The benefits of baby swim lessons and the effects of chlorine on their skin
Swim safe skills and skincare tips for your little water baby.
Learning to swim at a young age is a beneficial skill that will stay with your child for the rest of their life.
Getting your toddler used to the water will make swimming lessons much easier, as well as eliminate any fears around water and the pool.
Being in the water engages your baby’s body by creating billions of new neurons as your baby kicks and splashes in the water.
Due to their delicate immune systems, doctors typically recommend that parents keep their babies from chlorinated pools until they’re about six-months-old.
The effects of chlorine on babies and children’s sensitive skin and hair can sometimes make swimming more of a chore than a fun experience.
According to paediatric dermatologist, Dr. Jennifer Crawley, children’s skin is thinner than adult skin and they tend to spend longer in the pool than adults, making them more susceptible to the effects of chlorine on the skin.
Chlorine can:
• Strip the skin and hair of its natural oils
• Leave the skin feeling tight, dry and itchy
• Aggravate skin conditions such as atopy, eczema and psoriasis
• Make the hair dry and brittle
• Leave a strong smell lingering on skin and hair.
Children’s skin is thinner than adult skin and can be more susceptible to the effects of chlorine on the skin.
To counteract the negative effects of chlorine, Dr. Crawley recommends the following:
• Rinsing off with fresh water immediately after swimming
• Using a mild, natural cleanser for hair and body
• Using a high quality moisturiser with proven hydrating ingredients
• Washing the hair with a conditioning shampoo to help reduce dryness
Little Étoile® Care SwimProtect 2-In-1 Shampoo & Body Wash (2+ Years) is a shampoo and body wash that has been scientifically developed to neutralize chlorine and chemical impurities, allowing for the restoration of bleached and weakened hair, skin and scalp after swimming & water sports.
This post-swim essential helps to combat the effects of chlorine and seawater impurities, reducing hair damage, discoloration, and skin dryness.
