Hellobee Boards

@birdofafeather: How about hiring a lifeguard to just sit by the pool and watch?

I know in Florida you legally have to have a fence around a pool or in your private fenced in back yard. After hurricanes fences and screens are damaged and lots of people use that safety plastic construction fence/netting with steel bars as stakes. Its not idea or pretty but it does count as a fence.

This makes my heart race just thinking about it. I also know people who have lost children who fell into a swimming pool in almost exactly this situation. It's just as dangerous as if you had a party with a bunch of loaded guns lying around. There's no way to make it kid-safe, and I'd honestly still be terrified even if there were a fence, given how common it is for adults and older kids to accidentally leave a gate open. (In my friend's situation, the kid was actually inside the house - someone left the pool gate open, and then someone else left the back door open.) I'd be very open about my concerns, you could show all kinds of research and stats on how dangerous pools are and how high a cause of death this is for kids age 1-4.

What about a pool cover rental?

I have no idea what something like that costs.

I found this company in LA that rents it.

http://vigensrentals.com/pool-covers/

Here is a SoCal rental company. They have a PDF of a price list, too.

http://picopartyrents.com/pool-covers/

@Madison43: @birdofafeather: Not sure where you are looking but my friend hired a lifeguard from a local swimming pool and paid $12/hr

Also if your SIL hasn't put up fence yet I doubt she would be willing to do it for a one time event.

I like the idea of a person but why does it have to be a lifeguard? They just need to yell if someone does go near the pool, but if they're vigilant they can stop a kid before they fall in. A responsible teen would probably do it for $15/hr.

@birdofafeather: I am surprised in Cali you don't have to have a fence
In FL you do!!
I like @T.H.O.U.: idea and the life guard one too!!
Maybe a pool alarm too?!

@birdofafeather: What about a sub-surface pool alarm? They aren't fail-proof obviously but better than nothing?

@birdofafeather: I bet the body heat generated kept you all warm enough! Pool safety is a legitimate concern. Are play pen fences sturdy enough to use outdoor where they may be wind? Enough of the same kind could surround the pool. The orange construction gate may be a cheap & easy solution.

@birdofafeather: Surely the fact that the law exists should be sufficient to convince them that this is important??

@birdofafeather: Wow do guests know of the pool?
Personally with my 2 yr old I would be very uncomfortable and might not want to go of I couldn't get a sitter
That would scare me!

We stayed at a house this past summer that had a pool but no fence (the owners do have young kids, so go figure). Friends of ours rented it for a month and they have 2 young girls and an infant. They were able to find a temporary fence company to install and uninstall a mesh fence. They paid quite a bit BUT it was for an entire month. Maybe look up temporary fence companies?
This is similar to what they had.
http://guardianpoolfence.com/no-holes-pool-fence/

Just want to say - I think your concerns are totally warranted. I hope you all find a solution that helps you feel better.

@birdofafeather: It's such a real concern. I don't know any kids, personally, who have been involved in pool incidents, but I've seen plenty of these situations online (Hellobee, people I follow on IG, etc.).

We have a friend who had a net installed over their pool. Expensive, and a process to install ... but their 3 year old has fallen on the net FIVE times in the last year. Literally a lifesaver.

@birdofafeather: what do you think would happen if you say you just can't go if there is no fence or other safety issue? Like, will it be a huge blow up or will it be, wow, she's serious about this, maybe I should look into it more. Because I agree with you on your concerns. It's just too scary and kids are too fast. ANd it's really serious when they have a kid!

While I think you have every right to be nervous about this (I would be too), it's understandable that she doesn't have much of a concern. She doesn't have any kids yet, and has no idea what it's like to have a toddler who doesn't know any better heading straight for the water. I know it's upsetting that she doesn't seem to be making it a priority, but she sounds as if she's just not aware of the danger and anxiety it causes.