Newborn Swimming: When Can You Take Babies Swimming?

They are small, slippery, and delicate enough without introducing them to the pool – is newborn swimming safe?

There’s nothing more important than the safety of your child. With the right precautions in place, there’s no reason to stop them swimming. It gets them used to being in the water from an early age and promotes a healthy lifestyle.

While they may seem scared at first, they will be splashing about and giggling uncontrollably in no time. It’s a treat to watch and is something that every new parent should experience. However, if you’re unsure about when to introduce them to the pool or how to do so safely, then read on.

When can you take a newborn swimming?

There are no limitations when it comes to introducing your baby to swimming. They can go swimming after birth and before their vaccinations. Some babies will experience mild side effects from their vaccinations, but these should not prevent them from entering the pool.

How can you say no to that little face? Keep your children happy and healthy by taking them swimming for the first time. 

However, if they are feverish or irritable after their vaccinations, you may wish to hold off to ensure their first experience in the pool is a positive one. You don’t want to contend with a screaming baby if you can help it.

Another consideration is your health. Experts recommend that you wait six weeks before entering the pool following birth. Some women bleed quite heavily (lochia) after birth has ended. Even those who had a tear-free birth with no intervention will experience bleeding after birth, as your body gets rid of the lining in your womb. If you’ve had a cesarean or a perineal tear, it’s sensible to wait longer than six weeks to avoid the risk of infection.

Benefits of newborn swimming

There are endless benefits of newborn swimming – some obvious, others that may surprise you. Children are often less aware of their surroundings, which makes them, almost, fearless. Getting them stuck into swimming at an early age will remove all negative feelings of water that may come at an older age.

Here’s the lowdown of the potential benefits of newborn swimming:

1. Helps build confidence

Most newborn swimming classes include skin-to-skin contact, songs, and water play with parents or caregivers. They also allow your child to interact with others and learn to function in groups. This will result in a considerable boost in self-esteem and confidence that can be applied to their everyday lives. 

A 2010 study suggested that children aged four that had been swimming from two months old were more confident in new situations than non-swimmers. As a parent, this will give you peace of mind as your little one is packed off to playgroup, where they will learn to interact, share, and play with others their age.

2. Builds Muscle

Swimming helps build muscle and improves a baby’s health from a young age. Babies need to build muscle to help them hold their heads up, move their arms and legs, and coordinate these with the rest of their bodies. There are also clear internal health benefits too. Swimming helps strengthen their heart, lungs, and joints, which promotes a healthy lifestyle.

3. Improves Sleep

No, seriously – they will sleep! Swimming uses up a lot of energy, especially for a baby that is experiencing this exercise for the first time. They are using their bodies in completely new ways and moving around to keep warm.

Don’t be surprised if your little one nods off on the car journey home. It’s a good idea to schedule nap times to follow your swim or move bedtimes up in days where swim time is a part of your routine.

4. Boosts Appetite

Swimming can burn a lot of calories and leave you feeling hungry, and babies are no different. All that splashing and kicking can really work up an appetite. You’ll probably notice an increase in your baby’s appetite following swim time.

5. It Prevents Drowning

Drowning is still the third highest accidental cause of death for children under the age of 5, so learning swimming techniques from an early age is critical. While this may seem quite dramatic to some, there’s no arguing with facts.

Newborn Swimming

Newborn swimming can be safe and incredibly rewarding, so long as precautions are taken to keep them safe. It’s a wonderful parent-child bonding experience that you otherwise wouldn’t experience.

Our lives are hectic as parents; between working hard to put dinner on the kitchen table to rushing home to tidy up, our time is limited. Slowing down to enjoy time with your baby is so precious. So grab a swimming bag and wade in!

And remember, your health is equally as important. Don’t neglect your fitness levels – make time to exercise, keep active, and look after your body. For more health, fitness, and lifestyle content, subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive updates: