layed a major guilt trip on me for wanting to expose DS to chlorinated water.

Please help... any studies or anything I can show DH that minimal exposure such as a weekly swim class is not going to damage him?!?! Or is it really as bad as DH is thinking it is? DH works as a chemist, and is a very sciency/nerdy/fact loving man, so studies especially would be helpful..

Thanks mamas!

[confustication]

I think there's a risk benefit analysis that has to happen here, because there are risks, but they don't seem to be huge by any means. For any risk in terms of exposure to chemicals and pathogens, there is a very real benefit of early exposure to water and quite honestly- sanity for mom- involved here.

Having worked as a lifeguard for many years, and having taught lessons, I always dreaded parents who came in with a child who had never been exposed to swimming simply for the sake of fun. I won't jump on the bandwagon of 'teach them to swim so they don't drown!' because I don't believe it- safety should be the adult's job- always in arms' reach, but I do believe that early positive associations with water as a fun place to explore the world and play are really helpful as kids grow older and want to do things with the family.

Sure, there are chemicals, but there are also showers and soap when you get home, or even at the pool.

Of course, I also don't tolerate guilt trips, and had my husband done something of the sort I would have rolled my eyes and called to sign up then and there just to be difficult. :P

[lalemma]

I don't understand what your husband is worried about. Has he explained his specific concerns?

[strawberryprincess]

My parents have an in-ground pool and we practically live in it during the summer. My 4m old has already been in the pool. I was a little concerned about developing a rash, but he didn't seem to have any reaction (but was happy as could be while in the water!)
Lakes seem more dangerous to me...the greater the possibility for pollution and contaminents, etc.

Anyway, I understand your concern for your baby's safety and lifelong health, and also the need for enjoyment in the water (because it really can be a wonderful experience!) Hope you find a good answer soon.

[Knitting Mama]

What about if you reassure him that you'll always wash in clean water and with your special soap right after being in the pool? You could even bring the soap with you and do a sponge bath or a shower if the pool has them right afterward!

[akind1]

also, I don't know where you are, but our local gym has a salt water pool, if you could locate one, that would be a chemical-free (or less) alternative.

[ellairiesmom]

i don't have scientific facts but i can't help but wonder if in this day & age, rainfall, lake water, drinking water etc. all have more pollution & chemicals in them than pool water that is filtered? (if not, they will now after this recent oil spill)

i get the concern...i haven't brought our almost 5 mo in the water but plan on it in the next week or 2. she did get a few splashes while being worn in a sling from the heavily chlorinated spray park water last week. no biggie to me but she is #2 for us & i have done some stuff earlier with her than w/ dd1.

i do know outdoor is much safer than indoor-the indoor pools have been linked to asthma & other lung function issues.

there are alternatives to chlorine being used but i don't know how to find a public pool that uses them??? (silver-copper ion or something like that)

[rhiOrion]

I have taken my 11.5 week old swimming three times so far. I just take her home and wash her with water, and maybe a bit of california baby or weleda baby wash if I feel like it.

[tzs]

i dunno, i would think positive experiences outweigh exposure to a little chlorine.
seems like you do the best you can and then accept the rest.

[Plummeting]

Originally Posted by Cecilia's Mama

What about if you reassure him that you'll always wash in clean water and with your special soap right after being in the pool? You could even bring the soap with you and do a sponge bath or a shower if the pool has them right afterward!

It's very unlikely that her DH's concern is the skin contact. Inhalation of chlorine from chlorinated pool water has been shown to cause all kinds of breathing problems in children. Children who swim in chlorinated water on a regular basis have been shown to have higher lifetime risk of asthma, higher incidence of bronchiolitis in childhood and other breathing problems. Soap won't cure that; it's from breathing in the fumes. The risk is greatest for kids under the age of 2. Her husband being a chemist, I imagine he probably knows quite a bit about this and that is his concern.

