CanMyChildwithAsthmaSwim?HowtoApproachSwimmingLessonsSafely[2026]

Wednesday afternoon, swimming lesson day. Your child grabs the swim bag, and you hesitate for a moment: is this really okay with asthma? Will it get hard to breathe in that pool? Many parents of children with asthma know this doubt. The short answer is: yes, most children with asthma can take swimming lessons just fine. Swimming is even one of the healthiest sports for them. It does require some preparation. What doctors and researchers say, what to watch out for, and how to handle it, you’ll find below.

Can a Child with Asthma Swim?

Yes, most children can take swimming lessons normally

In asthma, the small airways in the lungs are inflamed. During an attack, these airways constrict and breathing becomes difficult. It’s understandable that as a parent you worry about the word "shortness of breath" combined with swimming. Yet the reality is different from what many parents think. Sports are actually good for children with asthma: they strengthen the respiratory muscles and improve fitness, and better fitness means fewer symptoms during exertion. The Longfonds is clear about this: sports are healthy for everyone, especially for people with asthma.

Asthma in numbers: worldwide and in the Netherlands

Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children worldwide, reports the World Health Organization (WHO). An estimated 363 million people had asthma in 2023. In the Netherlands, about 600,000 people have asthma, of whom around 70,000 are children. The RIVM counted over 601,000 people receiving care for asthma in 2024, and 55,000 new diagnoses. In other words: your child is not the only one in swimming lessons with this question.

What research says

A Cochrane review study Cochrane, combining eight studies with 262 children and adolescents with stable asthma, concluded that swim training is well tolerated and improves lung function and fitness. There was no evidence that swimming worsens asthma. Participants were aged 5 to 18 and swam two to three times a week for six to twelve weeks.

Why Swimming Is Especially Good for Children with Asthma

Fitness and respiratory muscles

Sports strengthen the respiratory muscles and improve fitness. For children with asthma, this is doubly valuable: the better the fitness, the less likely symptoms occur during exertion. Because swimming uses the full lung capacity, children naturally build stronger lungs. And swimming is accessible: almost every child can participate at their own pace.

A measurable difference

The Cochrane study measured maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) before and after a swimming program. Children who swam scored on average 9.67 ml per kilogram per minute higher than the control group. That is a clinically relevant difference of about 25% in fitness. Lung function, measured by a standard spirometry test (FEV1), also improved in the swimming children.

Warm, humid air

Swimming takes place in warm, humid air. For children with asthma, this is often more comfortable than exercising in cold outdoor air, which can irritate the airways. The Longfonds advises breathing through the nose as much as possible during exercise: this provides warm, humid, and filtered air, making the lungs less sensitive to irritants.

The Downside: Chlorine Smell as an Irritant

Chlorine can be an irritant

In asthma, the lungs are hypersensitive to irritants. For some children, the chlorine smell in the pool is such an irritant, which can cause coughing or shortness of breath. The Longfonds explicitly warns about this: many children react to the chlorine smell in the pool, and that air can trigger shortness of breath. This does not mean your child cannot swim, but you should take the environment into account.

What research says

Indoor pools can produce trichloramine, a substance released during chlorine disinfection that can irritate the airways. A 2018 Swedish study found a link between exposure to chlorinated indoor pools at a young age and the development of asthma in preschool children. Note: that study concerned the onset of asthma in children without asthma. For children who already have asthma, the balance is different. According to research, the benefits of swimming outweigh the possible irritant, provided you pay attention to the conditions.

Low-chlorine and saltwater pools

More and more pools are low-chlorine or use saltwater. The Longfonds also points this out: there are increasing numbers of low-chlorine pools. Ask the swim school how the pool is maintained and ventilated, especially if you notice your child reacts quickly to chlorine smell. In summer, an outdoor pool is often a nice alternative because the fumes dissipate much faster there.

How to Prepare Swimming Lessons Safely: Checklist for Parents

With these steps, you give your child a pleasant and safe swimming lesson, without asthma taking center stage.

1. Consult the GP or pulmonologist

Every child with asthma is different. Before the first swimming lesson, consult the healthcare provider about any limitations, whether medication before exercise is needed, and what to watch out for. In most cases, the answer is: just go for it, with the right preparation.

