Spending time in the water with your baby can be fun, but dangers lurk in the water. Drowning is the No. 2 cause of death for children, according to Infant Swimming Resource, with infants ages 1 to 3 being most at risk. Ninety percent of these deaths occur in swimming pools at home. Other concerns include infection and water temperature.
Age
Keep the baby out of the water until she can hold her head up by herself, which usually happens between 4 and 5 months old. Wait until he or she is 6 months old before she goes under water. Although babies hold their breath instinctively under the water, they continue to swallow, according to Baby Center.
Be Ready for an Emergency
When supervising an infant in the pool, be ready for an emergency. Take an infant CPR course before introducing the child to water. If you are at home, keep a phone near you, both so you can call 911 in case of an emergency and so you will not have to go inside to answer a phone, leaving the infant unattended. If you are swimming at a beach or lake, have rescue equipment or a lifeguard available.
Swimming Lessons
Though babies as young as age 1 can enroll in swimming lessons, children usually are not ready for formal classes until age 4, according to Baby Center. Before then, you can take a class with your infant, but you should check with your doctor before enrolling.
Use Life Vests
When you child is near water, he should wear a Coast Guard-approved life vest. Select a vest that has a stress between the legs and head support to keep the infant’s head and face out of the water. However, life vests do not prevent drowning, so continue to supervise the baby.
Install a Pool Fence
Once your baby starts to walk, consider installing a pool fence. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends a 4-foot fence without any foot or handrails. The slats should be less than 4 inches apart, and the gate should close and latch itself, with the latch situated higher than the infant can reach.
Water Temperature
Do not put a baby in water with a temperature below 85 degrees Fahrenheit, because it can cause her to lose heat quickly , according to Kids Health from Nemours. This puts the baby at risk for hypothermia.
Infection
For the safety of both your baby and others in the water, keep your child out of public pools until he is toilet-trained. At the very least, use waterproof diapers, and change them frequently. Leaky diapers run the risk of introducing parasites and diseases into the water.
Member Comments