Hellobee Boards

Yea for pool season!

I used mineral based sunscreen rather than chemical sunscreen early on because like you said, its florida and they need protection.

When we took M to the pool in Pensacola, over the summer, her first year (she was 3 months) I put her in a one piece rash guard thing that covered her arms and legs and put a hat on her so no skin was showing. I just held her at that age but I'm not sure what I would have done at 5 months...maybe a pool floaty. Also, why not a pool floaty like that if you're going to use it more than once! If she hates it, you can always try again another time.

I would just limit the time in the sun. We didn't stay in the pool long b/c she wasn't the hugest fan, or it didn't seem to excite her. It was nicer just to sit on the pool deck, in the shade, and relax.

If it's a true swim diaper you don't need anything underneath. It's only meant to hold poop, not pee. So wait till the last possible minute to put that on.

No sunscreen before 6m. She shouldn't be out that long in the pool anyway.

How strong is she at sitting up at this point? You're not going to leave her alone in the floaty so i think with someone right there you should be OK.

I would minimize the time LO is spending in the pool especially a public pool due to chlorine levels. And sun exposure at a outdoor pool. Make sure they're under a shaded area when you're lounging. I bought a uv protected mesh tent for my LO.

Hat, long sleeved rash guard....and with that, I wouldn't worry about sunscreen, since she won't have any uncovered skin in the sun (and she shouldn't be out in the sun for long periods).

I used sunscreen before 6 months. I'd rather have a one-off sunscreen application than a sunburn at that age.

I used california baby sensitive sunscreen when J was 4 months old because we had a family vacation. I had originally tried aveeno but he broke out into a rash.

To limit sun exposure I had bought a long sleeved rash guard with swim trunks, and a charlie banana swim diaper- I have one in his current size and it's great. I think it actually does hold the urine in the diaper?

I know at our YMCA pool the rule is that a baby must wear a swim diaper, a plastic cover AND swim bottoms so that there are three layers of protection.

J wasn't a huge fan of the swim floatie until he was a little older - so we mostly just held him. I really wanted one of those water slings! But he loved it when he was 1+. But every baby is different.

We're going to be on vacation in FL next week so I called my peds office to get some advice about bringing DS (4 months) in the pool with us. What they told me is:

- Sunscreen is ok, they said better to use a little bit than to have baby get burned. They ok'd Mustela, Blue Lizard and Neutrogena Baby.
- Use a hat with a brim and a long sleeve rash guard
- Rinse chlorine off of baby afterwards

@GrapeCrush: hahaha. was it the charlie banana diaper?

I am strongly against babies in floats. My husband was a lifeguard and he had to rescue lots of babies from those floats. I suggest holding your LO.