Everyone into the Pool

Posted by John on June 17, 2008 | Filed Under Summer Fun

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Last weekend we took Andrew for his second dip in the pool. He seemed to like it much better than the first time (he actually let go of me). My guess is either he is getting used to the idea of the swimming pool, or he thought he was in a giant bath tub because the water was so warm!

When we go swimming we usually take a few essential items along with us:

Baby Spring Float Sun Canopy by Swimways. This swim raft is excellent for helping babies get used to the water. Andrew loved sitting in it and floating around the pool. It has dual inflatable rings so you don’t have to worry about your baby sinking (the water level remained around his chest the whole time). The play area is made out of mesh so it is very easy on the skin. The play area usually has water in it, so we had to keep an eye on him and make sure he didn’t try to drink the water. The model we bought came with a sun canopy.

Pampers Splashers Swim Pants. Swim Diapers are essential for proper protection from leaks. Regular diapers do not work well in water because of the high absorbency built in to the diapers — think of a sponge soaking up all the water. Swim diapers are made not to swell with water. There was an incident where he peed through the swim diaper, so I would recommend changing the diaper after being in the pool for a long period of time, even if you plan on going in again.

Coppertone Water Babies Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50. Keeping babies out of the sun and using a strong sunscreen lotion can reduce their risk of skin cancer by 75%, while also preventing burns. Not only does this lotion have a high SPF, it is also waterproof and effective after 80 minutes of water activity or sweating. Andrew was fine with this lotion, although it was tough for us to get it on his face without a battle. A sun hat, in addition to the sunscreen, is excellent for protecting the face from UV rays.

When swim time was over, we gave Andrew a bath when we got home. A bath is necessary to wash away the pool chemicals and sunscreen. One important safety rule to remember is to keep the ears dry to prevent swimmers ear. Swimmers ear is caused by a build-up of pool water in the ear canal, and can be more painful than ear infections in some cases.

Overall, he had fun in the pool and enjoyed splashing the water and relaxing in his float. With this being his first summer, we really want to try a lot of different activities to keep us all active. There will be many more swimming days and I predict he will probably be swimming by the end of the summer! Hey, you never know!

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