Protecting Baby Around Swimming Pool

Hi Beata,

Please say you have a gate around the pool. Toddlers are so fast, before you know it a horrible accident can happen. If you do not have a gate I would get one. So many accidents with pools happen over the summer. You said he is so excited, I would keep all the ladders away from the pool if you have one at all times when you are not using the pool. I love pools, but because I my fear of my 23 month old falling in or my 6 year old drawing I just use a kiddie pool and sit right there with the lawn chair and watch them. I hope others have given more advice on this.

We have an inground pool, and my daughter is going to be 2 this August. Last year I wasn't too worried because she was just walking and wasn't at all interested. This APRIL I had a pool fence guy come in, and install a fence around the pool. It gives me peace of mind, and even though it cost and arm and a leg I'd rather be safe than sorry

I'd say look into getting a fence

I'm sure you already have safe measures around your pool such as gates, and door locks. What you can do about a life vest and alarm is call your local Red Cross. Ask them the best vest and alarm they recommend for your age child. They can also give you info on your nearest swim class. Good luck, and have fun!

Hi. I would recommend gating the pool completely. You have many options here. My sister installed a mesh gate, which required drilling a few holes into the pavers around the pool to place the metal brackets. It was 1 continuous piece, and very easy to install and take out when you want to use the pool. It gave her tremendous peace of mind. If you go to a pool store, you can see what your options are. Growing up, my parents installed a metal gate around the pool, which was locked. This, even though the pool was beyond the patio. Good luck.

J.

First thing get a pool alarm,make sure you have a self-closing self latching gate for the fence around your pool,sign up immediately for a Mommy and me Swim class which will teach your son some automatic habits if God forbid he ever end up in the pool. These classes are designed to teach children to look for, aim for, go to the side of the pool when they are in the water in a way that does not teach them to be afraid of the water. They also teach "monkey walk" which is how to get from place to place in the pool while holding on to the side which if they fell in and grabbed the wall would enable them to get to the ladder. Keep up swim lessons until your child is a confidednt swimmer. This may take years but later on in life it is worth the peace of mind when you own a pool or your child is at camp, or with a friend's family. I grew up on a lake and we live near the beach all three of my children are good swimmers the youngest is four and can swim the length of a pool with no floatatin assistance, but the important thing is that if he ever fell in he could make it to the side and float on his own. THe suit you described in not typically supposed to be a lifesaving device and I am hestiant to suggest you teach your child they need a life jacket to be in or near a pool as this may inspire a life-long fear. Call your local Y or pool for a swim class, talk to your child daily about pool saftey,designate one person when you are by the pool to be soley in charge of your child - nothing else and keep the area gated and unaccessible when direct supervision is not possible.

Hi Beata,

Frankly, I would move the grill out of the pool area and make sure the gate is closed and locked when you're not in it. That's the best way to assure his safety. At that age, he has no fear and no sense of consequences--my daughter would step right into the pool (and be surprised every time that the water didn't hold her up and that she was wet). If you can't do that, I don't think I'd use that type of suit/inflatable--it's not rated as a life vest, and my concern is that if he falls in head first, he'll remain head down. I'd buy him an actual life vest that's rated as such--they have lightweight neoprene ones, and they also have nylon covered character ones (if he likes, say, Spiderman, he might be that much happier about wearing it). I'd also be freakishly vigilant, with someone always specifically assigned to watch him--most accidents around pools happen when everyone else thinks someone else is watching.

Check out www.onestepahead.com They have great things. Here is a pool alarm:

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...

there is a pool alarm that works for above or below ground pools. Also, this swim suit you are talking about is useless. We had one for my son. The foam core just pushes up into his face. It actually made the skin on his chin raw. However there is a good swim suit to use if your in the pool with him. It also looks like a woman's swimsuit. But it has an inner tube around the middle. It works great and it was easy for my son to move around the pool. But it is not a life saving device and it should only be used if you are in the pool with him. And if he flips over (which you can't do if your already face up) it won't flip him over. One thing we taught our son was that he was NEVER allowed in the pool without his floaty. And any time he went to get in the pool he was told to get his floaty first. We also have the gate to the pool locked with a pad lock. we will be using this same swim suit with our daughter this summer. Good luck.

Your best bet is to be sure it is approved by the Coast Guard. I made the mistake years ago of spending about $30 on one of the floaty suits at WalMart and my daughter couldn't wear it to either the lake or the pool.

I've gone to a sporting good store or BJ's carries them & just read the attached tag. It will say right on it that it's approved. My one neighbor couldn't understand why I wouldn't then just let my daughter wear it in our pool, but my husband had looked into it & some of them can cause the children to flip forward because of the way they are made. Good Luck!

In addition to all the great suggestions about fencing in the pool and pool alarms, have you considered swimming lessons? The problem with the floatation swimsuits is that they just float the kid, but it's a crapshoot if they are face up or face DOWN. And obviously teach him how dangerous the pool is and that he must not go near it under any circumstances unless with an undistracted adult.

Hi Beata,
I'm glad you're atleast showing concern about the safety of your son with the pool situation. Do you have a pool alarm or a gate around the pool? I'd highly invest in one. Life vests are good but those toddlers are quicker than fire! I just worry about you turning your backs for a split second and having him end up in the pool without you knowing. Even children that CAN swim still face dangers in drowning. Please remember that!
Good luck!
Lynsey

I dont have any suggestions about the life vest, sorry (although the Coast Guard suggestion really does sound good). I would like to suggest, however, that if your son is interested in the pool that you teach him to swim ASAP. Babies can swim at birth and it is NEVER too soon to teach him. You will then be able to wipe ONE thing off the list of stuff to teach and protect your child about. Granted, pool safety should never be taken lightly and of course, there is still a safety risk even if he CAN swim, but it just makes life a little less stressful around pool time. Happy Summer!

We tried the type of vest you have and found it very diffacult to put on and take off expecially when wet. We use a regular thin vest that zips in the front and has a great handle on the top. I buy them at target. Our son use to just walk or jump into the pool without hesatation so we have made it a rule that if he is in the gated area he must wear the vest even if he is not going to swim. Hope this helps pools can be so much fun yet sooo scarey with little ones.

hi beata. we have a fence around the pool, a double locked gate, and an alarm on the pool. plus high locks (plural) on all the doors leaving my house. my kids always wear life vests when the pool is open. and i am talking about an above ground pool. when we go places with an in ground pool, they wear life vests the whole time if the pool is open. as far as lifevests go, you must test it out, especially at your sons age. when my 2 older kids were that small, they are kind of top heavy. we bought many life vest, great ones, top of the line, and most of them actually flipped them over face down in the water. we returned several of them before we found one that worked. you have to test them to see which one works with his body. when he gets older you can pretty much buy any good one and he will be more proportioned so that it works. swimming lessons are always a good idea too. if your pool isnt fenced in, please do it asap. sorry, but you cant be too careful, please. it only takes one second, and drowning is silent. please take every precaution.

Find a local YMCA and start swim lessons, they are geared towards safety and your son will learn how to blow bubbles, kick to the top,float, climb out , etc...

Hi Beata-
You should use a life jacket for your son instead of the floatation swim trunks.
There is also an alarm you can get for your pool which lets off a piercing sound when the water is disturbed.
Hope this helps
K.