Best swim goggles for baby

Swimming with your baby is a wonderful activity with lots of benefits for both you and your little one. It provides great exercise and a fantastic bonding experience for you both. It also helps your baby to build core skills and confidence, as well as developing swimming skills that could one day save their life.

What age should I take my baby swimming?

According to the NHS opens in a new window  you can take your baby swimming at any age – before or after their vaccinations. Most babies are born with an instinctive reflex to swim in the water, although they will need help in refining their skills.

It’s generally advisable for new mums to wait a while before getting in the water with their babies, however. It’s important to wait until the lochia (postnatal bleeding and discharge) has completely finished to reduce the risk of picking up an infection. Waiting until after the 6-week postnatal check to make sure everything has healed is generally a good idea before heading to the pool.

Does my baby need to wear goggles in the swimming pool?

There are a number of things you should remember to take when you go swimming with your baby. A swimming nappy is essential to avoid any accidents, especially as you are likely to be sharing a pool with others. There are also a number of different types of baby swimwear to choose from, depending on the situation and location. A hooded towel is good for drying them off once you get out of the water and depending on the weather you might also want to tuck them into a warm hat when you leave.

When it comes to baby swimming goggles, there are times when they might be appropriate and other times when they aren’t.

Most swimming class providers suggest that babies first learn to swim without goggles, especially when they are young and have not developed a nervousness around water. This can get them used to opening their eyes underwater, which can be a useful skill and important for safety. If they ever find themselves falling into water or having to swim unexpectedly, it’s not always likely that they’ll have a set of swimming goggles to hand.

If you take your little one for their first swim when they are older, they might be a bit more nervous about putting their face underwater. Some toddlers can also develop a reluctance to submerge, even if they have been swimming regularly. In these cases, goggles can help them feel more confident and can help them to make the most of formal swimming lessons or enjoy informal splash-abouts.

The older they get, the longer their swimming sessions might be and chlorinated water and other chemicals could potentially irritate sensitive eyes. Even when toddlers and young children are wearing kids’ goggles though, they should still be encouraged to spend at least some time in and under the water without them.

It should also be noted that many swimming goggles for infants are only recommended for swimmers from 2 and up. Others might be suitable from 3 or 4 years, but might also be adjustable to fit kids all the way into their teens.

How to choose swimming goggles for babies

There are a number of things to consider when it comes to choosing swimming goggles for a baby or toddler. The most important thing is to ensure they fit properly. This means choosing goggles that are age-suitable and fit your child’s face shape. They should be snug enough to form a seal but not so tight that they hurt or dig into the face too much. You should ideally try them on and make necessary adjustments before you hit the pools or seaside.

There are different kinds of strap adjustments, as well as different strap types. Some are made of wide fabric that is specially designed not to tangle or pull hair – but you should still ensure they are a snug fit that allows the goggles to make a seal against the face and keep water out.

Other features include scratch-resistant and shatterproof lenses and UV protection, which is especially important if you are planning on swimming in the sea or outdoor pools on holiday.

12 of the best baby swimming goggles

1. Cressi Kid's Baloo Goggle Swim Mask

Italian manufacturers Cressi have been specialising in swim gear since 1946 and this mono goggle/mask is superb quality. The design gives maximum visibility and the goggles feature shatterproof lenses with external anti-scratch treatment, UV protection and internal anti-fog treatment. Suitable from 2-7 years.

2. Speedo Unisex Kids Biofuse Mask

Let little adventurers discover the depths of the pool with clarity and comfort in this neoprene-strapped mask. They feature 100% UV Protection and an internal frame wrapped in a soft gel-like skin, ensuring stability and comfort. The wide strap and velcro side adjustment also allow easy fitting and prevent hair from being trapped.

3. Speedo Infant Illusion Turtle Goggles

Speedo has been a trusted name in swimming for decades and these Illusion Infant Swimming Goggles are specially designed for kids aged 2-6 years old who are learning to swim. These ones also have a fun turtle design for extra splashy fun.

4. COOLOO Kids Swimming Goggles - 2 pack

Made from safe, odourless and superior quality silicone, these kids’ swimming goggles are suitable from 3 to 15 and the 2-pack is great if you have swimming siblings. Each pack contains two sets of goggles (with different lenses), 2 nose clips, 4 ear plugs and a handy net carry pouch.

5. Aquasphere Seal Kid 2 Swimming Goggles

With a one-size to fit all from 3 and up, these Aquasphere children’s swimming goggles are a great choice for swimming lessons or a splashy free-for-all. Aquasphere’s patented curved lens technology provides the clearest vision and a 180° field of view with exceptional hydrodynamics to help children feel more comfortable in the water.

6. Zoggs Kids' Phantom Mask wih UV Protection

Suitable for children from infants to 6 years old, these make great baby swimming goggles that can grow and adjust with your child. The soft-seal gasket is made from unique hypo-allergenic liquid silicone for a lightweight and face-contouring fit, while ‘Fog buster’ lenses provide extra moisture control and clarity of vision.

7. RUIGAO No Hair Pull Kids Swim Goggles

If your little ones like to wear goggles but hate getting their hair caught, these kids swimming goggles could be a good choice. Suitable from 3 and up they feature a wide fabric strap at the back of the head with a range of colours and designs, including unicorns, dinosaurs and sea creatures.

8. Splash Place Swim Goggles with Fabric Strap

This is another design with Hypo-Allergenic, No Tangle wide fabric strap to prevent hair pulling. The strap is combined with high visibility anti-fog, shatter & leak resistant polycarbonate lenses for high performance and they have 1000-plus top-rated reviews on Amazon.

9. Frogglez Swim Goggles with Patented Painless Strap Technology

The soft fabric-covered neoprene Frogglez strap slides right over long, curly hair and pony-tailed hair without tangling. They also come with impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses that are anti-fog coated and provide 100% UV protection whether on deck or in the water.

10. ZABERT K20 Kids Swimming Goggles

These highly reviewed kids swimming goggles can be adjusted to fit kids of all sizes, from 3 to 14 years. The lenses come with Anti-Fog & UV protection and the straps feature a speed fit auto adjuster.

11. Cressi Crab Swim Goggles for Kids

Suitable for kids of 3 and up, these toddler swimming goggles are made with Italian quality from respected swimwear manufacturer Cressi. They provide a perfect fit on most facial profiles and utilise shatterproof flat lenses for perfect vision, UV protection and scratch-resistant treatment.

12. Zoggs Little Twist Kids Swimming Goggles

Zoggs swimming goggles for kids feature a soft silicone frame and flexible nose bridge for a customised fit. They incorporate Fogbuster anti-fog technology to keep lenses clear, and the Little Twist goggles also feature blue tinted lenses and UV protection to care for little eyes.

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