Exercising in the pool with your baby.

[Anonymous]

So, I'm a swimmer and would love to go back to the water once my baby is born.
Due to physical imparity I cannot exercise out of the water so yoga with the baby and the such are not an option for us.
What all options do I have to exercise in the water with my baby?
I do have some exercises I can do with the baby on my lap but I wish I could just "sit" the baby at arms reach and perform other exercises with one hand on the baby at all times!!!
I've been checking baby seats that float in the water (the kinds we see by the pool during summer) but they're just suitable for 6mo and older. I can't wait that long to go back to the water
Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I work at a pool and have been around water my whole life. I don't know of any floatation device that I would trust for a little baby.

Washington sports clubs have babysitting starting at 3 months and some locations have pools.

Good luck and congrats!

[Anonymous]

A baby sitter is really your best bet up until 6mos.

[Anonymous]

yep. babysitter, PT nanny, mom, MIL ....

get someone to watch your baby for an hour.

[Anonymous]

Our pediatrician advised us not to take the baby into a pool until at least 6 mo. b/c of the concentration of chlorine and other chemicals and babies' skin is thinner and more sensitive.

In addition, our ped. said that babies have no head support or control so accidental drowning (slipping out of an adult's hands) can occur which is why he told us to wait a little bit longer.

I'll probably get flamed for this, but what I've done in the past is put DD (who was 3 months old) in the car seat and leave the car seat near the side of the pool while I took a water walking class. I took the class during DD's nap time so she was fast asleep in the car carrier by the side of the pool. I could keep my eye out on her and still do my water walking.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the suggestions but when DH is working (he travels a lot) I'm alone here in the area. And the few friends I have work all day so nobody really available to watch the baby for me while I exercise.
I have the pool in my building so gym membership is not in my plans...
I'm was swimming instructor in the past and my life is lived half in the water... I want my baby in the water ASAP. No way I can wait 3mo
I guess I'll have to do the basics during the week and save the extra exercising for when DH is around
Thanks to all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our pediatrician advised us not to take the baby into a pool until at least 6 mo. b/c of the concentration of chlorine and other chemicals and babies' skin is thinner and more sensitive.

In addition, our ped. said that babies have no head support or control so accidental drowning (slipping out of an adult's hands) can occur which is why he told us to wait a little bit longer.

I'll probably get flamed for this, but what I've done in the past is put DD (who was 3 months old) in the car seat and leave the car seat near the side of the pool while I took a water walking class. I took the class during DD's nap time so she was fast asleep in the car carrier by the side of the pool. I could keep my eye out on her and still do my water walking.

OP again.
I would never take my tiny baby to a public pool - the crowded kind of pool. In our building I exercise alone most of the time, just me and the life guard watching...
The main concern with such environments is the shots. The baby is safer once they've taken all their shots that's why the cut off age is usually between 4 and 6mo.
And a baby cannot be immersed long enough to drown if they're being held by an adult and "slip". Until 4mo they still have the sharp glottic closure reflex so when the water reaches their nose they close up and won't breath water.
Anyway, the sensitivity to chlorine depends on the person's skin and I've seen more babies that are OK with it than babies that have reactions to it so I'll try with mine as early as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our pediatrician advised us not to take the baby into a pool until at least 6 mo. b/c of the concentration of chlorine and other chemicals and babies' skin is thinner and more sensitive.

In addition, our ped. said that babies have no head support or control so accidental drowning (slipping out of an adult's hands) can occur which is why he told us to wait a little bit longer.

I'll probably get flamed for this, but what I've done in the past is put DD (who was 3 months old) in the car seat and leave the car seat near the side of the pool while I took a water walking class. I took the class during DD's nap time so she was fast asleep in the car carrier by the side of the pool. I could keep my eye out on her and still do my water walking.

OP again.
I would never take my tiny baby to a public pool - the crowded kind of pool. In our building I exercise alone most of the time, just me and the life guard watching...
The main concern with such environments is the shots. The baby is safer once they've taken all their shots that's why the cut off age is usually between 4 and 6mo.
And a baby cannot be immersed long enough to drown if they're being held by an adult and "slip". Until 4mo they still have the sharp glottic closure reflex so when the water reaches their nose they close up and won't breath water.
Anyway, the sensitivity to chlorine depends on the person's skin and I've seen more babies that are OK with it than babies that have reactions to it so I'll try with mine as early as possible.

I'm confuse about your post OP. Originally you said you waned to find a way to bring the baby into the pool with you to do your exercises, but then in your reply above to the PP you said you would never bring your baby into the pool. Could you clarify what you are looking for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our pediatrician advised us not to take the baby into a pool until at least 6 mo. b/c of the concentration of chlorine and other chemicals and babies' skin is thinner and more sensitive.

In addition, our ped. said that babies have no head support or control so accidental drowning (slipping out of an adult's hands) can occur which is why he told us to wait a little bit longer.

I'll probably get flamed for this, but what I've done in the past is put DD (who was 3 months old) in the car seat and leave the car seat near the side of the pool while I took a water walking class. I took the class during DD's nap time so she was fast asleep in the car carrier by the side of the pool. I could keep my eye out on her and still do my water walking.

