It’s summertime, so it’s time to hit the swimming pool! For many families, this means spending more time at the local pool or water park. However, if you have young kids in your family, you might be worried about letting them near the water due to safety concerns. Unfortunately, swimming pool accidents happen, and unfortunately, they occur with disturbing frequency in children under 5 years old. Here are certain tips to follow.
1. Put Their Name On Everything
Like at home, small children should be encouraged to put their names on their towels, clothes, and even personal belongings like their own stroller.
You can buy the right stroller from any reliable baby stroller supplier for your kid. This will help them feel more secure in a new and unfamiliar place. You can make all of these things by using stickers. Stickers make everything easier! If you can’t find a sticker that says your child’s name, write it with a permanent marker.
2. Baby Proof The Entire Backyard
It might sound overkill, but you don’t want your toddler to get into a swimming pool while not looking. If your toddler knows how to unlock doors and cabinets, it’s time to baby-proof your backyard.
Place latches on all windows and glass doors, lock away any dangerous chemicals or items that could be harmful if ingested, turn off any power tools you may have in storage (i.e., lawn mowers), install an automatic timer on any lights, keep locks out of reach of little hands and make sure no valuables can fall into other areas or pools. Don’t forget about potential dangers inside, either!
3. Find A Swimming Pool Fence Your Child Can’t Climb Over
According to Injury Facts 2017, drowning is one of the leading causes of death among children ages 1-4. Don’t assume a fence around your swimming pool will keep your child safe. Instead, look into getting a wall-mounted or stand-alone toddler fence designed especially for small children; they are often cheaper than you might think and will give you peace of mind when little ones are in or near any water.
Remember that these fences should be able to prevent all forms of access (including via a ladder) and should be at least 4 feet high and cover any doors opening into the yard that isn’t equipped with an alarm or other locking mechanism. Use the right lighting from led light strips wholesale China in the swimming pool at night.
4. Always Watch Them In The Water
This might seem like a no-brainer, but one of your most important responsibilities in toddler swimming is as a spotter. If your child is spending time in or around water, they need you within arm’s reach at all times.
No exceptions. Whether you’re going to have them go underwater or float on their back in a floatie ring, keep an eye on them at all times and correct them if they don’t have their head above water. This can prevent most accidental drownings. If your child isn’t sure how to swim yet (and let’s be honest here—they probably aren’t), invest in flotation devices designed specifically for kids, so they know exactly where their limits are.
5. Keep The Water At A Comfortable Temperature
A good rule is that water should be in the mid-80s (approximately 27 degrees Celsius) or cooler. If it’s too hot, your toddler may be more likely to jump in with clothes on and run around, leading to an increased risk of drowning. Use a pond filter system for safety.
You may also find your toddler refuses to get back into a cool pool later if they’ve gotten used to warm or hot water. If you must heat a cool pool, ensure that children are wearing swimsuits and have supervision at all times. A lifeguard can ensure an older child doesn’t push a younger one into deeper water but doesn’t count on them being able to keep tabs on every child in their area.
6. Please Don’t Leave Them Unattended
Young children can drown in as little as an inch of water, so never leave them alone. Even if they know how to swim, babies and small children should be carefully supervised near a swimming pool.
If your baby doesn’t know how to swim, you need a reliable flotation device—but be aware that some children outgrow their floaties by age 2 or 3. So please don’t assume your child is too old for supervision or floatation devices; they aren’t!
Conclusion
Small children can be extremely curious and adventurous, so it’s no surprise that they might decide to take a dip in the swimming pool when you’re not looking. Unfortunately, drowning happens often, even to children who live near or visit swimming pools regularly. To keep your child safe from drowning in your backyard pool, follow these six swimming pool safety tips for toddlers and make sure your child knows them too!
