Kids and pools

[Starshine]

How many kids would you feel comfortable taking to a shallow/wading pool with a lifeguard? It's sooo hot, and this sounds like a great idea to me in theory, but not sure how well it would work out! I have 2 1-year-olds and 2 school-age.

[jazmic]

I know in public pools, you're allowed two children to one adult. I don't know if the same rules apply to wading pools. But personally speaking, I wouldn't be comfortable taking 4 kids to a wading pool by myself. I don't even let my husband take our two kids to the pool by himself. Things happen too quickly. jmo.

[Starshine]

Yeah, I'm hesitant about it. Maybe a splash pad instead?

[playfelt]

We just had an incident here in Ottawa with a toddler at a wading pool - poor lifeguard on their first day of duty too. Parent and siblings were at that pool too. Child taken to hospital but expected to be fine. If you were taking just the older kids then I would say ok but a child that is not walking firmly ie under 2 needs the adult beside them as splashing will knock them over. Splashpad is a much better idea and a lot more fun for toddlers too. They just want to play with the water.

[Starshine]

Yes, you're right, they would totally fall over in the water. Splash pad it is.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Ya I third the splash pads or sprinklers as the best option for group care specially if you have infant or toddlers in the mix but for me it would not matter their age ... IMO pooled water is not worth the risk or liability for business .... drowning accidents occur way to quickly and are too common for my liking!

[Momof4]

I don't even use my blowup pool here unless my little helper spends the day with me. I have a high school student who comes for a morning on her PD days and a couple times a month in the summer. I have gone to the splashpad with 4 children, but two of them are under 2 and two of them are over 4. I want my teenage helper to come with me the next time we go if I am taking 5 children with me. I won't even take my eyes off my little ones when we are using the water table.

[sunnydays]

I would never take my dck's to a pool! I don't even use a kiddie pool because a small child can drown in a couple of inches of water. I also wouldn't take my own two children to a pool alone (they are 2 and 4). Splash pads and sprinklers are great!