The Baby Friendly Pool Approved Scheme is about to register its 400th pool just one year after the programme was launched by the ASA, ISRM and Huggies Little Swimmers.

The campaign was launched by the Amateur Swimming Association and Institute of Sport and Recreation Management in association with Huggies Little Swimmers in Spring 2005 in response to research that highlighted parents’ desire for greater information about taking their young children and babies swimming – from advice on what to look for in a clean, safe pool facility to hints and tips on what to do with the little ones once you’re at the poolside. 

With previously no scheme in place, the Baby Friendly Approved Pool Award Scheme has been embraced by pools and parents alike, and Huggies are now working alongside the ASA and ISRM to provide further information to parents, from what to do with their baby in the pool to providing reassurance on when to take your children swimming and what facilities you should look for.

The Directory highlights important hygiene issues such as the need for more children to wear swim pants in pools to prevent the unwanted accidents and also provide parents with a comprehensive directory of local recommended pools.

Joining Baby Friendly Approved Scheme
The Directory on www.littleswimmers.com/uk is the result of approved questionnaires completed by swimming pools. On receipt of the questionnaires they are judged based on a range of criteria including baby swimming classes, changing room facilities and swim pant guidelines. The criteria is set on standards agreed by the ISRM and the ASA reflecting the important factors parents need to consider to ensure they have a suitable environment for baby swimming.

On approval each pool is issued with a certificate and featured on the campaign website. Pools that do not gain approved status in the first instance are supported every step of the way to reapply and advice is offered by the ASA and ISRM to help identify where the pool could improve their facilities, and invite them to reapply once such areas have been addressed.

Ian Wakefield, ISRM adds, “We are committed to working with pools to offer key advice in ensuring a health and safe environment for the public. Families are an important audience for pools and we recognised the need to encourage them to enjoy the benefits of swimming and reassure them about the safety.”

Benefits to the Pool

• Recognition certificate to display in the pool reception area
• Details entered in to national database for parents to search and find the nearest child friendly pool to visit
• National publicity driving parents to visit the website
• Regional publicity in key areas recognising the awarded pools
• A more hygienic pool environment

Is Your Pool Baby Friendly?
The full list of approved pools is hosted on www.littleswimmers.com/uk and encourages parents visiting who find that their pool is not live to enter their pools details. Pools interested should email littleswimmers@bisslancaster.com for a copy of the questionnaire.

Huggies Little Swimmers® are disposable swim pants made for hassle free water fun.  Unlike regular nappies, Huggies Little Swimmers protect in the water without swelling up, giving babies and toddlers the freedom and movement to splash around without any little embarrassments.  Available in 3 sizes (small, medium and large), Huggies Little Swimmers are fashioned to look like real swimwear with Disney/Pixar graphics.  Swimming pools interest in stocking Huggies Little Swimmers® can contact either JP Lennard telephone 01788 542777, fax 01788 541851 or email sales@JPL.co.uk or Swim GB telephone 01582 599252, fax:01582 597232 or email: sales@swimgb.co.uk