Toddler's Dry Skin After Swimming

new rule: if he won't take the shower afterwards, then there's no swimming.

Plain & simple.....he needs that shower to keep his skin healthy. At age 3, he is fully capable of understanding cause & effect. How about getting him interested in science projects at home....put lots of salt in some water, let him stick his fingers in it, & then let the skin air dry. Talk about the "tightness" of the skin, how it feels, & then translate that learning experience to swimming/showering! Never too early to learn....

As for a recommendation for lotion: any Aveeno product should be beneficial. I've been using it for years with the kids.

I'm sure he's reacting to the chlorine, many people do, the shower would eliminate that problem and then rub him down with some aloe lotion -- a pure one. He's 3. I'd hold him kicking and screaming if I had to and just rinse him off after the swim. That's one of the advantages of being "bigger" than him right now. You wont be able to do that about 10 years from now Dad.

If he won't take a shower, have him take a bath when he gets home afterward to get the chlorine and pool chemicals off his skin and hair.
When ever we get home from swimming anywhere (ocean or pool), we wash off ourselves and rinse the suits out.
Aveeno has some soothing no fragrance hypoallergenic lotions and you can use them after his bath.

I would try Aquaphor lotion, its vaseline based so greasy and a little messy to put on but it absorbs into the skin quickly and gives it a nice moisturized coating.

I have to agree with the others, showering is key! Is he afraid of the shower? My daughter was (she has wacky fears, and a list of them to boot!) and once I just kept getting in there with her and making her do it she now likes it. We also go swimming with two of her friends a lot and it helps that they get in the shower. We all just go in the same room and shower the kids all together. Any lotion that you put on after will do the trick, but the creamier the better. If you have to, just give him a bath at home after you swim, but keep working on the showering, it does make things easier! ;)

Hi Paul---The shower to get the chlorine off of him is essential. Chlorine is a necessary evil but it is also a carcinogen.

Simply tell him this. He has 2 choices and he HAS to choose. Shower or itch. Then lead him to the conclusion that the shower is the lesser of 2 evils. It won't take but a couple of showers for him to get the idea that it is not such a bad thing. One question...have you ever taken him in the shower with you? Might be a relatively easy way to get him accustomed to it.

I would recommend Aveeno. It has a nice balance of absorbability and protection...and I think they have an anti-itch formula.

Good luck. D.

If he won't shower, then you need to wipe him down with a washcloth after swimming. The pool water has either chlorine or saline in it, both of which are essentially salt crystals. As the water dries and evaporates, the salts are left behind making his skin dry and itchy.

You have to get the salts off before applying any lotion. Eucerin is great and what we use post-swim lessons. It's creamy without being overly greasy.