There is something so wholesome about seeing your little one enjoying their time at the pool. Whether they’re partaking in swim lessons or you’re just taking them for a fun splash to create those core memories, there is something nostalgic about your baby splashing and giggling in the pool that transports you back to all the fun you had at the pool growing up. They’ll be doing handstands and jumping in in no time, but for now, it’s all about gaining confidence and keeping them warm.
While watching your baby's face light up during their swimming session can bring you pure joy, and you know the incredible benefits swimming provides, from physical development and coordination to that precious bonding time that strengthens your connection. The moment you step out of that lovely, warm pool, everything can change and turn a magical time into a stressful one.
That sudden shift from the cosy 30-32°C water to the cooler air of the changing rooms can quickly transform a happy, contented baby into a cold, distressed one.
Here's something many parents don't realise: babies lose heat three to four times faster than adults. Unlike older children and adults who can shiver to generate warmth, young babies rely primarily on brown adipose tissue (brown fat) to regulate their temperature. This brown fat, found around their neck, chest, back and bottom, burns calories to produce heat, but it's simply not enough when they're wet and exposed to cooler air.
With over 20 years of expertise in baby swimming products, we've worked closely with swim schools across the UK to understand exactly what babies need to stay warm, comfortable and safe after their swim sessions. We've gathered insights and combined them with expert knowledge to bring you these 10 ways to keep your baby warm after swimming.
| Quick Summary - The 10 Essential Ways: |
|---|
| Exceptional corrosion resistance with plastic coating. |
| Use a neoprene changing mat |
| Dry thoroughly and strategically |
| Layer up smartly |
| Invest in an after-swim waterproof onesie |
| Provide warm feeding immediately |
| Use a hairdryer for quick warmth |
| Recognise the warning signs of being too cold |
| Prepare your car for warmth |
Let's explore each of these methods in detail, so you can ensure every swimming session ends just as happily as it begins.
1. Have a Towel Ready at the Poolside
The Golden 30 Seconds
The first 30 seconds after your baby leaves the water are absolutely critical. This is when heat loss is most dramatic, as water evaporates rapidly from their skin and the cooler air hits their wet body. By having a towel ready and waiting at the poolside, you can wrap your baby immediately, preventing that sudden temperature drop that can leave them cold and distressed.
Why Hooded Towels Make All the Difference
Did you know that babies lose between 30-40% of their body heat through their heads? This makes a hooded towel an absolute essential for post-swim warmth.
Once wrapped, hold your baby close against your body. Your own body heat provides additional warmth, and the close physical contact releases oxytocin (the bonding hormone), which helps both of you feel calm and connected.
2. Use a Neoprene Changing Mat
The Cold Surface Problem
Picture this: you've successfully wrapped your baby in a warm towel and made it back to the changing room. You find a space on a changing table or bench, and the moment you lay your freshly dried, warm baby down onto that cold, hard plastic surface, they let out a cry of shock.
Cold surfaces are one of the hidden culprits of post-swim heat loss, whether it's a plastic changing table, a cold tile floor, or even a wooden bench.
Plus, with our amazing Changing Mat Bundles, you can give your child warmth in the pool and out. With Happy Nappy™ Wetsuits or Baby Wraps™ bundled with our Neoprene Changing Mats, our Changing Mat Bundles are extremely popular so grab one while you can.
Why Neoprene Makes the Difference
This is where a neoprene changing mat becomes a genuine changing room game-changer. Our Neoprene Changing Mats are made from 3mm thick neoprene. Here's why they're essential:
- Unlike plastic or fabric mats, neoprene doesn't feel cold to the touch. It provides an insulated barrier between your baby and the cold surface beneath.
- When you lay your baby down on a neoprene mat, there's no flinching, no crying from cold shock. The mat maintains a comfortable temperature, keeping your baby calm and relaxed while you dress them.
- Changing rooms can be less than pristine. A neoprene mat keeps your baby away from dirty floors, tables and benches, providing a clean, hygienic surface.
A neoprene changing mat is a small investment that makes an enormous difference to your baby's comfort and warmth after swimming. We consider it an absolute swim kit essential.
3. Dry Thoroughly and Strategically
Even the smallest amount of residual moisture on your baby's skin continues the evaporative cooling process. You might have wrapped them in a towel and moved them to a warm mat, but if they're still damp when you put their clothes on, they'll feel chilled and uncomfortable within minutes. Thorough drying is one of the most important steps in maintaining your baby's body temperature.
The Strategic Drying Sequence
Not all body parts are equal when it comes to heat loss. By following a strategic drying order, you can minimise heat loss and get your baby comfortable as quickly as possible.
Step 1: Head first Start with your baby's head and hair. If your baby has thicker hair, you may need to use a second, dry towel or consider bringing a small hairdryer (more on this in Tip 7).
