Nine tips to help keep your child safe in the water and the sun this summer

Swimming is one of the activities that a lot of us look forward to as summer approaches. Especially for children, the idea of a day at the beach or pool can be just as exciting as a full-on vacation!

But before you and your kiddos jump into the pool this season, here are a few things you should know about keeping your child safe in the sun and the water…

1. Help your child learn to swim.

Many experts recommend starting to introduce your child to the pool as early as 4-6 months old and enrolling in swimming lessons by age one. This is especially true if you have a pool, family members have a pool, you live near a beach, or your child is around water often. It is important to teach your child to learn to swim to prevent water accidents, and it is especially important to teach your child to float. However, even if your child CAN swim, they still need to be supervised. 

2. Floaties should not replace supervision.

While flotation devices can certainly help keep your child safe in the water, you should still be within arm’s reach of your child when they are in the water and there should be a designated adult that is watching them at all times.

3. Life jackets are necessary in many situations, even if your child can swim.

Experts recommend that life jackets are used in a pool when young children do not know how to swim, but also on boats, in kayaks, etc. even if the child does know how to swim. This goes for you too, parents!

4. Buy swimwear that doesn’t blend in with water or nature.

When picking out your child’s swimsuit, avoid colors like blue, green, and white. Instead, choose colors like red, orange, yellow, and pink, which stand out in the water and help you easily find your child in a large pool or at the beach. 

5. Do not allow your child to swim alone, even if they are a great swimmer.

This is especially true in the ocean, where the water strength and movement is unpredictable. Your great swimmer could tire easily in a situation where the current is strong. Even in a pool, they could hit their head on the side, so it is important they are not swimming alone.

6. If you own a pool and have children, it needs to be fenced - period.

ALL pools should have a safety-approved fence around them that a child cannot unlock. One of the most common accidents in families with pools is that the child wanders out to the pool, even while the parents are in the home.

7. Use sun protection.

Even when it is cloudy, your child can still get sunburned. For younger babies, keeping them in the shade is the best way to protect them from too much sun. For older children Earth Mama, has some great mineral sunscreen options. California Beach Co, also has a a pop-up tent that is a great option to bring with you to the beach, camping, or any other area that doesn’t have great shade and can give your child a place to rest if you’ll be out all day (use code RACHELMITCHELL for a discount!)

8. For babies younger than six months old, do not use sunscreen at all, and instead shade them from direct sunlight.

Because their skin is less mature at this stage, babies should not have their skin exposed to sunscreen OR too much direct sunlight. Instead, shade them from the sun, especially from 10am-2pm when UV rays are most intense. You can do this with an umbrella, tent, stroller shade (not a regular blanket, as that can trap the heat in), beach tent (see above) or other device that safely protects your baby. You also want to dress your baby in a light, long sleeve clothing and a hat.

9. Keep your children - especially babies - well-hydrated!

Did you know that babies don’t sweat in the same way we do? For this reason, they can become overheated quickly, so it is important that you feed your infant frequently with formula or breastmilk when it is very warm outside. For older children, make sure they drink plenty of water, and, in some cases, Gatorade or other options that have electrolytes. 

These tips are not meant to scare you, but rather to provide you with the knowledge you need to keep your little ones safe so that you can have a little fun, too!