The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy statement in April 2000, stating that "children are not developmentally ready for swimming lessons until after their fourth birthday."
This confused some parents, who thought that meant that they shouldn't enroll their infants in swimming lessons at all.
The point of the AAP is more that baby swimming programs shouldn't substitute for adult supervision around a pool. Instead, these "infant and toddler aquatic programs provide an opportunity to introduce young children to the joy and risks of being in or around water."
In addition to drowning, when swimming with your baby, the AAP warns parents to think about pool safety and be prepared for and avoid:
- hypothermia - too cold
- water intoxication - swallowing too much water
- communicable diseases - including skin infections, pink eye, and most commonly, diarrhea, which kids can get from swallowing contaminated pool water
Starting to Swim
It will be some time before your baby is actually swimming, but that doesn't mean that she won't enjoy some time in the pool. When can you start?
Surprisingly, there aren't any formal guidelines on when you can take your baby into the pool with you. Some parents take their babies for a swim as early as two months, while others like to wait until they are at least six months old or a little older. It is probably a good idea to wait until your baby can hold her head up without support and when the weather is warm enough so that she won't get cold in the water.
And keep in mind that not all babies like being in the water, so keep your first few trips into the pool brief. Also, keep your hands on your baby at all times, don't let her head go under the water, and protect her from the sun.
Sources: Swimming Programs for Infants and Toddlers. PEDIATRICS Vol. 105 No. 4 April 2000, pp. 868-870.
