Baby swimming or matronation is beneficial in many ways, both for the little one and for the mother or dad who accompany it. However, there are some risks in swimming practice for babies that we go on to list.
Most of them are controlled with an adequate water disinfection and maintenance system (remember which are the best swimming pools for babies) and through constant attention of adults.
According to an article from the Spanish Association of Pediatrics, there is a risk that infants and younger children will have these problems and diseases related to swimming:
- hyperhydration due to water intake
- the chemical conjunctivitis by chlorine (especially in summer, since the sun contributes more to it)
- viral infectious conjunctivitis (due to adenovirus, very contagious and prolonged) or bacterial
- corneal infection in children with contact lenses (keratitis, which in some cases can be serious)
- he molluscum contagiosum (skin infection as a wart with a depressed center that spread through the rest of the skin and especially contagious in swimming pools)
- fungal foot infections (especially in showers)
- Pityriasis versicolor (fungal back skin infection)
- diarrhea
- sunburn (with the subsequent subsequent risk of skin cancer)
- trauma
- drowning: this is the most important danger that derives from neglect by parents or monitors
In the case of infections, they are spread mostly by water, although they are usually benign. In the case of trauma or drowning, they are the cause of a large number of deaths per year and, if they survive, serious and permanent brain injuries.
In addition, remember that the Spanish Association of Pediatrics did not advise against swimming with babies, despite the news that talk about possible respiratory problems in children due to excess chlorine.
Although it did point out that there was to choose specially prepared swimming pools for babies: according to the AEP itself this increase in risk does not occur if there are levels of chlorination of water within the established limits and the aeration of the facilities is adequate.
How to prevent the risks
What are the medical advice to prevent such diseases and problems related to child swimming?
- The accompaniment and exhaustive surveillance of the child that prevents accidental immersion
- If it is outdoors, the application of sun protection creams for maximum protection and special for children before and during (every hour or less) the activity
- With regard to infections, the risk of suffering them is greater in mass swimming pools (usually public ones) and their prevention is not easy: the use of flip flops as soon as they leave would prevent fungal infections of the feet, and in children with contact lenses they do not They must be used.
- The choice of swimming pools that comply with disinfection and aeration regulations
As we see, there are some risks associated with swimming of children and babies, although the associated benefits and the relatively easy prevention of risks mean that this activity is not discouraged.
