Swimming is an enjoyable pastime and hobby for so many children. It is the hallmark of the perfect summers day. Many children will swim for hours on end if they were able. However many parents wonder how long their child should be in a pool or the water at the beach before they should get out.
The general rule is that babies can swim for 30 minutes at a time whereas older children should swim for 2 hours at a time before taking a break so long as they are not too cold or exhausted.
How Long Can Kids Stay In A Pool?
Babies aged under 12 months should not be in the water for more than 30 minutes at a time. Babies can start going to pools from two months old. Older children can stay in the water for longer periods of time.
Babies who are under 12 months are still not able to regulate their body temperature effectively. This means that they are at greater risk of becoming cold much quicker.
Babies are not as adaptable as adults to temperature change. A baby’s body surface is about three times greater than an adult’s, compared to the weight of his/her body. Babies can lose heat rapidly, as much as four times more quickly than adults.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
As babies mature they are better able to regulate their own body temperature and therefore able to sustain longer periods swimming in a pool.
Babies as young as two months can begin frequenting swimming pools and other swimming areas like beaches and rivers. It is suggested that you wait until your baby is 2 months old before taking them swimming due to the risk of picking up an infection from the water.
The bath is a great way to get your baby used to water in preparation for visiting a swimming pool. When you do make that first trip to the pool ensure that the water temperature is around 90F. This temperature will keep your baby warm throughout the entire session.
Older children can stay in the pool for two hours at a time. This time period allows for your child to get out of the water to eat and drink at regular intervals. It also is the appropriate time for the sunscreen to be reapplied.
However, you should have your child get out of the pool earlier if they show any of these symptoms:
They Are Shivering
Shivering is usually a sure sign that your child is cold and needs to get out of the pool to warm up. This can include simply wrapping them in a dry towel or allowing them to warm up in the heat of the sun.
Their Lips Have A Blue Tinge To Them
Blue lips are another sure indication that your child is cold. Blue lips occur when the blood vessels in the lips restrict as a response to the cold.
They Are Showing Signs Of Exhaustion
Swimming is a fun, but also exhausting physical activity. Children will often swim until the point of exhaustion. If you notice them becoming tired it is important to have to sit out for a little while to regain their energy. A drink and something to eat will likely help too.
They Appear To Be Unwell
Pools contain a lot of chemicals to keep them clean. When children are playing they can inadvertently ingest a lot of water. This water can make them feel unwell. The last thing you want is for your child to vomit while in the water.
What Age Can Children Go Swimming Alone?
No one should ever swim alone however, there comes a time when your child may be ready to go swimming without being actively supervised. This can be scary and nerve-wracking for many parents.
There is no set age for when a child can go swimming alone. They should be at an age where they can act maturely and be able to swim confidently.
Most aquatic centres allow children 10 years and over to swim unsupervised by a parent or guardian. However, if you do not feel that your child is ready at this age then use your best judgement.
As a parent, you know your child and their abilities best. There is often a great divide between skill level and maturity. Children and teenagers regularly have the skill level to swim without parental supervision but their maturity level can lead them to make dangerous and rash decisions. This is especially common when surrounded by others of similar ages.
It is best to decide whether your child can swim alone without adult supervision on a case by case basis. There may be times when you feel that it would be perfectly safe for them to swim unsupervised and times where you know it will likely lead to dangerous situations.
Along with the maturity needed to swim alone, children also need to have proficient swimming skills. The American Red Cross has developed a swim skills checklist that you can use to assess whether your child is capable enough to be swimming unsupervised. If your child can pass the test you can be confident that they have the swimming skills needed.
Interestingly in a poll conducted in 2017 by C.S. Mott’s Children’s Hospital, it found that only 45% of parents who reported that their child could swim independently would allow them to swim unsupervised. This adds weight to the need to weigh both the swimming proficiency alongside maturity when deciding if your child is ready to swim alone.
How Far Can Kids Swim?
On average, at the age of six, a child should be able to swim 5m. At the age of twelve, a child should be able to swim 50m and finally at the age of 17 they should be able to swim a distance of 400m.
These guidelines are set out in the Australian Royal Lifesaving Australia’s benchmarks.
Many children will not be able to swim these lengths especially if they have had limited exposure to swimming. Some children will far exceed these benchmarks. These are merely a set of guidelines on how far an average child can reasonably swim.
Along with being able to swim far, other skills go along with the distance they can have swum. These include being able to safely enter and exit the water and being able to identify dangers quickly.
Children who have participated in swimming lessons will likely reach these milestones a lot quicker.
How Many Swim Lessons Does A Child Need?
Generally speaking, it takes from 24 -104 lessons for a child to be able to swim. The amount of lessons they need depends on their age when they start taking swim lessons. The older the child the quicker they can learn.
The timeframe for how long it takes a child to learn how to swim is roughly 6 months to 2 years based on one lesson a week.
If you want to speed up how quickly your child learns how to swim you may want to consider private lessons. A lesson that is one on one is going to be much more effective than a group lesson.
Many other factors determine how many swim lessons a child may need. These can include:
Fear of the water
A child who is fearful of the water is going to require more swimming lessons. This will include helping them to overcome the initial fear before any true skills can be taught.
Previous water experience
Many children enter swimming lessons with a lot of water confidence and aptitude just based on having spent a lot of time swimming. However, this may be their first experience with dedicated swim lessons. These children will likely progress quicker than a child who has had very little exposure to swimming.
How consistent the lessons are
Consistency is key to learning how to swim. There is a saying that goes “if you don’t use it, you lose it”. This is very true when it comes to swimming. If you are not consistent in making sure your child attends lessons and has time at the pool practising the skills they will take longer to become a proficient swimmer.
Frequency of Lessons
Lesson frequency also plays a part in learning to swim. A child who has multiple lessons a week can be expected to move at a faster pace and therefore master the skills required when learning to swim. A minimum of one lesson is suggested but two lessons a week is often preferred.
Natural Ability
Some children just take swimming like fish to water. They are natural swimmers and this is just an area where they excel. These children require fewer lessons to become confident swimmers but maybe benefit from more lessons to push their abilities a little more.