Hello all....As of next Saturday, My baby will be 4 months old!! As the weather is getting hotter and more humid, I have been thinking of taking my son to the pool. The apartment bldg. I live in has an outdoor pool but i've been hesitant to take him there because i'm not sure if the water temperature will be warm enough. I would like to know, is there any sure way of knowing if the water is warm enough for a 4 month old?
I say go for it :) The more you expose kids to things early on, the easier it will be for them to love it :) He will let you know if he is afraid or whatever, just do it slowly, and keep trying.
I brought my kids swimming in Lake Superior when they were tiny, and they LOVED it. That water is freezing compared to any pool :)
Get a little rash guard suit or top and shorts (at Wal Mart, Target, Old Navy, online) for him and go for it. My oldest was born in Texas in June, and we had a pool and we took him in it at a month old.... I had a mesh sling Iused in the pool, by 2-3mos he was in one of the baby spring floaties just fine. Your little guy will love it, just remember to put a hat on him, get the rash guard clothing (spf 50 or higher) and sunscreen all over, and limit his time to 1/2 hour or less. Have fun!
If it's warm enough for you, it will be for him. Just take his cues and if he's fussy or looks like he's not diggin it, get him out. Have a dry towel ready when you do get out, and typically, don't try again within the same "session", then he will really get cold! It may only be 5 minutes, but that's ok! He's still young enough, it doesn't really bother him to get water in his eyes (his eyes were open in utero!) and they instinctively know how to hold their breath for a couple of seconds.
Have fun!
Start by putting his feet in. If he cries, it's not warm enough. You'd be surprised at how much some babies enjoy playing in water that you might think was too cold for their comfort. I started taking my 2nd to the pool when he was 6 months old and he LOVED it.
Most places require your baby to be 6 months old before they start swimming lessons but I had my daughter in my pool at a few months. I also was at the outdoor pool today and there was a woman there with her 4 month old and she liked it. He is too young or a baby float so you will need to hold him the whole time in the pool.
Go for it! Just don't be out too long ... sunburns on babies are no good.
My daughter is 8mos.old but has been in multiple multiple swimming pools since 5mos.old and LOVES it, hasn't harmed her precious soft baby skin or anything. If it's to cold I think they will let you know. I took my daughter in the lake yesterday and she let me know it wasn't a desirable temperature for her.
My babies have loved swimming, so it's a great idea of your son likes it! We did a lot of travel for my husband's work when my 2nd was an infant, and were constantly staying at hotels with pools. My oldest had no problems with any of the pools, but my baby would have chattering teeth, goosebumps, and turn purple (that sounds awful; his skin is just that way, though--it doesn't take much to make him LOOK chilly), and that's when he came out and we wrapped him up in a nice warm towel and snuggled him warm. We avoided the pools with chilly water until we found a hotel with a warm-enough but not too warm pool and a nice warmish lobby for that dash to the hotel room. Point being? Take him. You'll know pretty quickly if he's too cold. You'll also be ab le to feel it on him, if he's too chilly.
One of my good friends has taken her 2 month old to the pool a couple times already this summer with us. I'd recommend a lightweight hat and having him wear a light colored t-shirt with the swimsuit to help with sun exposure, but there shouldn't be any problem with water temperature. If he's unhappy, he'll cry and you can slowly ease him into it.
Our 2 kids have been in hotel pools since tiny on. I agree with the post that says he will let you know. Babies usually love the water but if they are cold they will get fussy and start crying.
Go for it. But safety first. Hold him tight!!! And don't let the water splash into his eyes (chlorine may irritate them.)
I have read some articles that stat you shouldn't bring a child under into a pool that has chlorine until they are at least one year old...
Hi P.,
I am 1 of 6 children that were camping and swimming/floating in pools and lakes from the time we were born! I have 3 grown children and my children were in pools and oceans/lakes from the time they were about 6 wks old. My youngest daughter could go under water and float before she was 3 months old.
I think it is just fine at any age of the baby as long as they are well supervised and safe at all times. Make sure you always put waterproof sunscreen on them several times throughout your day.
Have fun!!!
D.
