Hydrocortisone is a steroid medication that treats inflammation in the body. The drug comes in an oral form to take by mouth, and a topical form to apply to the skin.
Some kids ask to be left alone as early as 5 or 6; others enjoy having your company until they start approaching puberty, closer to 9 or 10. Bathing alone, however, can be risky because of drowning dangers, and it can take just a few seconds for even older kids to slip and drown in only a few inches of water.
Updated November 29, 2016. The short answer: Most children are developmentally ready for swim lessons when they are about four years old. Prior to that, their brains and bodies are less able to coordinate the motions of swimming strokes, so putting them in lessons isn't very effective.