Step 2: Chest and back These core areas are next. Your baby's torso contains their vital organs, and maintaining core body temperature is essential.
Step 3: Arms and legs Work your way down each arm and leg, paying attention to the areas where water tends to collect.
Step 4: The hidden damp spots This is where many parents miss moisture, and it makes a real difference. Make sure to thoroughly dry the underarms, neck rolls, between the fingers and toes, in all the creases of the groin, behind the ears, and in the creases of the elbows and knees.
Patting vs Rubbing
You might be tempted to rub vigorously to dry your baby faster and generate some warmth through friction, but this can actually be counterproductive. Here's why patting is better:
- Baby skin is thinner and more sensitive than adult skin. Vigorous rubbing can cause irritation, especially when their skin is softened from time in the water.
- Patting with an absorbent towel actually removes moisture more efficiently than rubbing, which can just move water around.
- If you've applied any barrier cream or eczema treatment before swimming, patting preserves more of this protective layer.
- Gentle patting is soothing for your baby, whereas vigorous rubbing can be overstimulating and distressing.
The Two-Towel Method
If your baby gets particularly wet or if the changing room is especially cold, consider using two towels:
First towel: Use this for the initial wrap when you come out of the pool. It absorbs the majority of the water and provides that crucial immediate warmth.
Second towel: Keep a completely dry towel in your bag for the detailed drying process in the changing room. This ensures you're not trying to dry your baby with an already-damp towel, which is far less effective.
Special Considerations for Chlorine
Many public pools have higher chlorine levels, which can irritate sensitive baby skin. After thoroughly drying, you may want to apply a gentle moisturiser to help restore the skin's natural barrier. However, resist the urge to rinse your baby under the shower before drying, as this adds more water to their skin and extends the time they're wet and cold. A bath at home, once they're warm, is a better option.
4. Layer Up Smartly
Understanding the Thermal Trapping Principle
When it comes to keeping your baby warm after swimming, the secret isn't just about putting clothes on; it's about how you layer those clothes. Layering works through a principle called thermal trapping: each layer of clothing traps a thin layer of warm air against the body, creating insulation. Multiple thin layers are far more effective than one thick layer because they create multiple air pockets, and air is an excellent insulator.
The Three-Layer System
For optimal post-swim warmth, think in terms of three layers:
Layer 1:
The Base Layer A cotton vest or bodysuit is ideal. Natural fibres like cotton allow any residual moisture to evaporate whilst still providing warmth.
Layer 2:
The Insulating Layer A fleece sleepsuit, thick cotton outfit, or leggings with a warm top.
Layer 3:
The Protective Outer Layer A jacket or thin blanket, this final layer protects against wind, rain, and further heat loss during your journey home.
Don’t Forget the Hat: We cannot stress this enough, a warm hat is absolutely essential. Choose one that covers the ears, fits snugly but comfortably, and is made from warm material like fleece or wool.
5. Invest in an After-Swim Waterproof Onesie
If there's one product that has genuinely revolutionised the post-swim experience for thousands of parents, it's the After Swim Waterproof Onesie. Traditional post-swim dressing involves multiple layers and several minutes of faffing about in a cold changing room with an increasingly unhappy baby. The After Swim Waterproof Onesie solves this by being a complete, all-in-one solution that can be put on immediately after drying, with just a nappy underneath
This means:
- Dramatically reduced changing room time (cut by approximately 50%)
- Instant warmth for your baby
- Protection during the journey home
- One-item simplicity instead of multi-layer complexity
The Technology Behind the Warmth
Fleece lining: The interior of the onesie features a luxuriously soft fleece lining that creates immediate warmth against your baby's skin. Unlike standard clothing that takes time to warm up through body heat, the fleece provides instant cosy comfort.
Waterproof outer layer: The exterior is made from a waterproof, wind-resistant material that protects against rain during the walk to the car, wind chill, and splashes and drips from wet swim bags.
Full-body coverage: The onesie covers from neck to ankles, providing comprehensive protection.
Versatility: While it's designed for after swimming, parents have discovered multiple other uses. As a puddle suit for rainy day walks, for beach trips in cooler weather, and as a warm layer for winter car journeys.
6. Provide Warm Feeding Immediately After
Why Post-Swim Nutrition Matters
Swimming is deceptively exhausting for babies. While it might look like gentle play to us, their little bodies are working incredibly hard. The water provides resistance to every movement, their muscles are engaging to maintain balance and position, and they're processing new sensory experiences.
Research suggests that babies burn 2-3 times their normal calorie expenditure during swimming sessions. This dramatic energy use depletes their glucose stores, which are the body's primary fuel for heat generation. A hungry baby is a cold baby, because they simply don't have the energy reserves to maintain their body temperature effectively.
