Should Children Wear Swimming Goggles? Expert Advice for Parents

By Marjan Moosavi, founder of Blue Wave Swim School

Swimming goggles are now a normal part of most children’s swimming kit. Many parents buy goggles before their child can swim, often because they want lessons to feel easier and more comfortable.

But one of the questions I am asked most often at Blue Wave Swim School is: “Does my child need goggles for swimming lessons?”

The answer depends on your child’s swimming stage. Goggles can be very useful, but they are not always the best choice for beginners. In this guide, I explain when children should start wearing goggles, why early water confidence matters, and how to choose a pair that supports learning rather than distracting from it.

Do Children Need Goggles for Swimming Lessons?

Children do not usually need goggles at the very early stages of learning to swim. Before a child relies on goggles, they need to feel calm and confident with water on their face, around their eyes, and over their head.

This is an important part of water confidence. A swimmer should be able to put their face in the water, open or blink their eyes briefly if needed, and avoid panicking if water splashes their face.

Once a child is happy putting their face in the water and is spending much of the lesson swimming with their face down, goggles can become very helpful. At that point, they support longer practice, better body position, and more comfortable swimming.

My advice: do not introduce goggles too early. First build water confidence. Then use goggles to help your child swim for longer and practise more effectively.

Should My Child Wear Goggles? Quick Guide for Parents

This table gives a simple guide for parents deciding whether their child should wear goggles during swimming lessons.

Why Beginners Should Learn Without Goggles First

In the early stages, learning to swim is not only about arms and legs. It is also about learning how the body feels in water. Children need to understand that water on the face is normal and safe.

If a beginner always wears goggles, they may become uncomfortable or anxious when they swim without them. This can be a problem if goggles leak, break, fall off, or are forgotten at home.

At Blue Wave Swim School, we want children to develop real water confidence. That means being able to cope calmly with splashes, water in the eyes, and unexpected moments in the pool.

When Should My Child Start Wearing Goggles?

Your child is probably ready for swimming goggles when they can:

• put their full face in the water without panic;
• blow bubbles comfortably;
• float or glide with their face in the water;
• recover calmly if water splashes their eyes;
• spend a good part of the lesson swimming with their face down.

When a child reaches this point, goggles can help them enjoy swimming more. They can see where they are going, keep their face in the water for longer, and concentrate better on technique.

Benefits of Swimming Goggles

Once a swimmer is ready, goggles have several benefits. They can:

• make swimming more comfortable for the eyes;
• help children keep their face in the water for longer;
• support better body position and streamlining;
• make underwater swimming, push-offs and turns easier;
• help regular swimmers train for longer sessions.

Pool water can irritate the eyes, especially when chloramines build up in and around the pool environment. Goggles help reduce discomfort, particularly for children who swim regularly or are starting to train more seriously.

How to Choose Swimming Goggles for Children

There are many types of swimming goggles, from budget pairs to specialist racing goggles. For children in weekly swimming lessons, the most important things are fit, comfort and visibility.

1. Buy the correct size

Children usually need junior goggles, not adult goggles with the straps tightened. The important part is not only the strap length. It is also the distance between the two eye cups and how the goggles sit on the child’s face.

If the eye cups are too wide or too large, the goggles are more likely to leak, feel uncomfortable, or distract your child during lessons.

2. Check the seal before buying

A simple way to test goggles is to press the eye cups gently onto the face without using the strap. If they create a light suction for a second or two, they are more likely to fit. If they fall away immediately, they may leak in the pool.

3. Choose clear lenses for lessons

For swimming lessons, I recommend clear or lightly tinted lenses. Very dark, mirrored or novelty lenses can make it harder for teachers to see a child’s eyes.

Eye contact matters in swimming lessons. Teachers often use facial expression, eye contact and simple visual cues to reassure children and give instructions.

4. Avoid novelty goggles that block the eyes

Some children love character, hologram or novelty goggles, but these are not always helpful in lessons. If the teacher cannot see the swimmer’s eyes clearly, communication becomes harder.

5. Consider double straps

Double-strap goggles often stay in place better than single-strap goggles. They can be especially useful for children who are starting to swim more actively, practise push-offs, or move into more advanced classes.

How Much Should You Spend on Children’s Swimming Goggles?

You do not need to buy expensive goggles for a child who is just starting lessons. In fact, if your child is still learning basic water confidence, it is better not to make goggles the main focus.

