When can babies go swimming? Safety tips for parents

Studies also show that there are many benefits to taking your baby swimming including greater motor development, improved cognitive function, improved confidence and social skills and it helps build muscle, improves co-ordination, strengthens their heart, lungs and respiratory systems and even promotes better sleep and improves baby's appetite. Another positive to introducing babies to swimming at an early age is that it can encourage a lifelong love of exercise and physical activity.

To help you reap all the benefits of baby swimming in a safe way, our guide below covers everything from what age it's safe to take baby to a pool, how to introduce infants to the water in a stress-free way and top tips for ensuring water safety.

How soon can I take my baby swimming?

mum and young baby in a swimming pool having lessons together

According to the NHS you can take your baby swimming from any age, even newborn, and there are no strict guidelines about waiting until they've had their first immunisations at 8 weeks. Many baby swimming classes are happy to teach newborns (although they may have certain weight restrictions) and find that younger babies who have just spent 9 months in water in the womb take to the pool very calmly and happily.

As there's no minimum age that babies can go swimming, it's up to you as the parent to decide when you feel comfortable taking your baby to a pool. Some people may want to wait until after baby's injections, while others may want to get their baby used to the water as soon as possible.

Your decision about when to take your baby swimming may also depend on the type of birth you had – whether you have a c-section scar or are still bleeding from a vaginal birth and whether your baby was premature or not.

To help you decide when to take your baby swimming you can see how they respond to having baths at home. If they love the sensation of the water straightaway and enjoy water being splashed or tipped over them then you can be confident that swimming will go down a treat. However, if bath time makes them cry and they seem stressed around water you may want to wait a bit before booking lessons.

You can also speak to your health visitor or doctor if you have any concerns or would like reassurance that the time is right to go swimming with your baby. Whatever age you decide to take the plunge, you and your baby will both benefit from spending quality time together in the water, and baby will delight in moving about freely and kicking and splashing in a supportive environment well before they can move independently on dry land!

Safety tips for introducing your baby to swimming

Taking your baby swimming isn't as simple as buying a cute swimming costume and heading to your local pool and there are some precautions and safety tips you'll want to be aware of. We've outlined the main things to do before you take your baby swimming as well as things to consider when you're there:

Sign up for a specific mother and baby swimming class – professionally led swimming classes specifically designed for babies and their parents are the safest and most enjoyable way to start your swimming journey with your baby. Swimming teachers will have specialist training to show you how to support your baby safely in the water, movements and exercises you can do with them as well as how long they can go underwater (if you want them to) and how long they should stay in the water.
Check the temperature of the pool – according to guidelines from STA (Swimming Teacher's Association) the water and air temperature of a pool for babies must be higher than for normal public swimming. For babies under 3 months or weighing less than 12lbs it needs to be at least 32°C and for babies older than 3 months at least 30°C.
Don't stay in the water too long – when introducing a baby to swimming it's best to do it slowly and steadily, starting with 10 - 15 minutes on your first visit (if they are happy) and gradually increasing the length to 20 - 30 minutes. If you notice they are cold, you should remove them from the water and wrap them up straightaway.
Find out if the pool offers quiet times – a swimming pool can be a sensory overload even for adults, so it can be overwhelming for babies. If you're not going to a specific baby class find out when the pool's quiet times or baby-specific slots are and take your baby during these.

You may be wondering if chlorine pool water is safe for your baby and the answer is yes, as long as it's a well-maintained pool and the correct levels of chlorine have been used. Babies can go in chlorinated pools from birth but you may want to wait until 6 months of age if you're worried about infection or your baby's sensitive skin.

When it comes to salt water pools, these are considered safer for babies in terms of skin and eye irritation. However, babies under 12 months shouldn't have any extra salt in their diet and the NHS recommends limiting salt intake for babies under 12 months to 1 gram per day, with a sodium limit of less than 0.4g. Therefore babies shouldn't be submerged in salt water and care should be taken not to let baby swallow any salt water.

