My in laws have a new house with an open access backyard pool. There is a fence around their property but no isolation fence around the pool. I have a 2.5 year old, walker, and a 9 month, crawler. Problem is, the in laws don't see the lack of isolation fence to be a issue. They don't want a fence for aesthetic reasons. But they have no other safety measures like door/pool alarms or even a safety lock on the house door to the backyard. I am very nervous about taking my kids to their house this summer. I am wondering if anyone with a pool or family/friends with a pool has suggestions for realistic safe guards around a pool. It's a great undertaking to expect me to be so vigilant to never let two kids out of my sight while at their house.
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Okay I guess in my mind it is their house, so if they don't want a fence, that's their choice. However, I think there needs to be some sort of safety measure, and in this case I think your kids should be in swimming lessons ASAP, so they can float to life in case something happens. Be preventative before an accident is going to be your best option.
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I would ask them what is their plan to keep the kids safe around the pool. Maybe they can find something that they can handle.
Otherwise, I'd just be diligent about watching them when you're all at their house.
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It's their house so I feel like it's up to them. However, I'd purchase the water alarm wrist bands for when we were there, get my kids in swim lessons away and watch them carefully.
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We have an open access pool in the backyard and don't plan to erect a fence when baby comes. We have xeriscaping instead of grass (arizona), so no place to play. The backyard patio is a small play option, but we'd have to be out there with them.
However, we installed a child proof latching door to get into the backyard. It's an automatic slider that requires a lot of force and a height of at least 4 ft to get the latch. It was required by home insurance and it was available at Home Depot, unsure of price. I don't know what brand we bought, but it looks like these:
http://doorclosingsystems.com/sliding-glass-door-closer-the-ultra-glide/
http://www.klozit.com/klozit_004.htm
But ours was not added to the door, the door just came like that, I believe.
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Also in Arizona there are laws requiring pool access restrictions, maybe look up the laws in your state? Example: http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/oeh/pool_rules.htm
In my opinion the main thing is childproofing all access to the backyward, and not letting them go in the backyard unless an adult is there. Then, of course, swimming lessons as soon as age appropriate.
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We have an inground pool in our backyard with only a yard fence (no barrier around the pool). We have a nearly 4 year old and an infant. Some people will call us crazy and I'll wear that label.
Here's what we do. We have an alarm on our backdoor (really all doors), so we know when the doors to our house have been opened. Our backdoor is a glass sliding door. Our nearly 4 year old is just now strong enough to open the door on her own. We will be installing a pin lock at the top of the door in the next week.
The rest of it is "training". Our daughter knows that she's not allowed in the pool without a parent and without her puddle jumper. She has not been in swim lessons.
What kind of door do they have going to the back yard? What are your rules at home for back yard play?
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I would find visiting under those circumstances very stressful!! I would limit visits until the safety issues are addressed...
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What if you bought them a safety lock to install on the door to outside. That way there is no cost and little inconvenience to them. It's their house so it's really their choice. Since its your in laws I assume that your husband will be with you most of the time when you are visiting and it shouldn't be difficult for the two of you to always keep an eye on the kids.
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I think it would definitely make me anxious and worry. I would considering buying one of those pool alarms and hope they would use it.
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This is the situation at my parents' house, and I have never been concerned about what it will be like when we take LO over there. They have kids at the house a lot, but none are ever in the backyard unsupervised, and as the cousins get older, they know that there are strict rules about not swimming alone (which we define as "without someone capable of saving you present").
If it's really concerning you, would ILs be willing to go for the door alarms if you spring for them? (Though, having been in a house with them, they'd drive me bonkers!) Maybe just higher latches that you can lock when you are there with the kids?
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I would limit visits for sure until kids are older and can play safely. Or if you do go make sure you have a 1;1 ratio of adult to kid.
I think at the very least they need a great door lock to keep kids indoors.
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@hotpink: I probably would just be super careful and definitely wouldn't let them babysit!
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While visiting indoors I'd ask & check that doors to the backyard are kept locked. Our sliders have three locking mechanisms. I'd imagine even without a dead bolt lock a door to the outdoors requires a key.
When visiting with them outside make sure all responsible parties know your children can't swim. In my experience, all the adults will watch out for all of the children when there are any potential hazards.
Another safety precaution is to teach your 2.5 year old how to swim or at least tread water.
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Thanks for all the responses. I am definitely anxious about visiting and having to be so vigilant.
I understand that it is my in-laws house and that they are free to keep their house how they choose. We are currently in talks about adding a lock device to the backdoor. Always having an adult with the kids in the backyard. And getting the kids into swim lessons.
We probably won't let the grandparents babysit until the kids are proficient swimmers! -
Being constantly vigilant is just kind of how life with 2 kids is. DH's aunt and uncle have a pool that's the same, and we just keep an eye on our kids when we're there. There's not much else you can do, other than not go. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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I think I would buy a pool alarm and bring it with you. I would balk at someone requesting me to install additional hardware on my door but would be fine with a pool alarm.
I think at the very least they need a great door lock to keep kids indoors.
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