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Three Easy Ways to Keep Kids Safe During Pool Time
Baby Float // Jaime’s Striped Swimsuit // Sunglasses // Harley’s Pink Swimsuit [similar] // Long Sleeve Rashguard Shirt // Shark Towel // Fish Towel
Pool time should be a fun family activity, not something to stress about. However, once you become a parent, your thought process changes about EVERYTHING! It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but you start to think about all the possible things that can or may go wrong. So, when it comes to family pool days, us mommas might allow fear or anxiety get in the way of having a good time.
If you’re not a parent, you might be thinking I’m being a little dramatic, but just you wait till you have little humans you’re responsible for one day!
Also, I should mention that I realize summer may be coming to an end, however, our time at the pool won’t be stopping any time soon. It stays hot here for the majority of the year, so we practically live in our pool! So, with that being said, here are three easy ways to keep kids safe during pool time…
Protect Your Skin
Protect your skin. While sunburns aren’t as serious as something like drowning, they sure can put a damper on pool days! With everything we know now about Skin Cancer, it’s best to practice and reinforce safe sun protection at an early age. I so wish I could go back in time and take better care of my skin!
The sun here in Florida is pretty brutal, so our pool days have more commonly been later in the day, before dinner time. For Harley, Casey, and I, we are sure to use sunblock. buybuy BABY has a great variety of sunscreen brands. If you’re interested in a safe, non toxic one, try Badger.
For Elie, I like to cover him up as much as possible. We dress him in a long sleeve rashguard shirt, swim diaper, and swim shorts. When he allows me, I’ll add a sunhat and sunglasses. When he’s not in the mood for the hat and sunnies, he stays in this SwimWays Sun Shade Float that keeps him shaded. This float is a must have!
Claim A Child, Designate a Water Watcher
Claim a child, designate a Water Watcher. You guys wouldn’t believe the amount of times I’ve heard a story from a friend or someone in the community stating their child, or a child they know almost drowned while with with multiple people [adults and children]. The problem with larger get togethers or parties is that you assume more eyes are on the kiddos. In reality, that might not be the case.
When we’re in the pool with the kids, I’ll say to Casey, “you’re on Harley duty” or, “I got the kids, you can go swim some laps.” We literally assign a child or children to one of us, and will take turns. If family and/or friends are over with their kids, I do the same thing. I’ll specifically ask an adult to be the “Water Watcher” and keep their eyes on one or more children if I can’t give them my undivided attention in that moment.
It may seem silly to have to ask an adult to watch kids in a pool. You’d think that’s an obvious thing, right?! But, I am telling you, there’s been so many situations where everyone assumes someone else is watching the kids, and it ends up being that no one is! Claim or assign a child to an adult and you won’t have that problem. It takes as little as 20 seconds for a child to drown.
Continue to Teach and Practice Swim Safety
Continue to teach and practice swim safety. There’s no such thing as being too good of a swimmer or being too careful in the pool. We constantly talk to Harley about the dangers of being in a pool, while also encouraging her to practice her swimming. Swim lessons are available at every stage, and even after kids know how to swim, it’s not a bad idea to continue lessons with a professional.
When at a public pool, be aware of pool drains and make sure your kids know to stay away from them!
Lastly knowing CPR can be vital, and something that all adults and pool owners should be well versed in. It can save a life!
Is there anything I left out? What type of things do you do with your kids to ensure their safety during pool time? Tell me in the comments below!
