Infant/toddler in Public Pools

I think you'll be fine. And he will have such a great time.

Just keep in mind that if there is a really hot weeknd and the pool is crowded, all of the sunscreen makes the pool a bit cloudy. It's something that I never saw as a kid/teen but see now since everyone wears sunscreen. But don't worry about it.

My daughter attended daycare at the YMCA and they started taking her to the pool when she was 6 months old. I never had a concern. She's been swimming regularly in public pools ever since. She's nine now, and she had one ear infection when she was about two years old.

As long as pools are maintained properly, with the right levels of chlorine, I am not at all concerned. I would be more concerned if my daughter did not know how to swim. The real danger in pools is drowning.

It never occured to M. to be worried about putting my son in a hotel pool. That's the only one we went to, otherwise we were at the beach.

I also bought a swim diaper for my son. I got one of the swimmi ones and just put his bathing suit over it (google bummis swimmi).

For sunscreen I highly recommend going to http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/ before you buy any. Some sunscreens are bad for your child's health. We use Badger SPF 30 that is a zinc oxide based sunscreen, but there are several others that are safe as well. I also got my son a rashguard, which is a shirt that he can swim in. I thought it would bother him, but it's so much easier than putting on sunscreen and he doesn't' seem to mind it at all, even in 95 degree weather. He calls it his silky shirt, lol. And a good sun hat, but it's tough to keep that one on.

Relax and have fun, kids love the water!

My daughter was 6 months old the first time I took her in the public pool. I got the disposable swim diapers that they sell at walmart in the baby section. I got her a cute little swim suit and a float that she could sit in that had a sun shade and she liked splashing around. When she was out of that float we were holding her. Will you be there when his daycare does his swimming lessons? That seems a bit silly to M. (never heard of it, not that it's not cool). I don't think any one pool is better as long as every one cleans it. It depends on the YMCA, hotel, or waterpark... know what I mean. My daughter has never got ear infections. Anyone can get swimmers ear or ear infections. Again, it depends on how much chlorine they have to disinfect the pool and how often they clean it.

I definitely put sunscreen on my baby. I put on banana boat kids spray that's like 110 spf. As long as you watch him and play with him he'll be fine and have fun :) My daughter was 1 1/2 when she went in the pool again but that's because her first bday falls in November. At 1 1/2 she liked walking in the shallow end but didn't like the pool really cold. I look for heated pools or pools that are warm... some of them suckers get COLD, to the point where I don't want to go in them myself.

You should try the organic sunscreens momofsix talks about :) I didn't even know they made that stuff.

For sunscreen we use organic brands; we like the Alba Botanicals Kids and the Avalon Baby sunscreen. They have no harmful chemicals in them, and are safe for baby.

We always took ours to lakes, which is way scarier in terms of what's in the water. lol

Take him to the pool!!! Most likely he will LOVE it!!! My kids started swimming at under a year and they both love it. My daughter is 3.5 and can swim sort of, really well for a 3 y/o! My son is 20 months and is loving the water. He jumps off the side and dunks his head in all the time. I think it's partly b/c I introduced them to it early and they feel comfortable doing it.

As far as ear infections, my pediatrician bascially said that the toddler age kids aren't really prone to swimmer's ear b/c they don't go under the water enough. He said it's mostly older kids who are constantly swimming underwater, playing games, going off diving boards etc., and that the amount of water getting in a toddler ear (usually) is not enough to cause an issue.

I would however be very cautious about any day care or camp taking your child to the pool. I am generally pretty easy going about stuff like this and want my kid to have experiences, BUT there have been too many stories about kids being harmed while at camp or day care at the pool. We go to the pool a lot and camps come every day and I honestly don't know how those counselors watch them all, especially the ones who are busy talking to their friends! Anyway, I know it's a day care and it may be different but I would ask a LOT of questions before you agree and I would probably even take a break from work and pop in on them at the pool one day just to see how they are handling things.

Pools that have shallow ends and baby pools are the best places to go. Most baby pools allow flotation devices and toys. Usually the main part of the pool does not allow flotation devices except for Coast Gurad approved life vests. Baby pools also usually have slides and he would probably love that too!

I feel like all swim diapers are pretty much the same so buy whatever is cheapest, on sale, or you have a coupon for. We like the Coppertone Baby sunscreen, mostly b/c it smells good and when I spray it on my kids don't complain! ;) My generic target stuff works fine for M., but it does have a funky smell! haha!

Lastly, make sure you take snacks and plenty of water. Swimming makes kids starving! I always have a snack for shower time and in the car on the way home and they still don't have a problem eating dinner!

They do a pretty good job of keeping the chlorine at a safe and effective level in public pools. I've never worried about my kids getting sick from it.

I bough swim diapers for my boys. They were swim trunks with a built in swim diaper. Basically, it will catch the poop. I bought mine at Target. The disposable swim diapers are like $20 for 18. I guess that's not horribly expensive, but I was happy with the swim trunks I bought.

I use Banana Boat or Coppertone with the misty spray. It's so much easier than rubbing on lotion at that age (when they want to run away from you). I just spray in on at home before we get in the car. I usually reapply every hour or so because my kids are very fair skinned.

Honestly, the scariest part for M. is just being attentive to both of them so no one goes under water. It's hard to be one adult with two kids at the pool, but as they get older I'm sure it will get easier :-)

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Your baby will be fine. I started taking my kids swimming at 2 months old. They hardly ever got sick. As for sunscreen, just get one that's all natural. Go to a whole foods or trader joes or something and get one there.

My daughter was in the pool when she was about 6 weeks old (August baby)

My son was in the pool when he was 4 months (March baby) and my youngest was in the pool when he was 4 weeks old (July baby)...

They all had swimming lessons before they could walk - M. and M. classes (getting adjusted to the water) and lessons from 2 on....

our community pool does NOT allow older children (above the age of 4) in the "baby pool" when babies are there.

Take a deep breath. Are you afraid of the water as well? What are you Jonesing over? I don't get that...I'm a fish - always have, always will be....I've stressed no-fear of the water to my kids and ensured that they are taught HOW TO SWIM - as to M., it's a LIFE LESSON...

I don't panic or stress over how many other kids are at the pool...I take care of MY children...

I used the Little Swimmers for them when they were not potty trained and have used the Banana Boat 60 SPF on them.