Should I take newborn swimming?

herman2811

We have a four month old boy who we want to teach to swim as soon as possible. We had planned to start mum+tots lessons at the start of september, but someone has now advised us against it, saying that from their experiences, they found that their child kept getting ear infections until they stopped taking him to lessons.

This got us thinking... about a month ago, our little 'un had an ear infection as soon as we got back from a holiday. At the time, we put it down to flying on a plane, but thinking back, we did take him into a swimming pool with us, so I guess he could have got it because of that (although we didn't put his head in the water so I'm pretty sure swimming pool water didn't go into his ears)

Does anyone have any advice or experience on this?

Thanks in advance.

MadDogWoman_2

Hi Herman,

My DD started swimming lessons aged 5 months - she was 10 weeks old the first time she went in the water!

I've never had any problems with ear infections.

It's a good to start swimming before they're 1 as they still have the dive reflex (closing off the airway when going under)

My DD is 2 now and can swim short distances on her own without arm bands, which is done face down under the surface, it's easier that way. :T

She loves being in the water, is no problem in the bath with hair washing etc as she is used to water on her face.

The company I swim with have strict rules on what a baby/child must wear (swim nappy topped with neoprene shorts) to contain any accidents.

They also teach the child in a relaxed unscary way how to deal with falling water.

HTH

MDW

pookienoodle

we started taking our son to the mother and baby swim group led by our local health visitor when he was 3 months old,he never had any ear problems nor did the health visitor mention it.
perhaps give your H.V a quick ring to ask?

jha

I suffered from horrendous ear infections from birth (all the time) to now (a couple of times a year) when i was a baby i was taken swimming and when i became old enough as a child i had earplugs. i think it is just one of those things - if your going to get them you are going to get them whether you get a drop of water in your ear from washing your hair or swimming.

fernliebee

I agree with jha, if they are going to get recurrent ear infections then it will prob happen anyway. They could get bath water in their ears just as easily. I have taken DD swimming from 4 weeks old and she is now 13 months and very confident in the water, and (touch wood) hasn't had an ear infection yet. I would say take him, and if he does get an ear infection just wait for it to clear up well before taking him again. As you say it was prob the aeroplane that did it before.

nephilim

My daughter was 6 weeks old when we first took her swimming. Went into the child pool, and havent been since (she is now 11 weeks old), despite the fact that she loves it, we like it, and it knackers her out completely (moving house so getting that sorted now). She likes the feeling of floating in water, and since then we have put her in the big bath filled up with water (warm temperature) and gone splashing around at bath time. She loves being in the bath and the swimming pool. She has not had any ear infections or anything so its worth a go!

tiamai_d

I get 'swimmers ear' on a regular basis even though the only time I am near a pool is one week a year on holiday! I don't put my head under water in the bath either (frankly I am terrified of water anyway). So I really don't think swimming has much to do with ear infections.

Take her swimming and enjoy it! And hopefully unlike me, she will be a water baby in a good way, not in a 'look at that mad woman gripping onto the side of the pool in hysterics because a 5yr old splashed water near her face' way.

SUESMITH_2

always took mine from being v small and never had any problems - think some kids are just prone to ear infections

never_enough

My friends all take their babies swimming from an early age. I think after some jabs at 6 or 8 weeks? Can't say I've noticed any of them talking about ear infections. The babies love it too, even when they're just bobbing around. My godson can swim, he's fearless in water & not even 2 yet which is brill, but slightly scarey to watch too! :eek:

fernliebee

tiamai_d wrote: »

I get 'swimmers ear' on a regular basis even though the only time I am near a pool is one week a year on holiday! I don't put my head under water in the bath either (frankly I am terrified of water anyway). So I really don't think swimming has much to do with ear infections.

Take her swimming and enjoy it! And hopefully unlike me, she will be a water baby in a good way, not in a 'look at that mad woman gripping onto the side of the pool in hysterics because a 5yr old splashed water near her face' way.

My DH hates the water too! This is one of my main motivations in taking DD so often as I want her to feel confident in the water. He says it's because he has no fat to keep him warm, so he gets freezing cold as soon as he gets in- I, on the other hand, don't have that problem

xmaslolly76

I agree with the other ladies i think if a child is prone to ear infections there is very little you can do to stop them. I wouldnt let your friend put you off taking your child swimming its good for you and baby im going about 3 times a week at the moment and plan to keep going once baby is born and has had his injections. :-) xx