“Going out into the cold with wet hair – my child will catch a cold!” We hear this a lot in autumn and winter in Graz. Is it true? This guide explains what health insurers, studies and the US health agency CDC say, and how your child gets home from swimming warm and healthy.
- Viruses cause colds, not the water: there are more than 200 cold viruses, rhinoviruses being the most common (Barmer). No virus, no cold.
- Getting chilled can still play a part: when the body cools down, the lining of the nose gets less blood flow and viruses that are already there have an easier time. Drying off well and dressing warmly is worth it.
- Dry the ears: water left in the ear canal can lead to an outer ear infection (“swimmer’s ear”). Tilt the head, dry the ears with a towel, no cotton swabs (CDC).
- Swimming when ill? With a mild runny nose and no fever, exercise is usually fine; with fever or diarrhoea it is not (TK, CDC).
Where does a cold really come from?
A cold is an infection. According to the German health insurer Barmer, science knows more than 200 cold viruses, and rhinoviruses cause about half of all upper respiratory infections. They spread through droplets in the air or through hands that have touched door handles or other surfaces.
So wet hair alone does not infect anyone. Children catch more colds in winter largely because we spend more time indoors and closer together – at nursery, at school and on public transport.
Can wet hair and cold still do harm?
Getting chilled is not completely harmless. When wet hair dries, evaporation draws heat from the head. According to Barmer, blood vessels then narrow and the lining of the nose and throat receives less blood. Fewer immune cells arrive there, and viruses already in the body can multiply more easily.
Two studies are often cited:
- Cold feet (Cardiff, 2005): 180 healthy adults sat for 20 minutes with their feet either in cold water or in an empty bowl. In the 4 to 5 days afterwards, 13 of 90 people in the cold group reported cold symptoms, compared with 5 of 90 in the control group (Johnson & Eccles, Family Practice).
- Cool nose (Yale, 2015): in experiments with mouse airway cells, the innate immune response was weaker at 33 °C than at 37 °C, and rhinoviruses multiplied more easily (Iwasaki, reported in Deutsches Ärzteblatt).
The honest view: the foot study was small, and the authors themselves say more research is needed. The Yale results come from mouse cell experiments; whether they apply to humans in the same way is open. Neither speaks against swimming in winter – both speak for not getting chilled afterwards.
Getting home warm: the checklist
- Take a warm shower and dry off thoroughly – including between the toes and behind the ears.
- Blow-dry the hair: especially with long hair, a few minutes under the dryer before going outside are worth it.
- Don’t forget a hat: the head is often still damp after swimming. A hat keeps the warmth in.
- Warm feet: pack dry socks and warm shoes – see the foot study above.
- Don’t rush outside: let your child settle for a few minutes in the foyer until they no longer feel cold.
- Dry the ears: tilt the head to the side so the water runs out and pat the ear dry with a towel (CDC).
- Wash hands: the simplest protection against cold viruses, especially in the cold season (Barmer).
Water in the ears: what helps against swimmer’s ear?
If water stays in the ear canal for a long time, germs can grow. The CDC recommends:
- Use a swim cap, ear plugs or custom-fitted swim moulds.
- After swimming, tilt the head to the side so the water drains, and gently pull the earlobe in different directions.
- Dry the ears with a towel. If water remains, a hair dryer on the lowest setting held several centimetres away can help.
- No cotton swabs or other objects in the ear canal, and do not remove ear wax – it protects the ear.
Typical signs of an outer ear infection are pain when the ear is pulled or the small flap in front of the ear canal is pressed, itching, discharge, redness and swelling. According to the CDC it is not contagious. If you notice these signs, see your paediatrician.
Swimming with a runny nose? The “neck rule”
The German health insurer Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) gives a simple rule of thumb for exercise with a cold: if the symptoms are only above the neck, such as a runny nose, exercise is usually fine – shorter and lighter than usual. With symptoms below the neck, such as fever: no exercise.
- With fever, aching limbs, exhaustion or breathing problems: take a break. After an infection with fever, the TK recommends pausing for one to two more weeks once the symptoms have gone.
- With diarrhoea: stay out of the pool (CDC). This also protects other swimmers.
- When in doubt: skip one session and ask your paediatrician if you are unsure.
The CDC also advises a one-minute shower before swimming and a toilet break with young children about every hour.
Why winter is still a good time to swim
In an indoor pool the weather does not matter, and winter is long. Children who practise regularly now start the summer bathing season with more confidence. How a regular swimming rhythm helps children is explained in our article Making Swimming a Routine for Your Child.
How we do it in our lessons in Graz
This is where the research ends and practice begins:
- Short sessions for little ones: children under 7 swim for 30 minutes with us. Small bodies lose heat faster in water, and shorter sessions help against getting chilled.
- Always moving: in private 1:1 or 1:2 lessons there is no waiting at the edge of the pool where children get cold.
- Ill? No problem: with the Premium Flex Pass you can reschedule a session free of charge up to 24 hours before, and no session is lost. For fixed courses you can choose illness protection when booking and get a make-up session.
The Premium Flex Pass is especially popular in winter: choose your own sessions on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and stay flexible when a cold gets in the way. All our courses are on the English page.
Frequently asked questions
Will my child catch a cold from swimming in winter?
Not from the water itself: colds are caused by viruses. Getting chilled after swimming can make it easier for viruses, though. Drying off well, blow-drying the hair and dressing warmly make sense.
Do I need to blow-dry my child’s hair after swimming?
It is a good idea, especially with long hair and cold temperatures. If hair dries outside, evaporation draws heat from the head. A hat helps too.
Can my child swim with a runny nose?
With a mild runny nose and no fever, exercise is usually fine (the TK neck rule). With fever, aching limbs, exhaustion or diarrhoea your child is better off staying home. When in doubt, ask your paediatrician.
How do I prevent water in the ears?
A swim cap or ear plugs help. After swimming, tilt the head to the side, dry the ear with a towel and do not use cotton swabs (CDC).
Sources
- Barmer (German): Nasse Haare – wie groß ist die Erkältungsgefahr? (updated 02.03.2026, medically reviewed)
- Johnson C, Eccles R: Acute cooling of the feet and the onset of common cold symptoms. Family Practice 22(6), 608–613 (2005)
- Deutsches Ärzteblatt (German): Warum Rhinoviren kalte Nasen bevorzugen (08.01.2015, on the study by Akiko Iwasaki, Yale)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Preventing Swimmer’s Ear (28.05.2025)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Preventing Swimming-related Illnesses (06.06.2025)
- Techniker Krankenkasse (TK, German): Sport bei Erkältung: ja oder nein? (08.04.2025)
This article does not replace medical advice. If you have health concerns, please speak to your paediatrician or GP.
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