When it’s time for swimming lessons for your children, you need to think about getting them a pair of goggles for the pool. This important accessory is important for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, goggles help protect your child’s eyes from chlorine and any bacteria that might be in the water.
Secondly, they will give your child the confidence to dive in, splash around, have fun and really enjoy their lessons. If they've just started, or are about to start their course, then you might appreciate a little guidance on how to choose the right pair for your child.
What age is too young for goggles?
You probably don’t need us to tell you that the younger your child is, the more likely it is that you’ll face challenges getting them to wear their goggles for any length of time. With most manufacturers, children’s goggles are designed to start at around two years old. You should be able to get a pair of the basic infant’s single strap goggles for under a fiver.
However old they are, you may find that your child is not very keen on wearing goggles to start with. It’s something new to get used to and they can feel a little uncomfortable and restrictive at first. However, the earlier you can encourage them to pick up the habit, the better, as it’s likely to lead to greater confidence and faster development in the water.
As your child becomes more assured, you might want to consider a goggle upgrade. A double strap is likely to work better for them than the typical beginner’s single strap when they’re swimming lengths and learning to dive into the pool, The extra support at the back of the head helps to keep the goggles snugly on the head when they become more active in the water.
What kind of goggles should I buy?
You have a few options and most come with pros and cons. There are certainly a few key details to look out for but, as obvious as it sounds, the most important consideration is that the goggles feel comfortable on your child’s face and that the seal effectively stops water from getting in.
For younger children, there are all kinds of fun patterns and designs on the market. Letting your child choose their favourite pair is a good way of ensuring that they’ll wear them.
If your child is over 5 years old, we’d recommend goggles with a double strap at the back.
You usually have a choice of the padding used to provide a seal for the goggles against the skin. We’d recommend a rubber or silicone material as these tend to create more effective suction around the eyes to keep the water out. Silicone is becoming increasingly popular, but it tends to be a bit more expensive.
Some children are allergic to latex, which is a type of rubber often used in swimming goggles. If this is an issue for your child, then it’s worth checking with the manufacturer to ensure that they don’t use latex in their products.
Mask goggles might also be worth considering. They’re popular with children as they provide a tight seal and a wide field of vision.
It’s also worth mentioning that you can get swimming goggles with prescription lenses. If you’re interested in finding out more about these, speak to your optician or try searching online.
What sort of features should I look for?
The most important thing your goggles need is a British safety standard, and you should always look out for that. Adjustable tabs are also advisable, so the fit of the goggles can be tweaked as your child grows.
For all but the youngest children, double straps at the back of the head are recommended as they give a better level of support than the single strap.
Beyond that, you can also find goggles with anti-fog lenses and UV protection which you might want to splash out a bit more for. We see features like that as nice to have but not essential.
How do I know if the fit is right?
If the goggles don’t fit, then your child won’t want to put them on and, if they do end up wearing them, they are likely to be distracted from their lessons by the discomfort.
Ask your child to put the goggles on and you’ll soon have a good idea if they fit well enough. If they’re too loose then the seal won’t be effective and water will get in. If they’re too tight, then they’ll be uncomfortable to wear and will leave marks on their face.
Of course, if the goggles have an adjustable head strap and nose strap then this enables you to find the perfect fit after a little trial and error. When you place them over your child’s head, make sure the eyes are centred within the lenses by adjusting either the nose strap (if they have one) or the head strap.
The pads should sit comfortably on the face and head, yet secure enough to prevent water from entering. Again, you can adjust the fit here by using the head strap.
How can I encourage my child to wear their goggles?
Yes, this can be a problem at first, but your child should soon feel comfortable wearing their goggles, particularly when they see other kids at the pool wearing theirs.
We’d recommend practising at home, so your child has the chance to feel comfortable wearing their goggles before they jump in the water. The bathtub is the perfect place for this.
Young kids might need a little gentle persuasion before they'll try on a pair of goggles for the first time and getting them to help choose a fun and colourful pair will certainly help motivate them to do so.
Once you’ve got the goggles sorted, you’ll need to book swimming lessons for your child if you haven’t done so already. Booking lessons with Swimtime, the UK’s largest independent swim school, couldn’t be easier and you can find your local pool and course times here.
