Re: Would you... (pool related safety question)

Granted we don't have cause to be in a pool all that often, but I would need to be the in the water to feel ok (and I love swimming and the water so thats ok with me). Personally I feel like there is a big responsibility to be alone in the pool, swimmies or vest or not, and I'd have to very much trust them and their swimming and judgment. I've seen kids playing safely with them and the parents out of the pool, and then have also seen one jump in because the line of "you can go by yourself only if you are wearing a vest and have put it on correctly, but not if you aren't wearing it" is a hard concept for some little kids who are just psyched to get into a pool.

Re: Would you... (pool related safety question)

DS is not quite 2.5 and swims amazing with the puddle jumper, had swim lessons last year and will again this year.

He may not swim unless someone who can swim is in the pool with him. I would get out to get a ball for him quick or something, but that's about it. Not worth the risk, he is too important to me.

Re: Would you... (pool related safety question)

With a puddle jumper, yes. They don't pop. I don't think the above poster is referring to the Coast Guard Approved one we are all talking of. They are foam, foam doesn't pop. A pre-schooler has head/neck control, so I think in a puddle jumper, they are TOTALLY fine without you in arm's reach (but with supervision OF COURSE).

Re: Would you... (pool related safety question)

How old is the child?

I don't feel comfortable at all but DD is 2.5.

Would you... (pool related safety question)

In the water or on the pool edge. Not a snowballs chance in hell I would let any of my kids in a pool while Iwas just near by. Secondary drowning is very real. Drowning in general is quick and silent normally.

Would you... (pool related safety question)

My DD is 4 and I wouldn't let her in a pool by herself. Either my DH or myself have to be in the pool with her.

Re: Would you... (pool related safety question)

Yes, as long as they have a vest on (if they cant swim). I watch from a chair.

Would you... (pool related safety question)

We let my 2 year old in the pool with her puddle jumper on while sitting on the pool steps sometimes a few feet away. She can't go under w the puddle jumper on, and we could jump to her in a second if we had to. She's been using her puddle jumper all of last summer when she was 1, and she does very well with it. Last summer I started out always staying right next to her, but we got to the point that she was fine paddling around independently so I would swim around in the pool a little farther away from her, just always keeping my eyes on her. I still wouldn't walk away from the pool with her in though.

Message edited 6/18/2015 8:42:59 AM.

Re: Would you... (pool related safety question)

Re: Would you... (pool related safety question)

I thought of this thread this weekend because I went to a pool party at Saf T Swim.
The kids were all pretty much 4-5 years old, with a few older siblings and cousins.

There was one instructor in the pool and another girl sat outside the pool. But there was about 15-20 kids in the water at any given time and no parents went in. All kids were either in their own puddle jumpers or had swimmies provide by the place.
They told the parents we could go watch through a large window in the viewing room.

I didn't take my eyes off DD the whole time, but I was in a separate room watching through a 2 way mirror.

Yes, there was someone in the pool but there is no way he could keep track of all those kids in the water.

I felt ok because I have a lot of confidence in the puddle jumper, but still, it was a bit nerve wracking to not be right on the edge of the pool.

It just made me think of this thread though because nobody was in arms reach of all the kids at any given moment.
I just wondered what some of the posters on this thread would have done in that situation.

Re: Would you... (pool related safety question)

Re: Would you... (pool related safety question)

I watch my kids (ages 6 and 2) like a hawk when they are near water. They are still little, not strong swimmers, and something can go wrong in an instant. I don't mess around near pools with them, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Would you... (pool related safety question)

My DD is 3 1/2 and I'm always in the water with her, even with a puddle jumper. The only time she is in the water by herself is with her swim instructor, and the class is 1 to 1. When she's a bit older, and can swim, then I will hover around the edge until she's a solid swimmer. Safety in and out of the water is no joke.. I have instilled that in her but she loves, loves being in the water at 3 1/2 my daredevil needs my eagle eyes on her because I can't trust anyone to be as vigilant about her as me.

Re: Would you... (pool related safety question)

I must be a total deadbeat. I let my older ds who is 8, take my younger ds who is 5 around the lazy river without us. My younger ds was wearing his puddle jumper and was sitting in a tube with no hole in the bottom. My DH and I were both fine with it.

Re: Would you... (pool related safety question)