You’ve finally started going to swim classes with your toddler, and you both adore it! However, your child hesitates to put their face in the water. Is it time to start wearing goggles? Can they help your child become a better swimmer?

The decision to get them goggles requires careful consideration. First, we need to find out why your child has started keeping their face out of the water.

Why is my little one not putting their head underwater?

This could be because their eyes are getting a bit sore. They may not have sufficient neck strength to lift their head out of the water while swimming yet, which can make the activity very difficult.

So, goggles seem like a pretty good idea, right? Their eyes will be less irritated by the pool water, and being able to see clearly underwater is definitely a cool new incentive to get their head down! You can also start playing fun games with them, like collecting toys from the pool floor.

But wait, before you rush off to buy a pair of rubbery lenses, consider this. Toddlers and small children can become very dependent on goggles, to the point where they could refuse to get in the water without them! Also, while adults can use goggles easily, they can be very cumbersome for a toddler to use. They don’t always seal correctly around the eyes; the rubber bands can pull on hair; and even though they’re hard to pull on, it’s quite easy for toddlers to take them off!

This is why many swim teaching bodies recommend that children spend their first two years without swimming goggles. Some may need to wear them for medical or other reasons, in which case parents should:

Only purchase goggles that meet British standards or other nationally recognised standards.
Ensure that the goggles fit their child correctly.
Be aware that swim teachers will not always be responsible for the fitting of goggles on the children, so parents should take responsibility for this.

When will my child be ready to use goggles?

If goggles are not medically necessary, here are some guidelines to help you determine whether your child is ready to wear goggles, as well as some general advice when introducing your child to goggles:

Children under the age of 2, and ideally 3, should not be using goggles.

Make sure your child is comfortable with their head down and underwater swimming without goggles. Be patient if they’re a bit reluctant at first. Don’t use goggles as a shortcut!

Children should never jump into the water with goggles on. The goggles could slip and hurt their face.

Regularly get them to swim around with goggles off, so they can practice swimming without the use of goggles.

If your child is wearing goggles, make sure that the goggles are well-adjusted and fit properly on your child’s head.

If your child keeps taking goggles off mid-swim, take the goggles away. They need to learn that goggles are not toys and that if they can’t keep them on, then no goggles are allowed!

Remember that it’s okay for your child to switch back and forth between having their goggles on and off. One session with goggles isn’t going to make them dependent on those rubbery lenses. Just get them to occasionally swim without goggles, and your child will be fine!

Should my child wear goggles?

A child under two should not wear goggles, ideally, as you want them to get used to the water.