Swimming is an excellent hobby for the whole family – it is a great way to boost energy levels, lower stress, and reduce anxiety. Not to mention it is so much fun for toddlers! However, parents should always be extremely cautious when their kids are in a swimming pool to minimize the risk of getting injured. In this article, we will share the top water safety tips for toddlers every parent and guardian should know.
How Do I Keep My Toddler Safe In the Pool?
Unfortunately, drowning can happen in seconds and is often silent. And it is one of the leading causes of death in toddlers. Brain injuries and other pool accidents due to slips and falls are common too.
Parents and guardians should realize how vital water safety for toddlers is and do everything they can to follow these rules.
Here are some tips on how to make sure your toddler is safe when having fun in a swimming pool:
- Teach your toddler to swim by yourself or consider finding a swim coach for them if you think you are not a good teacher;
- If you’re at a public swimming pool and the water there is cloudy or there’s foam around the pool, it is a clear sign of a maintenance problem; notify the swimming pool operator and do not let your toddler use the pool;
- Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) – it is a crucial part of ensuring your toddler’s safety around swimming pools;
- No running or tricycle riding around the swimming pool;
- No pushing or breath-holding games in the pool.
Adults should take turns in supervising toddlers when they are in and around a swimming pool. Parents and guardians should never rely on water wings, noodles, or floaties when kids are swimming – they may pop or fall off anytime. Arm floats may tempt a water watcher into paying less attention to children and that’s exactly what makes them unreliable and even dangerous. And mermaid tails or fins can make it for a kid hard to swim and lead to drowning. If you still think your toddler really needs support in the swimming pool, the best choice is U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
Make sure not only toddlers, but everyone in the family or circle of friends follows the pool rules. Obviously, parents should set a good example when it comes to pool safety. Using alcohol or drugs while in or around a swimming pool is not a good idea if you want to stay vigilant. You should also avoid distractions such as checking social media or texting on your smartphone.
If you have a swimming pool at home, use a hard pool cover to lock down your pool when you are not using it. This way, you will protect your toddlers from getting into the water when you cannot supervise them.
If your kids love to play in an inflatable pool during the summer, make sure to empty and put it away when it is not in use.
What Are Some Other Important Swimming Pool Water Safety Tips for Kids?
- Explain to your children that it is not okay to swallow pool water;
- Tell your toddlers to use the shallow side of the swimming pool and not to dive, even if they are already expert swimmers;
- In the summertime, especially on sunny days, always apply water-resistant sunscreen to your kids, preferably the one labeled SPF 30 or higher;
- Tell your toddlers to get out of the pool immediately in bad weather, especially in case of a lightning strike
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