OP again.
I would never take my tiny baby to a public pool - the crowded kind of pool. In our building I exercise alone most of the time, just me and the life guard watching...
The main concern with such environments is the shots. The baby is safer once they've taken all their shots that's why the cut off age is usually between 4 and 6mo.
And a baby cannot be immersed long enough to drown if they're being held by an adult and "slip". Until 4mo they still have the sharp glottic closure reflex so when the water reaches their nose they close up and won't breath water.
Anyway, the sensitivity to chlorine depends on the person's skin and I've seen more babies that are OK with it than babies that have reactions to it so I'll try with mine as early as possible.

I'm confuse about your post OP. Originally you said you waned to find a way to bring the baby into the pool with you to do your exercises, but then in your reply above to the PP you said you would never bring your baby into the pool. Could you clarify what you are looking for?

Sorry if I was not clear.
I meant to say I would never take my young baby - 6mo or less - to a PUBLIC pool. Like in the club or community center.
The pool where I exercise is in my building and I rarely share it with other people. It's just me and the life guard since I exercise during the day when most people are at work. So it's very quite and peaceful. The pool gets "crowded" mostly in the evening - after 6pm when people get home from work I guess. And they mostly swim laps or exercise like I do. I've never seen people there at the pool "just chilling".

[Anonymous]

Originally you said you waned to find a way to bring the baby into the pool with you to do your exercises, but then in your reply above to the PP you said you would never bring your baby into the pool.

It's the difference between a public pool and the private pool in her building, which she says is never used by anyone at all. Reading comprehension. It's a handy thing.

[Anonymous]

I'm a long time swimmer, and I took my child into the pool for the first time at just shy of 4mos. For about 10 min max--he wouldn't tolerate any longer, and this kid loves the bathtub.

Unless your pool is at bathwater temp, I'd wait until the baby is asleep in the stroller to go in the water, and then I'd only do it if I could hear him the whole time. (Otherwise you are really asking the lifeguard to babysit.)

[Anonymous]

What if you just get one of those aqua jogger belts and/or some water weights for yourself.

You could go ahead with the baby-in-the-carseat-by-pool plan and workout in the water IN PLACE so that you're right there for the baby.

Then later you could add some time in the water for the baby as a little playtime (I don't think you'll get much exercise out of that!)

Even if you've been swimming forever, you're not going to want to be a whole pool length away from the baby, there's no way you could make it back.

[Anonymous]

Here's what I did a few times while on vacation with a 9 week old: got a small inflatible Zodiac-shaped raft (with sides & a bottom). Laid the baby on a beach towel in the raft and pushed/held it in front of me while I water-walked back & forth the length of the pool. The motion on the water put him to sleep while I was able to get some much-needed exercise. Though admittedly it got boring quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our pediatrician advised us not to take the baby into a pool until at least 6 mo. b/c of the concentration of chlorine and other chemicals and babies' skin is thinner and more sensitive.

In addition, our ped. said that babies have no head support or control so accidental drowning (slipping out of an adult's hands) can occur which is why he told us to wait a little bit longer.

I'll probably get flamed for this, but what I've done in the past is put DD (who was 3 months old) in the car seat and leave the car seat near the side of the pool while I took a water walking class. I took the class during DD's nap time so she was fast asleep in the car carrier by the side of the pool. I could keep my eye out on her and still do my water walking.

OP again.
I would never take my tiny baby to a public pool - the crowded kind of pool. In our building I exercise alone most of the time, just me and the life guard watching...
The main concern with such environments is the shots. The baby is safer once they've taken all their shots that's why the cut off age is usually between 4 and 6mo.
And a baby cannot be immersed long enough to drown if they're being held by an adult and "slip". Until 4mo they still have the sharp glottic closure reflex so when the water reaches their nose they close up and won't breath water.
Anyway, the sensitivity to chlorine depends on the person's skin and I've seen more babies that are OK with it than babies that have reactions to it so I'll try with mine as early as possible.

I'm confuse about your post OP. Originally you said you waned to find a way to bring the baby into the pool with you to do your exercises, but then in your reply above to the PP you said you would never bring your baby into the pool. Could you clarify what you are looking for?

Sorry if I was not clear.
I meant to say I would never take my young baby - 6mo or less - to a PUBLIC pool. Like in the club or community center.
The pool where I exercise is in my building and I rarely share it with other people. It's just me and the life guard since I exercise during the day when most people are at work. So it's very quite and peaceful. The pool gets "crowded" mostly in the evening - after 6pm when people get home from work I guess. And they mostly swim laps or exercise like I do. I've never seen people there at the pool "just chilling".

It's still a public pool.....I thought the issue with a public pool would be the germs, but your concern with a public pool seems to be the crowds?
You sound really selfish OP. Sucks that you can't exercise out of water, but you seem like you don't care at all about what you might be exposing your baby to. Your only concern is you and how to get your baby in/near the pool to accommodate YOU. selfish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's what I did a few times while on vacation with a 9 week old: got a small inflatible Zodiac-shaped raft (with sides & a bottom). Laid the baby on a beach towel in the raft and pushed/held it in front of me while I water-walked back & forth the length of the pool. The motion on the water put him to sleep while I was able to get some much-needed exercise. Though admittedly it got boring quickly.

That's such an amazing idea!!! Exactly what I was looking for! Thank you so much!!!
I know young babies don't tolerate the water for longer than 20 or 30 minutes - that's one of the reasons why "swimming lessons" for infants are shorter - so that's the kind of solution I was looking for because once baby is wet and doesn't want the water anymore we have to be ready to pack and leave.
I've worked in so many different indoor/heated pools and so far this is the warmest I've ever seen!