2. Medication on time

For exercise-induced asthma, taking a bronchodilator before exercise can help, writes the Longfonds. Make sure the inhaler or medication is at the swimming lesson and that the instructor knows where it is. The WHO emphasizes that inhalation medication enables people with asthma to lead a normal, active life, and swimming lessons are part of that.

3. Warm up slowly

The trick with exercise-induced asthma is to increase activity gradually. A gentle warm-up helps the airways get used to exertion. Arrive early at the pool so your child doesn’t have to rush into the water.

4. Choose a well-ventilated or low-chlorine pool

Check how the pool is ventilated. If in doubt, or if your child often reacts to chlorine, look for a low-chlorine or saltwater pool. A small effort that makes a big difference for a child with sensitive airways.

5. Inform the swimming instructor about the asthma

A swimming instructor can do a lot if they know your child has asthma: adjust the pace, recognize signs, keep medication nearby. Provide a brief explanation at registration or before the first lesson. Most instructors appreciate this information and don’t find it troublesome.

6. Recognize the signs

The Longfonds lists signs that often precede a shortness of breath episode: being lethargic or unusually active, coughing, difficulty sleeping, looking pale or having dark circles under the eyes. Teach your child to recognize and name these signs so you can intervene in time instead of afterward.

7. Make an action plan

The Longfonds offers a free asthma action plan for children, which you fill out together with the doctor: how to recognize an attack and what to do. A copy in the swim bag is invaluable for the instructor, who then knows exactly what to do.

8. After the lesson: warm and dry

A cold, wet child can develop symptoms faster after the lesson. Provide a warm towel, dry clothes, and a calm ending. A shower after swimming also rinses chlorine residues off the skin.

What a Swimming Instructor Can Do

Ask about it at registration

The easiest step: ask new students if they have asthma or other health issues. Many parents don’t mention it themselves because they don’t want their child treated differently. By asking yourself, you give parents the space to share.

Adjust the lesson

Children with asthma benefit from a gradual build-up: first get used to it, then increase intensity. Build up exertion and plan rest moments. Avoid long sprints one after another. A child who needs to catch their breath is not a problem child, but a child who is guided smartly.

Know what to do in an attack

Knowing where the inhaler is, knowing the action plan, and when to call the doctor or emergency services makes the difference between a tense moment and a bad experience. A short instruction from the parents is enough to be prepared.

Keep progress visible

A child who misses lessons due to symptoms quickly loses track. With the free Swimmigo app, instructors can track progress per skill, even if a child misses a few weeks. And parents see exactly what was done in the lesson without needing a conversation.

When to Skip Swimming Lessons?

Fever and respiratory infections

If your child has a fever or a bad cold, it’s better to postpone the swimming lesson. A respiratory infection can worsen asthma symptoms, and swimming with a fever is never a good idea. Catching up on a lesson is always better than risking a relapse.

Lots of coughing or shortness of breath

If your child has been coughing a lot all day or is short of breath, skip the lesson and consult the doctor. The swim school can usually reschedule easily, especially if you notify them in time.

After an attack

After an asthma attack, it’s wise to first consult the healthcare provider about when your child may resume sports. Then build up gradually. The progress in the app helps to see exactly where your child left off after such a break.

Conclusion

Yes, most children with asthma can take swimming lessons normally, and for many children, swimming is even one of the best sports there is. The key is preparation: consult the doctor, medication on time, a well-ventilated pool, and an instructor who knows the situation. This way, swimming lessons remain what they should be: safe, healthy, and above all fun, in any country where your child enters the water. And because Swimmigo is free and available in five languages, you can follow your child’s progress anywhere in the world.

Sources

• Longfonds: Asthma, accessed August 2026
• Longfonds: Sports with asthma, accessed August 2026
• Longfonds: What can your child do?, accessed August 2026
• RIVM VZinfo: Asthma, accessed August 2026
• WHO: Asthma, factsheet, April 28, 2026
• Cochrane: Swimming training for asthma in children and adolescents (Beggs et al.), 2013
• Environmental Health: Early life swimming pool exposure and asthma onset in children (Andersson et al.), 2018