[journeytograce]

I have seen lots of photos of people swimming w/their kids in the hotel pools. My question is this, how do you accomplish swimming, WITHOUT any water getting in their mouths? Just occurred to me this morning as I looked a someone's website. On the same page was a photo of their daughter splashing around in the pool, and then he was talking about getting bottled water to brush your teeth with. This just seems impossible to take children (or even yourself for that matter ) swimming w/o accidentally getting a mouthful of water. Is the water in the pools so chlorinated that it isn't harmful? Had me puzzled... .

[jenn2004]

Very good question Steph!

[prechrswife]

You know, I've never thought about that. Our travel dates should fall during the summer, so I have swimsuits on our packing list. I'm curious to hear what others who have BTDT have to say.

[AmoyGirl]

We swam in several hotel pools and even a water park in China, and everywhere we went the water was heavily chlorinated.

I wouldn't go swimming in a lake or anything , but the pools at the nice hotels you will be staying at should be just fine. Swim away!

Morgan

[An Song Tao]

You can call your local city or town water supplier to ask about chlorine. Chances are, if you are not on well water, that there is some sort of chlorine or chloramine in your tap water. It is used to kill nasty critters that could make you sick. I keep aquarium fish, which are very sensitive to chlorine, and I have to remove it before adding any to their tanks.

If China chlorinated their tap water, there wouldn't be an issue with drinking their water! As far as what level is harmful? Don't know, ask your pediatrician or water supplier (maybe even a pool company). But it is unlikely the pool water will be an issue. Most kids will not want to get their heads anywhere near the surface, anyhow, and you will be holding them the whole time as well.

[journeytograce]

Originally Posted by An Song Tao

You can call your local city or town water supplier to ask about chlorine. Chances are, if you are not on well water, that there is some sort of chlorine or chloramine in your tap water. It is used to kill nasty critters that could make you sick. I keep aquarium fish, which are very sensitive to chlorine, and I have to remove it before adding any to their tanks.

If China chlorinated their tap water, there wouldn't be an issue with drinking their water! As far as what level is harmful? Don't know, ask your pediatrician or water supplier (maybe even a pool company). But it is unlikely the pool water will be an issue.

Thanks for the response. Actually I meant the tap water being harmful, not the chlorine. Everything I have read is to be "meticulous" about not drinking the water...like tying a sock over the faucet to remind you, ect. So I wondered if the chlorine killed whatever it is in the water to make it safe if accidentally it were to be ingested. My other two children possibly will be traveling w/us, and my concern is also w/them. My 4 1/2 year old is a HUGE swimmer, and I know he will drink some accidentally. Already thinking ahead at how fun that would be at the hotel to swim w/all the kids. Hopefully DD will love it just like the rest of us!
Out of curiosity, is it very difficult for China to chlorinate their water? Do the locals drink it no problem? Just seems like bottled water makes up such a big expense. But I guess if only us foreigners used bottled water, that is a help to the economy!

Originally Posted by An Song Tao

Most kids will not want to get their heads anywhere near the surface, anyhow, and you will be holding them the whole time as well.

Actually not true for my kids...they are my little fish, and love to swim, going underwater, the whole 9 yards!

[sak9645]

The Chinese do not drink unboiled tap water. They probably don't buy bottled water, either, though it's very cheap. They simply boil it. Boiling for any length of time will kill the bugs. That is why your hotel room will be equipped either with a water boiling device or with thermoses of boiled water, to be refilled on request.

Sharon

[journeytograce]

Originally Posted by sak9645

The Chinese do not drink unboiled tap water. They probably don't buy bottled water, either, though it's very cheap. They simply boil it. Boiling for any length of time will kill the bugs. That is why your hotel room will be equipped either with a water boiling device or with thermoses of boiled water, to be refilled on request.

Sharon

I had forgotten about boiling the water, thanks for posting that.

[An Song Tao]

Originally Posted by journeytograce

Actually not true for my kids...they are my little fish, and love to swim, going underwater, the whole 9 yards!

Sorry, I was referring to your new baby . I didn't realize you were referring to your older children. In my experience, infants take a little getting used to the water before they are completely comfortable. Maybe my kids are just that way.

[journeytograce]

No problem, I wasn't very clear.
My older son started out very unsure of the water, and it was well into his 2nd year that he began a love of it. My youngest follows his brother's lead, and is much more fearless...he is the one I have to watch like a hawk!!
I do wonder what my DD will think of the water. I have heard that some of the kids absolutely love the water, and others are terrified of it. I think I read most children haven't ever had a bath, just sponging, so water on their hair is extremely foreign...anyone else heard this? A friend of a friend has adopted from China, and his pictures of them in the pool got me thinking this morning…and very excited about being in China and bringing DD home!!!

[GoingtoChina]

Our agency highly recommended us NOT taking our babies into the pool. They said it would be okay for the adults but it's too hard keeping the water out of the babies mouths. Our agency told us that one year, everyone in a particular group who had gone swimming ended up getting sick.

[richard p.]

We did not do it the first time - and regretted it. When we go back we will. The sooner the child experiences water the better. We are big canoe campers so the thought of swallowing a little pool water is no big deal. i have always felt that the whole water thing is highly over exagerated - unless,of course, you have a compromised immune system. By the way, I have had freinds go to Disney World and get sick after a week of using the pool.

[twoinblue]

I read an article once that said we develope immunities to the microbodies in our local water sources. Traveling out of state can give us the um...trots as we enter into an area that we have not developed immunity to.

Water is a big deal but its also a good idea to practice not touching your face since germs are easily spread through the mucus membranes in the eyes, nose, and mouth. Hand sanitizer will be my constant companion!