https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:28:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-hosting-pool-parties#post-2778087 Fri, 06 Oct 2017 12:41:06 +0000 agold 2778087@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just helped my sister throw a pool party for her 6 year old at my community pool. Hiring a life guard was the number one priority. All the kids could swim on their own. All the parents stayed. No parents went into the pool with them. There was simple kind of food for kids and parents. Kid drinks. Adult drinks. Music. Bubble machines. Balloons. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-hosting-pool-parties#post-2778082 Fri, 06 Oct 2017 12:29:33 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2778082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been to quite a few and we're hosting our first tomorrow. The first was age 4, but most are 5 and older. We live in SoCal so most kids are pretty swim proficient. About half were in places with a lifeguard but parents typically stay close to the kids that are not as strong. That would. E my only rule.</p> <p>For our house we waiting until age 5, put on the evite that were taking down the pool fence for the day (whole party will be outside). I don't believe anyone younger than nearly 5 is coming and we kept the guest list small. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-hosting-pool-parties#post-2778018 Fri, 06 Oct 2017 09:48:39 +0000 Ginabean3 2778018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I suggest hiring a lifeguard! We were at a party at our HOA pool and all the parents stayed (kids were between 6 and 8 yrs old) plus they had two lifeguards. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-hosting-pool-parties#post-2777970 Fri, 06 Oct 2017 08:16:19 +0000 looch 2777970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: I don't have it in me to host a pool party at my own home. The most I have ever had is two kids over other than my son. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-hosting-pool-parties#post-2777931 Thu, 05 Oct 2017 19:09:12 +0000 lamariniere 2777931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: these are all great tips, thanks! How old have the kids been when you’ve hosted parties? For my older LO, like with yours, I imagine, the guests would probably all be older 6 to almost 8. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-hosting-pool-parties#post-2777780 Thu, 05 Oct 2017 08:08:22 +0000 looch 2777780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think all lifeguards are created equal. As a former lifeguard myself, I basically "test" every kid that comes over to swim at our house. If they cannot swim to my satisfaction, they can choose from the variety of swim vests that I have available. Otherwise, they can enter the pool only if their parent joins them. I am usually in the pool with the kids, primarily because even if they can swim, sometimes what happens is they get too close and grab at each other, and then before you know it, someone is under water.</p> <p>I would be very clear about when the kids can swim. If there are other things going on, such as having cake, there are no kids in the pool, no matter what. I would also have some games and things by the pool that kids can do if they don't want to be in the pool while the larger group is swimming. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-hosting-pool-parties#post-2777733 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 21:03:37 +0000 lamariniere 2777733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: how scary! I’m definitely convinced about the lifeguard! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-hosting-pool-parties#post-2777729 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 21:00:12 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2777729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hire a life guard. Two summers ago at a party the fourteen year old life guard pulled my sons friend out from the bottom of the pool. He was blue and spent a night in the hospital but he was ok. The entire party/group was right there standing feet away. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-hosting-pool-parties#post-2777725 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 20:47:29 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 2777725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a joint bday party at our swim class pool (indoors) which is similarly shallow. The party fee included a lifeguard and they put rope across the pool so the younger kids would stay on the even more shallow side. It went great and everyone had fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-hosting-pool-parties#post-2777724 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 20:39:47 +0000 lamariniere 2777724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meowkers: @Cole: great idea, I hadn’t even considered that. We’ve never been to a kiddie pool party, so this is all very new. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-hosting-pool-parties#post-2777722 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 20:37:44 +0000 Cole 2777722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ditto. The only one I've been to was for older kids and they hired a life guard. It would be well worth the cost to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-hosting-pool-parties#post-2777715 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 20:22:49 +0000 Meowkers 2777715@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would hire a life guard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-hosting-pool-parties#post-2777713 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 20:19:31 +0000 lamariniere 2777713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you hosted a pool party at your home/community pool? Tell me about safety and logistics. What age range did you host and did the kids’ parents stay? What rules (if any) did you have for the kids? Or maybe this is a bad idea? If you’ve been to a kiddy pool party, I would love your thoughts too. </p> <p>We just moved into an apartment complex with a community pool. I’m thinking about pool-side birthday parties this year (my LOs will be turning 7 and 4 in a few months). FWIW, the water is not that deep in the main pool, just under 4 feet, and there is a baby pool that is about knee deep. </p>