Parenting Pointers: Pool Safety Tips for Toddlers

A couple owns a residential swimming pool. They are also the proud parents of a young child – their 2 year old son Spencer. How do they safely introduce their son to the swimming pool? Here are 10 tips on how to manage that combination of pool and toddler:

1) Keep the child close. According to WhatToExpect.com, the first rule is that if an infant or toddler is in or around the water, the adult should keep that child within arms reach – close enough to touch the child. Children can move alarmingly fast, and watching them at poolside becomes an exercise in constant vigilance. A child can see a tempting toy in the pool and walk off the side in the time it takes to send a text. Keep the child constantly within reach.

2) Fence the pool. No one wants a child able to wander into the pool area unattended. A four sided fence at least four feet high should be installed surrounding the pool. Make sure the fence doesn’t have any openings that a child could crawl through or jump over. If the parents have a pet such as a large dog, be mindful of openings the dog may have forced in the fencing.

3) Swimming lessons. Some studies have shown toddlers and preschoolers may be less likely to drown if they have had some formal swimming lessons. WhatToExpect.com suggests the type of lessons may depend on the toddler, and how physically coordinated they are. The parent and toddler can enroll in a swimming readiness program.

4) Remove toys from the pool when not in use. Don’t leave a temptation floating around that could lead a child to jump in the pool without thinking. All toys should be out of the pool area as well – otherwise the temptation still exists for the child to go grab the toy and jump in the water.

5) Pool gates. Use gates on the pool fence that have a self-closing and self-latching mechanism, which is higher than a child can reach. Make sure the gates are secured after children are done swimming. Dashing into the house to make a sandwich and forgetting to close the gate offers a source of temptation for a small child. If the gates are self closing, parents can avoid that risk.

6) Alarm the pool. Goodhousekeeping.com suggests using both pool and gate alarms.  Pool alarms signal when the water has been disturbed. Make sure that the type of alarm is rated for the pool. Do the research to find the proper alarms. Have pool and gate alarms that sounds instantly, and both at the pool area, and inside the house.

7) Have a phone near at hand. According to PoolSafely.gov, it is recommended to have a portable phone close by when using the pool. If something happens to a young child, it can be quite a shock to a parent. Having the ability to quickly call emergency personnel could make all the difference when time is precious, and lessen stress while watching a toddler swim.

8) Water safety skills. It is advisable that the parents know how to swim. There’s no need to compound a potentially dangerous situation by trying to rescue a toddler from the water, when the parent is unable to swim, or uncertain in their swimming abilities. With a toddler, it is recommended that the adults know CPR, and how to perform it – on both adults and children.

9) Safety with pool chemicals. Keeping the pool clean involves the necessity of having chemicals. But according to HealthyPools.org, a CDC study states that as many as 5,200 emergency room visits per year are due to injuries related to pool chemicals, and almost half of those take place at home. Storing chemicals away from the reach of children is recommended. When using those chemicals, make sure children are safely out of the pool area.

10) Vigilance. The pool is an enormous source of enjoyment for the family, but looking over tips 1 through 9 regularly, and assuring that all aspects of pool safety are being monitored, will lessen the likelihood of an accident. This will provide safety for the toddler, and lessen stress on the parent. Swimming pools are meant to be fun – being vigilant can assure that!

Becky Flanigan is a freelance writer for InTheSwim.com.  She has 3 kids with her wonderful husband – two boys and a girl – and two lovely golden retrievers.  She spends hours at her family swimming pool, watching the kids and dogs splash and play.  She is also a runner, and diligently training for her first half marathon.