Breastfeed or offer warm formula to babies under 12 months, warm cows milk is also a great nutrient rich option for babies over 12 months. Most leisure facilities will have warm water to heat a bottle or you can heat one at home and bring it in a thermos most baby swimming sessions are only 30 minutes or less so their milk should still be fresh and warm post swim.
The Comfort Factor
Beyond the physical benefits of warmth and nutrition, post-swim feeding provides emotional comfort. Swimming can be overwhelming for some babies and feeding immediately afterwards gives them something familiar and comforting, reassuring them that they're safe and cared for.
Behavioural psychology tells us that experiences followed by positive outcomes become associated with those good feelings. If swimming is always followed by:
- Being wrapped in a warm towel
- Cuddles with mum or dad
- A lovely warm feed
- Feeling cosy and satisfied
7. Use a Hairdryer for Quick Warmth
Here's a brilliant tip that experienced swimming parents swear by: bring a small travel hairdryer to your swimming sessions. This simple piece of equipment provides two significant benefits in one:
1. It dries your baby's hair quickly Wet hair continues to cool your baby's head through evaporative cooling, even after you've towel-dried it. This is particularly problematic for babies with thicker or longer hair. A hairdryer removes this dampness efficiently.
2. It provides warming airflow The warm air from the hairdryer doesn't just dry hair, it warms your baby's entire head and the air around them. This gentle heat helps reverse the cooling process and makes your baby feel more comfortable almost immediately.
Safety First: How to Use a Hairdryer Safely with Your Baby
This is extremely important, hairdryer safety must be your top priority.
Temperature:
- ALWAYS use the low heat setting, never high
- Test the air temperature on your own hand first
- If it feels too hot on your hand, it's too hot for your baby
Distance:
- Keep the hairdryer at least 30cm (12 inches) away from your baby's head
- Never point it directly at their face
- Keep it moving, don't focus on one spot
Duration:
- 2-3 minutes is sufficient
- If your baby seems uncomfortable, stop immediately
Environment:
- Ensure the hairdryer is plugged into a safe, dry socket
- Many leisure centres have hairdryers available in changing rooms
- If using your own, check it's in good working order before each use
What If Hairdryers Aren't Allowed?
Some leisure centres have policies against personal hairdryers due to electrical safety concerns. In these cases, many changing rooms have wall-mounted hairdryers you can use. They're often coin-operated but worth it.
If hairdryers aren't an option, use an extra towel specifically for hair. Really work at getting the hair as dry as possible. If your leisure centre is close to home and you can't dry hair there, ensure your car heating is on full blast and dry hair as soon as you arrive home.
When to Skip the Hairdryer
- There are times when it's better not to use a hairdryer:
- If your baby is very distressed and needs immediate comfort
- If they're showing signs of being too cold (blue lips, excessive shivering)
- If they have a scalp condition that might be aggravated by heat
- If they're terrified of the noise
In these cases, stick with thorough towel drying and prioritise getting them dressed and warm as quickly as possible.
8. Dress Your Baby Before Yourself
This tip goes against every instinct you might have. You're standing in a cold changing room, dripping wet, possibly shivering yourself, and the natural inclination is to quickly throw some clothes on so you feel less uncomfortable. Your baby's warmth must come first, and here's why this strategy makes all the difference.
Babies cannot self-regulate: Unlike you, your baby cannot generate heat through movement or shivering (especially if under 6 months old). They cannot pull a towel around themselves for warmth. They are entirely dependent on you to maintain their body temperature, and every minute they remain undressed is a minute of continued heat loss.
Your discomfort is temporary: Yes, you'll be cold for a few extra minutes. Yes, it's unpleasant. But you're an adult with functioning thermoregulation, layers of body fat, and the ability to move around to generate warmth. Your discomfort is manageable and temporary. Your baby's cold stress, however, can become problematic quickly.
The most efficient approach is: dry baby, dress baby completely, THEN deal with yourself.
What About Multiple Children?
If you have more than one child swimming, this becomes trickier but the principle remains the same, children first, you last.
Strategy for multiple children:
Get older children to help: If you have an older child who can dry themselves, let them start while you focus on the baby/younger child.
Prioritise the youngest/most vulnerable: The baby or youngest child gets dressed completely first.
Work in stages: Dry and dress the youngest, then move to the next child, then yourself.
Enlist help if possible: If you have a partner or friend with you, divide the labour.
Keep everyone wrapped: Children who are waiting their turn should remain wrapped in towels.
9. Recognise the Warning Signs of Being Too Cold
All the preparation and warmth strategies in the world won't help if you don't know when your baby is genuinely too cold. Understanding the warning signs of cold stress allows you to take immediate action before a situation becomes concerning. This isn't about creating anxiety, it's about being informed and responsive.
