Do you have an early riser? Sending you 🙏🏻
Swimming (let’s call it “playing in the leisure pool” really) is a great way to expense little ones’ energy. Public indoor swimming pools in Vancouver are affordable, available every day and open super early — 6 am typically! Perfect for an early rising kid on a rainy day!
Tips for Swimming
- Put swim diapers on them - even for toddlers who have been toilet-trained.
- Make sure they are well-fed and well-rested (not too close to nap time).
- Bring a hooded towel to keep them warm once out of water.
- Make sure the pool temperature is no less than 32°C - that’s the minimum for babies.
Best Indoor Pools for Babies and Toddlers
Hillcrest Aquatic Centre
Definitely our favourite pool because it is close to Kits, has tons of free parking and there are always many things to do and see there (library, ice-skating rink, playgrounds, farmer’s market all year round!). It has a leisure pool with water toys, sprays, and lazy river, as well as a hot tub and a “toddler” wading pool. Water is UV-treated.
Tips: bring a lock for locker.
https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/hillcrest-aquatic-centre.aspx
Minoru Aquatic Centre in Richmond
Another favourite pool of ours despite a 20-min drive to Richmond! Leisure pool is very warm, has a double-wide child slide, zero depth entry splash area for toddlers, lazy river, a huge family hot tub (largest in Canada with 110 pressure jets throughout!) and refundable lockers. Free parking. Great for babies, toddlers and children of all age.
Tips: bring a quarter for locker.
https://minorucentre.ca/swimming-pools/
Killarney Leisure Pool
Amazing view of the North Shore mountains and very calm and clean, water is UV-treated! Great for babies and toddlers because how big the shallow end of the leisure pool is. Make sure you keep some towels to the pool side because the hot tub is not right next to the leisure pool. The lazy river is quite small and “not as fun” as the Hillcrest or Minoru one for bigger kids.
https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/killarney-pool.aspx
UBC Aquatic Centre
See the “cons” below but still one of our favourites because the water is the warmest (leisure pool is 31-32°C) and it is rarely crowded.
You can count on the UBC one not being too crowded because:
- Parking is not free (closest one is North Parkade, costs $2 for 1/2 hour)
- Locker is not free: $1 for a large or $0.25 for a smaller locker. Bring the coins!
- Public swim is NOT always available, make sure you check their schedule ahead of time for their “Community Swim” schedule, typically as late as 9 am (yes, it is “late” if you have a kid waking up at 5:30 am every day! 😫)
https://sportfacilities.ubc.ca/ubc-aquatic-centre/
Vancouver Aquatic Centre
Despite many attempts, I have never tried this one because their public swim schedules don’t work for us. But I have heard many good reviews from fellow parents and this is a great option if you live in downtown.
https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/vancouver-aquatic-centre.aspx
Watermania
Pool Schedule (scroll down to “Drop-In Public Aquatic & Fitness Schedules”) ↗︎
My daughter loves it (especially the wave pool and all the water slides), but my son doesn’t. He prefers just chilling in a calm pool. I found this pool a bit noisy due to the interactive water play features so I wouldn’t recommend it for babies.
Good for:
- High-energy and adventurous kids
- Older kids
Not good for:
- Babies
- Toddlers who can be easily overstimulated