Choosing the right swim gear for your baby

Is there anything cuter than an itsy bitsy teeny weeny baby swimsuit? Before you buy a super cute swimsuit though you'll need to remember that babies aren't potty trained and so will need to wear some form of swim nappy or double nappy system (a disposable nappy under a neoprene nappy). This means you'll want to size up on the swimsuit to ensure the nappy fits underneath.

Every pool and baby swimming class has different requirements in order to keep the pool hygienic for everyone, so make sure to read the small print about what baby needs to wear.

You may also want to buy your baby swimwear that covers their arms and legs to give them a bit more warmth if you're worried they'll get cold, or for use in summer as a UV protector.

For ease, some swimwear all-in-ones have nappies built into them which may make them more comfortable for baby and less fuss for the parent to try and wrestle baby into. Other swimwear options to consider are those that are chlorine safe or protect sensitive skin.

See our selection of the best kids' swimwear here.

See our selection of the best swim nappies here.

Pool safety precautions for babies and toddlers

Babies and children should never be left alone in or near water and it's important to remember that water can be dangerous, even when very shallow. To ensure that your first forays into swimming are fun and not stressful, it's important to take the following precautions:

Watch out for signs of chilling, including shivering, blueness around the lips and chattering teeth.
Watch your baby’s face carefully – it’s much closer to the water than yours and if you get distracted their mouth and nose can easily go under the water.
Always check the qualifications of the swimming teachers to ensure they hold a specialist SEQ Level 2 Teaching Swimming to Babies and Toddlers.
Constant supervision is essential. Although drownings in pools are rare, evidence suggests that toddlers are the most vulnerable. It’s not sufficient to rely on the supervision of the lifeguard at the poolside.
If old enough, have a talk with your child before you get to the pool to make sure they know that they mustn’t run about at the edge of the pool.
Fit support or buoyancy aids before baby/toddler gets in the water, and if you use armbands make sure they can’t slide off and are on the upper arm only. All buoyancy aids should meet safety standards – look for British Safety number BS EN 13138:2003 or later.
Children with long hair should have it tied back and preferably be wearing a swimming cap. A child’s hair can get caught in pumps, trapping them under the water. For the same reason, remove all jewellery.
Don’t let your kids chew gum or eat while in the pool area.

Paddling pools

Although parents generally know that they need to constantly supervise young children in water, accidents tend to happen after the pool’s been used.

"Between the ages of 1 and 2, an infant’s mobility increases at a terrific but irregular rate, such that she can escape parents’ supervision and get into difficulties unexpectedly fast," says a spokesperson from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. "So paddling pools should always be emptied and turned upside down straight after use."

The benefits of swimming for babies' development

Swimming with your baby is so much more than just another baby class or activity to keep you busy while on maternity leave. The benefits for both parent and especially baby are huge and wide reaching.

Research has shown that taking babies swimming from an early age offers a range of developmental benefits, both physical and cognitive. Studies suggest that early swimming helps enhance motor skills, coordination, and muscle strength due to the resistance and freedom of movement water provides.

According to a 2010 study, infants who participated in swim classes demonstrated significantly better balance and grasping skills than non-swimmers¹. While a more recent 2022 pilot study demonstrated that infants participating in a 10-week baby swimming programme showed significant improvements in gross, fine, and total motor skills compared to a control group².

A 2024 large-scale cohort study from Japan involving over 100,000 children found that initiating swimming around age one and maintaining regular sessions up to age three significantly reduced the risk of delays in both gross and fine motor development.³ And a 2023 case-control study in Poland revealed that infants aged 3 to 12 months who engaged in water activities showed notable improvements in motor development scores compared to non-participants.⁴

Beyond physical advantages, early exposure to water-based activities may foster confidence and emotional bonding between parent and child⁵plus, of course, the earlier you teach a child to swim the safer they will be around water for the rest of their lives.

Pics: Getty Images