Moderate cold stress causes discomfort. Severe cold stress can lead to hypothermia, which is dangerous. Recognising the early signs means you can intervene before reaching the severe stage.
The Warning Signs: What to Watch For
1. Blue or pale lips This is often the first visible sign that your baby is too cold. Lips may take on a bluish or purple tinge, or become noticeably paler than usual. This indicates reduced circulation as the body prioritises keeping core organs warm.
2. Pale or mottled skin Your baby's skin might appear paler than usual or develop a blotchy, mottled pattern (patches of pale and slightly darker skin). This is particularly noticeable on the chest, back, arms, and legs.
3. Cold extremities Feel your baby's fingers, toes, nose, and ears. If these feel very cold to the touch, it indicates their body is restricting blood flow to the extremities to protect core temperature.
4. Shivering (in older babies) If your baby is old enough to shiver (usually 6+ months), this is their body's attempt to generate heat. Continuous or intense shivering means they're significantly cold.
5. Excessive crying or unusual quietness Some babies cry when they're cold, but worryingly, some go very quiet. Both are warning signs:
- Excessive crying: Inconsolable, distressed crying that's different from their normal fussing
- Unusual quietness: A normally active baby becoming very still and unresponsive
6. Stiff or rigid body If your baby's body feels stiff, with arms and legs held tight and rigid rather than their normal flexible movement, this indicates significant cold stress.
7. Lethargy or unusual sleepiness A baby who becomes very drowsy or sleepy immediately after swimming, especially if accompanied by other cold signs, may be experiencing hypothermia rather than normal post-swim tiredness.
8. Rapid, shallow breathing Changes in breathing pattern, either very rapid, shallow breaths or slower than normal breathing can indicate cold stress.
Age-Specific Considerations
- Most vulnerable to cold stress
- Cannot shiver
- May simply become very quiet and still when cold
- Should only swim in pools 32°C or warmer
- Maximum swim time: 10 minutes
Younger babies (3-6 months):
- Still highly vulnerable
- May begin to show early shivering responses
- Pool temperature ideally 30-32°C
- Maximum swim time: 15-20 minutes
Toddlers (12+ months):
- Most robust temperature regulation
- Clear communication of discomfort
- Can swim for 30-45 minutes
- Still need careful monitoring
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
The best approach is preventing cold stress in the first place:
- Check pool temperature before swimming (ideally 30°C+ for babies)
- Keep swim sessions short initially, building duration gradually
- Use appropriate thermal swimwear (Warm In One, Baby Wrap)
- Never rush through drying and dressing
- Be prepared to end the session early if your baby shows signs of being too cold
Creating a Consistently Warm and Positive Swimming Experience
By implementing these 10 essential ways to keep your baby warm after swimming, you transform what can be a stressful, uncomfortable situation into a calm, positive routine that both you and your baby will look forward to.
The immediate response (Tips 1-3):
Having towels ready, using a neoprene changing mat, and drying thoroughly prevents the rapid heat loss that occurs in the first crucial minutes after leaving the pool.
The comprehensive approach (Tips 4-7):
Smart layering, specialised after-swim clothing, warm feeding, and hairdryer use provide multiple layers of warmth from different sources.
The strategic mindset (Tips 8-10):
Prioritising your baby's needs over your own comfort, recognising warning signs of cold stress, and preparing your car for warmth demonstrate an understanding that warmth management is a complete process from pool to home.
Yes, some of these tips require investment, but when you consider the benefits:
- Happier, more content babies
- Reduced crying and distress
- Positive associations with swimming
- Confidence that your baby is safe and comfortable
- Less stress for you as a parent
- Better sleep for babies after swimming (warm, fed babies sleep well)
- Continued enjoyment of swimming that builds to a lifetime skill
- ...the value becomes clear. These aren't luxury items, they're practical tools that make a genuine difference to your swimming experience.
Parents often feel overwhelmed by all the considerations. Will my baby like the water? What if they cry? What if they get cold? By understanding and implementing these 10 ways to keep your baby warm, you're eliminating one of the biggest sources of anxiety. You'll walk into every swimming session confident that you know exactly how to keep your baby comfortable afterwards.
While these 10 tips provide a comprehensive framework, remember that every baby is unique. Some babies feel the cold more acutely than others. Some are perfectly content with basic measures, while others need the full arsenal of warming strategies. Don't compare your baby to others. Trust your observations and respond to your individual child's needs. However, if we could recommend you buy just one thing to help keep your little one warm, it would be our Changing Mat Bundles.
Lesley Beach
Lesley leads the award-winning company Splash About, which develops groundbreaking swimming products for babies and children. Under her leadership, Splash About has expanded and refined its innovative range, including the first float jacket and the award-winning Happy Nappy™ products, becoming a world-class supplier to thousands of swim schools, leisure complexes, and parents in over 45 countries.
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