what temperature should baby public swimming pools be?

[Whatabeautifulsight10]

This isn't ssomething I'm aware of myself, and wondered if leisure centres aimed to create a certain swimming environment for young babies?

I'm wondering because today I took my 13 week old dd swimming, and was angry about the pool temperature.

My dd loves a bath, and I'd hoped to introduce her to the water, gauge her reaction, and hopefully begin baby aqua fun class if this is something she enjoys.

I'd prepared by checking on leisure centre's website, who stated temperature of baby pool was suitable for young babies, and warm. Instead the water felt cold, and on dipping dd in for a few seconds, she began crying and shivering. I asked a lifeguard if the temperature was different in an adjoining pool but he wasn't too helpful just saying it was the same. I wrapped dd in a towel and got us both warm and dry.

I did complain to the manager, who said it is only warmed to 30 degrees normally, but today they've worked on something so the temp was lower. I of course got a refund.

So, my question is, are the baby pools usually warm and suitable for young babies? Was I just unlucky today and should go somewhere else? I'm not expecting bath temperatures, just something that wouldn't make dd cry!

Or are thet only in fact lukewarm?

[PourquoiTuGachesTaVie]

The only warm pool I've ever been in was at a private gym. And the more you pay, the warmer the pool.

All council run leisure centre pools are permanently almost-cold IME. It's ok once you start moving and warm up but I'd imagine a baby wouldn't be happy for longer than 5-10 minutes.

[workingtitle]

That temp sounds standard for public pools. It's not unusual for babies to find pools cold when they're so little. If you do join a class you will probably be asked to dress the baby in a neoprene wrap. Did you have one on your DD? They make quite a difference.

[sleepisforthetired]

Standard temp around here is 28-30 degrees.

Not sure if this is at al helpful!

[Frontier]

30 degrees is actually pretty warm for a public pool. Our baby pool is 30, main pool 28.

If you actually want to swim properly, anything more than 28 is too hot.

[WaffleWiffle]

30 for a baby pool is usual. A degree or two lower for a main pool.

[Iamrandom]

At 13 weeks they need a neoprene wrap. In fact my 2 year old still prefers to be in the water with his mini wetsuit. Small people just loose heat quicker. I use the splashabout ones but there are lots of cheaper types out there too.

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

Find somewhere with a separate baby pool.

Our local single pool is freezing.

It's also worth looking carefully at the time table, if your a SAHP and can get in the session after SN sessions they sometimes up the temp.

University did and it was really annoying for doing serious lengths, but it would have been great with a baby.

DF swears by her DSs baby wetsuit. I'm lucky my DDs were/are totally unbothered fish, my problem is extracting them from pools, rivers or sea before they turn blue.

[Whatabeautifulsight10]

Thanks very much everyone, great advice.

I'll look into getting a wrap for her, they look good from researching online.

30 degrees seems normal then for specific baby pool. The pool today was definitely colder than this today (I played around with water and thermometer once I got in, sad I know but I wanted to make sure I hadn't made unnecessary fuss to the manager) and similarly cold water at home was around 24, so colder than it should have been.

I'll try again soon once I've got the wrap and look into baby classes, I'll only be doing 10 minute swims or so at first as she's still so little.

Thanks for your help

[Honeymoonmummy]

Have a look at which pools are used by local baby swimming classes and see which are open to the public. Some public pools (often smaller ones ime) are warmer

[Laundryangel]

At our local pool, the main pool is always displaying a temp of 29 degrees & the shallow childrens' pool is 31 degrees. I ME, the displayed temperature means nothing. Normally, getting in is pleasant but today I winced & DS squealed each time I put him further in. But once in it was fine. I've realised that one of the parenting skills I hadn't realised I'd need is getting into a freezing pool or sea & smiling & saying in a cheerful fashion "this is lovely, come on in".

[daluze]

You may find baby swimming classes that use warmer pools (ours is 34 degrees), but standard public pools for toddlers/babies are ~30 degrees. There you need a neoprene wrap or mini wetsuit to keep them warm. (Btw, if she likes swimming, later you may not be able to drag her out of water no matter what is the temperature - my 20 months old turns blue, but still protests when I take him out of water!)

[QTPie]

Maybe try to find out if you have any "hydrotherapy" pools that have public sessions (and allow babies) near year. Try googling.

Our first Waterbabies group used a hydrotherapy pool (at a local special school) and those are heated to 35' - perfect for even tiny babies (DS was 14 weeks when he started).

[micah]

Yep, many public pools won't be warm. Proper swim temp is cold-ish, and a learner pool will only be a degree or two warmer than the main pool, so will still feel cold when you get in.

When ours were little we still took them weekly, but always got them out while they were still enjoying it, so at the first sign of cold, upset, or simply if they asked. Sometimes meant we paid for a 5 min swim, but it's more about getting them used to the noise, water and general environment rather than swimming.

[TheTravellingLemon]

Hi, I'm a swim teacher so I'd thought I'd jump in

Babies over 3 months - 30 to 32
Babies under 3 months - 32
Toddlers and children - 29 to 31

There are plenty of wetsuits on the market too, if your pool doesn't reach the above. I particularly like Two Bare Feet for older children and Splash About for the little ones.

HTH

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

You lot are all far kinder than me. No way would I pay to swim for 5minutes. The DDs just had to put up with it and wet suits wraps hadn't been invented. Couldn't have afforded one for DD1 anyway.

The only consideration they got was we tried to avoid our nearest frezzing pool, but that's because it's too cold for me to stand still.

[Laundryangel]

At our local pool, the main pool is always displaying a temp of 29 degrees & the shallow childrens' pool is 31 degrees. I ME, the displayed temperature means nothing. Normally, getting in is pleasant but today I winced & DS squealed each time I put him further in. But once in it was fine. I've realised that one of the parenting skills I hadn't realised I'd need is getting into a freezing pool or sea & smiling & saying in a cheerful fashion "this is lovely, come on in".

[chrome100]

Our pool is 27 degrees. There's no separate baby pool but they have "lessons" in the big pool and seem ok. Some of them wear wetsuit things.

I find the water far too cold personally and have complained many times, but lots of elite swimmers train there so they have it that temperature for them even though they are in a minority

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

Yes, and it saves money, making mums standing about with litties shiver

[poocatcherchampion]

tbh I just get on with it as well. never bothered with wet suits abs my 2 love swimming in whatever temp.