Breastfeeding in Pools & Hot Tubs/Spas

Risk of Swallowing Water

We share the water in pools and hot tubs — and the germs in the water — with others. This means that if a swimmer has a fecal (poop) incident in the water ², the water becomes contaminated with feces and germs. Swallowing contaminated water can cause recreational water illnesses (RWIs), such as diarrhea ³ and viral meningitis ⁴. It is important to remember chlorine and other pool disinfectants do not kill germs instantly, and not all pools and hot tubs have a proper disinfectant level ^{5, 6}. Your baby’s immune system is not as developed as an older sibling’s or a parent’s, so decreasing your baby’s risk of infection is very important ⁷.

Swallowing larger volumes of water while in the pool can cause hyponatremia. This is a condition where body fluids do not contain enough sodium (or salt), which can result in seizures.

Risk of Contact with Water

Babies cannot control their body temperature as effectively as their older siblings and parents. This is because babies have a small body mass compared to body surface area. Being in water even a few degrees different from normal body temperature (98.6°F/37°C) can affect your baby’s body temperature. Being in cool or cold water can cause hypothermia, a dangerously low body temperature. Being in very warm or hot water found in hot tubs can cause hyperthermia, a dangerously high body temperature.