That being said, I did take my DD to an outdoor pool regularly as a baby. I wouldn't regularly do an indoor pool as there's going to be more chlorine in the air, but an outdoor pool a couple times a week I'd absolutely do. I think there is a huge benefit to being social (vs. sitting at home alone all day) that outweighs the potential risk of a little chlorine exposure. I wouldn't do it on a daily basis, but definitely a few times a week. That's just me, though. We're all different.

[Xavismom]

Originally Posted by Plummeting

It's very unlikely that her DH's concern is the skin contact. Inhalation of chlorine from chlorinated pool water has been shown to cause all kinds of breathing problems in children. Children who swim in chlorinated water on a regular basis have been shown to have higher lifetime risk of asthma, higher incidence of bronchiolitis in childhood and other breathing problems. Soap won't cure that; it's from breathing in the fumes. The risk is greatest for kids under the age of 2. Her husband being a chemist, I imagine he probably knows quite a bit about this and that is his concern.

Yes, this pretty much sums it up. Add to the fact, that I LIVED in our pool as a kid, and I have asthma. Add also DH is very VERY protective of DS, especially anything to do with chemicals.

I love the water though! I always loved our pool as a kid, and we always went boating on the weekends in the summer, and I got my scuba cert as soon as I was old enough. DS also seems to be a born water baby, like I was. He would spend all day in his kiddie pool, or the tub if he could.

I'm working on it.. I really think, like a PP its a cost/benifit analysis.... DS would so absolutely love going to a pool. He loves the water, and he is a people watcher.

[LZP]

Another thing to consider is that in the summer with the sun beaming down on the water, most of the chemicals in the pool evaporate quickly. (sure, that means some fumes coming off of the water, but you're outside at least with some fresh air around) So in the morning, it's going to be more "chemical-y" than in the afternoon. I always noticed that when we went to the pool during my childhood. the chlorine smell was definitely not as strong in the afternoon. and I spent every single day of the summer, from like 10 AM to 5PM at the pool for 3 years straight. no asthma problems here!


Also, I dont know that the chlorine off-gassing from a pool could cause asthma or other bronchial issues, so much as aggravate someone with a predisposition to those conditions (I'm not trying to start a debate about that, just hypothesizing) 2 of my cousins were born with asthma and other UR allergy issues, and they were both competition swimmers, generally in an indoor pool setting. they werent any worse during swim season than not.

[confustication]

You can google and come up with the studies about chlorine and breathing problems. The incidence is pretty clear- but for me it's not high enough that I would not use the pool- particularly if well ventilated.

[zannster]

What about younger babies? Is there a skin issue? I looked once for info on this, and there didn't seem to be any specific recommendations. Three months? Four? Six? I'd go late in the day, so sunblock wouldn't be an issue, and it's an outdoor pool.

[Addie]

I guess I'd use some discretion, but I do think it's a cost/benefit thing - and the cost (chlorine exposure) isn't that much of a concern to me. The indoor pool at our old gym always seemed kind of scummy and the air reeked of chlorine - I wouldn't take DS there. But we take him to the indoor pool at the university where DH works, which is clean, well monitored and doesn't smell. We don't take him more than once a week. He loves it so much, and it's such a great bonding experience for him and DH.

[blessedwithboys]

i'm as big a chemical avoider as anyone, but i have made a conscious decision to not freak out about chlorinated pools. growing up, my sister and i spent the same amount of time in pools, she had asthma, i did not. i had terrible ear infections, she did not. whatever, i let my kids swim without too much worry.

i would be more concerned about sunburn than chlorine. make sure if its an outdoor pool you use a full length rash guard (try coolibar.com) and wide brim hat. i dont personally feel that sunblock/screen is safe. we use specialized clothing rather than micronized minerals.

[rhiOrion]

I'm my own monitor for this. I get really sick feeling in indoor pools that are too chlorinated. Especially indoor pools that have hot tubs in the same room.

So if it doesn't bother me, then taking her there doesn't bother me.