For regular weekly lessons, a comfortable junior pair from a recognised swimming brand is usually enough. If your child swims more than once a week, joins a squad, or starts training seriously, it can make sense to invest in a higher-quality pair.

Very cheap goggles can sometimes leak, mist up quickly, or feel uncomfortable. When this happens, children may spend too much lesson time adjusting them instead of swimming.

What About Prescription Swimming Goggles?

Prescription swimming goggles can be useful for children or adults who need vision correction and feel unsafe or uncomfortable without glasses. They are usually more expensive than standard goggles, but they can make a big difference for swimmers who need to see clearly in and around the pool.

If your child wears glasses, speak to your optician before buying prescription goggles, especially if your child has a strong prescription or a specific eye condition.

Swimming Goggles and Children’s Swimming Lessons in Wimbledon

At Blue Wave Swim School, we teach children to become confident, safe and independent swimmers. For families looking for children’s swimming lessons in Wimbledon, our approach focuses first on water confidence, then on technique, stamina and progression.

This is why we do not rush children into wearing goggles before they are ready. A child who can calmly put their face in the water without goggles is usually better prepared for long-term swimming progress.

If you are based in or near Wimbledon, you can find more information about our local pool here: Blue Wave Swim School swimming pool in Wimbledon.

You can also view our latest lesson dates, prices and booking information here: 2026 Blue Wave Swim School lesson dates and fees.

A Short History of Swimming Goggles

Goggles feel like an essential part of modern swimming, but their use in everyday swimming lessons is relatively recent.

There are many accounts of early swimmers and divers using simple eye coverings, including the often-repeated story of Persian pearl divers using polished tortoise shell. Later, long-distance swimmers used goggles that looked more like motorcycle goggles than the modern swimming goggles we recognise today.

One famous example is Thomas Burgess, who crossed the English Channel in 1911 wearing early-style goggles that reportedly leaked during his swim.

Even in the early 1970s, not every elite swimmer raced with goggles. Today, however, goggles are standard for most swimmers, from children in lessons to competitive athletes.

Swimming Goggles and Competitive Swimming

Modern competitive swimmers rely on goggles for comfort, visibility and performance. Goggles help swimmers keep their eyes open underwater, judge distance to the wall, and maintain better technique during training and racing.

The international governing body for aquatic sports is now called World Aquatics, formerly FINA. Swimming equipment and competition rules continue to evolve, but for most children in lessons, the priority is simple: choose goggles that fit well and support learning.

Frequently Asked Questions About Children and Swimming Goggles

Should my child wear goggles for their first swimming lesson?

Usually, no. For first lessons, it is better for children to start getting used to water on their face without relying on goggles. Once they are comfortable, goggles can be introduced.

Can goggles stop my child’s eyes hurting after swimming?

Goggles can help reduce eye irritation by limiting direct contact with pool water. However, a good pool environment, showering before swimming, and proper pool water management also matter.

Why do my child’s goggles keep leaking?

Leaking usually happens because the goggles are the wrong size, the eye cups do not suit the child’s face shape, the strap is too loose or too tight, or hair is caught under the seal.

Are expensive goggles better for children?

Not always. Fit matters more than price. A mid-range pair that fits well is better than an expensive pair that leaks or feels uncomfortable.

Should babies and toddlers wear goggles?

Babies and very young beginners usually do not need goggles. Early lessons should focus on confidence, safety, comfort and gentle water familiarisation.

Do children need goggles for swimming lessons in Wimbledon?

Children attending swimming lessons in Wimbledon do not always need goggles straight away. At Blue Wave Swim School, we usually recommend that beginners first become comfortable with water on their face. Once they are confident, goggles can help them practise more effectively.

Final Advice From Blue Wave Swim School

Swimming goggles are useful, but timing matters. If your child is still learning to put their face in the water, focus first on confidence. Once they are comfortable, a well-fitting pair of junior goggles can make lessons more enjoyable and help them practise more effectively.

If you are unsure whether your child is ready for goggles, ask their swimming teacher. At Blue Wave Swim School, we are always happy to advise parents based on the child’s stage, confidence and lesson goals.

For more swimming tips for parents, sign up to the Blue Wave Swim School newsletter.

This article was written by Marjan Moosavi, founder of Blue Wave Swim School. If you have a question about your child’s swimming lessons, please email info@bluewaveswim.co.uk.