When can a baby go in the pool?

preissless1

My AIL (aunt in law) is having a family gathering this weekend and will have her pool open.  I don't think this weekend will be warm enough for C to go in the pool, but I'm wondering if at any point this summer I could bring him in the water.  Is there a particular temperature the water should be to be safe for him?  He's just about 4 months now.

jess08200

My nephew was swimming around C's age.

I would say temp should be above 70, otherwise it's feels cold even for an adult.

smacb

I think around 4 months is when we first took DS to a pool.  We kept him out of the sun-hat, shirt, shade, etc. and made sure he didn't get chilled.  I think they have to be 6 months for sunscreen.

MrsNJSwimmer

jess08200:

My nephew was swimming around C's age.

I would say temp should be above 70, otherwise it's feels cold even for an adult.

I think a 70 degree water temp is too cold - the indoor pool was at 80 when we had lessons the other week and that was really too cold for any length of time.  

ETA: we started lessons with LO when he was just shy of 6 months, and he was in the pool all last summer.

Hey Jellisy

No, they changed the sunscreen rule to 2 months according to my pediatrician and bug spray at 6 months. I didn't think much would change in the 22 months between my children, but lo and behold, they have. 

belizeitornot

smacb:

I think around 4 months is when we first took DS to a pool.  We kept him out of the sun-hat, shirt, shade, etc. and made sure he didn't get chilled.  I think they have to be 6 months for sunscreen.

I thought that too, but our pedi gave us the ok to use it at our 4 mo appt. Though you want to make sure to use sunBLOCK not sunSCREEN. (i had no idea there was a difference until the bump)

https://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/1/52682442/ShowThread.aspx

I plan on getting some Blue Lizard or California Baby for the few times she'll be out in the sun without clothes.

WinesNot Whines

Most baby swim classes start at 6 months, so that was the guideline I used.

Sofka

I'm pretty sure you are not supposed to put the baby into chlorinated pool until 6mo of age, I'd double-check with your pedi. I and also thought it was 6mo for sunblock!

 

pixieprincss

We got the ok to go swimming when LO was a few days old as long (as he stayed warm enough and we rinsed the chlorine off). However, we didn't feel right about taking him until he was 3mo to a heated indoor pool. My dr still sticks to the 6mo sunscreen rule.

Jitterbug2668

We had Nate in the pool at 3 months (July of last year).  Once he was old enough to hold his head pretty steady in the floaty thing.  We just made sure he had on shorts/shirt and a hat and as soon as we pulled him out we changed him outside where it was warm, not indoors in the air condition.