Best Time to Introduce Goggles

Is your little one getting ready to learn to swim? You might be tempted to buy them a pair of goggles, but first make sure they have the required skills before introducing goggles.

Goggles are great for clear vision underwater and can be pretty important for games that involve getting toys or objects from the bottom of the pool. They also help prevent the chemicals in the pool from stinging the eyes after a long day of swimming. Additionally, they are useful for ensuring children can watch where they’re swimming when sharing space with others. However, goggles aren’t really that great at helping your little one get more comfortable going underwater. 

In fact, it’s both better and safer to hold off on introducing goggles until after your child is already comfortable swimming underwater. When first learning to swim, the main focus should be safety. A crucial aspect of this is ensuring a child can get to safety if they fall into the pool. If that were to happen, there is a very good chance that they wouldn’t be wearing goggles. So make sure they know what to do and are comfortable without them.

If your child has already been wearing goggles, but isn’t yet comfortable underwater without them, don’t fret. It’s not too late. Try gradually reintroducing some basic and beginner skills without the goggles until your child is comfortable without them.

Once your child is comfortable and confident submerging and swimming underwater, go ahead and introduce goggles. It’s helpful to get a quality pair that fits well, both for comfort and to reduce leaking. But don’t forget to keep up the practice without goggles occasionally to keep those skills sharp.