Child Safety Swimming Tips

Your child can enjoy swimming, but is it always a good idea for them to be in the water? Follow these tips all year long for safe swimming.  

Wearing diapers in the water?

Different types of diapers are designed for use underwater. They are waterproof and fitting around the thighs of the child, but they are not waterproof. If your child stool into the water, fecal material may escape the diaper. A dirty diaper may include diarrhea-causing bacteria cryptosporidium parasites that can contaminate the pool water or other bathing areas. In healthy people, Cryptosporidium infection causes upset stomach and diarrhea. The consequences can be serious for people who have a weakened immune system. Urine in the water is less risky than feces, but it is difficult to separate the two when the children wearing diapers. If you choose to allow your child to swim in a diaper, take regular breaks to change diapers or use the toilet. Do not swim if your child has diarrhea. In addition, children in diapers should not use spas or hot tubs.

Swallowing pool water?

Your child will take a few sips of water in the pool at one time or another, especially when learning to swim. A little water intake of the pool is usually not a concern, but the pool water in excess can lead to disease. Do not allow your child to drink pool water, and encourage your child to spit out the water that enters their mouth.

Swimming with ear tubes?

If your child has ear tubes - tiny cylinders placed through the eardrum to drain fluid and allow air into the middle ear - ask their doctor about hearing protection for swimming. Some doctors recommend that children with ear tubes or wear earplugs pool covers to prevent bacteria from entering the middle ear. However, the routine use of earplugs may be required only when diving or swimming in untreated water such as lakes and rivers.

Preventing swimmers ear?

Swimmer's ear is an infection that is often treated with ear drops. Here are a few tips:

~Encourage your child to wear ear plugs when swimming

~Dry your child's ears with a towel or a hair dryer on low heat after swimming

~Use isopropyl alcohol-based drops - or a mixture of 1 to 1 of isopropyl alcohol and white vinegar, as long as your child has ear tubes.

~Clear water from the ear of your child.

~Do not use cotton swabs in the ears of his son, who can scratch the ear canal and create a potential site of infection.

Red eyes?

Exposure to chlorine can leave your child with red or swollen eyes. To relieve discomfort and reduce redness after swimming, wash your child's eyes with a sterile solution or artificial tears eye. Also, encourage your child to wear goggles for swimming.

When should you start swimming lessons?

Many children learn to ride a bike and swim to the very same age - often in the summer before kindergarten. American Academy of Pediatrics supports swimming lessons for the majority of children around 4 years of age. If you want to enroll a child under 4 years of the swimming program, choose one that does not need to put your head under the water. This limits the amount of water the child can swallow.

Swimming while sick?

Children who have colds or other minor illnesses are safe to swim, so long as they feel well enough to do so. Similarly, it is OK for children to swim with cuts and bruises - as long as the wounds are not bleeding.

Swimming after eating?

It's OK to swim immediately after a light meal or snack. If your child feels lethargic after eating a heavy meal, however, encourage him or her to take a break before swimming.

Kids and spas?

Children can quickly become overheated in a tub or spa. If you allow your child to use a tub or spa, keep it to a short visit - and do not let your child put their head under the water. This may increase the risk of ear infections. Even worse, long hair can get caught in the drain and cause drowning. Also remember, children in diapers should not use a tub or spa.