Hellobee Boards

@PawPrints: I respectfully disagree. Sure a lifeguard would be ideal but we're not talking about a pool party where there's chaos and they're specially trained to look out for the one person out of many who's drowning, it's literally watching an empty pool and the area around it. I'm not a trained lifeguard but I would trust myself to do it.

If I were the OP, I'd probably do a few things: 1) hire a teenager or two to watch the pool, 2) put up some kind of barrier (like stakes in the ground with some pennants) and tell the kids not to go past it, and 3) watch my kids like a hawk, dividing and conquering with my husband if needed. I think the scariest thing is when you and your partner each think the other is watching the kids and in reality no one is. It wouldn't be as fun for us unfortunately, but oh well.

@birdofafeather: I think that sounds like a good plan.

I know it's not ideal, but the medical center where I work recommends that at pool parties you have an adult designated as pool watcher at all times (even going so far as to have a special hat or something for the pool watcher to wear) and to switch who's doing it every 15 minutes. So there's always an adult whose sole job is to be watching the pool. Obviously you would need to trust whichever adults were taking on this responsibility.

@hummusgirl: The person would be hired for the purpose of rescuing a child who was already in the water. Without a fence, the likelihood is that a kid is going to end up in the water - one hired attendant is not going to be able to prevent kids from running in because they can't physically block the entire perimeter. So you're paying that person to save the life of a child who is already drowning. Lifeguards are trained in how to retrieve a person from the water in a way that is less likely to injure them (a significant risk), and they are trained in CPR/first response once the child is back on land.

@birdofafeather: I think your approach is completely reasonable at this point.

I will say this, we are pool owners and our pool is not fenced (yard is). This is a choice we have made, and I get that many people will call us irresponsible. But I also realize the seriousness of the pool. It's why we don't host other children in our home and why we don't spend much time in our backyard. My 5 year old is finally to the point where I trust her to be more than an arms reach from me in our back yard without a puddle jumper on. My 2 year old, no way!

We were at a 5 year old birthday party recently where the situation was similar. Indoor/outdoor activities - kids and adults coming and going. The home had a pool, no pool fence. I was okay with my 5 year old but kept an eye on her. There were other parents there (non pool owners) that were really nervous as their kids aren't exposed to the situation as often. Had I been aware of the situation in advance we would have likely declined the invite.

@birdofafeather: Oh, gotcha.

@birdofafeather: is a cover like this an option? My parents have one to prevent the dog from falling in...lol

ARGH HB ate my post!

We just had this problem at my aunt's house for Thanksgiving in LA. They have an unfenced pool, but we always stay inside for the meal. Despite the fact that everything is held indoors, DH and I have always been hyper vigilant about one of us hovering near the sliding glass door or staying by our 2-year old son, who LOVES the water and is super fast. This year, everyone kept opening the sliding door because the kitchen was hot and I kept slamming it closed and locking it the whole afternoon while sticking to my toddler and managing a 6 month old. It was exhausting and we left in under 2 hours. There are other kids in the family, but we have the youngest ones so no one cares about the pool safety thing but us.

I think if I were in your shoes and the party was actively going to be held indoors and outdoors, I would make DS wear his swim vest. We own this one - its super cheap, very light, he can play just fine in it, and it keeps him buoyant:

http://a.co/iQnKQ0O

For your younger child, I would imagine someone would always be watching her, but if you're still worried, I would rock this guy:

http://a.co/dejUCi3

That doesn't solve the issue of securing the pool for the other children attending, but it would at least make a point to your ILs that the pool is not safe.

Also, if they aren't going to fix the pool in the near future, I would seriously consider sending your kids to ISR school.

https://www.infantswim.com/

@birdofafeather: Glad to hear this. You will definitely enjoy the party more now.

I'm at glad to hear they ordered a fence! You originally posted this right when I found out we are going on a trip with my in laws and the house they rented has a pool right outside the door (so nothing between the door and the pool) and I'm terrified. I may order that pool alarm, it's so expensive for a week but my mil and fil are oblivious about stuff like keeping the door closed and it could be a disaster. If anyone has another suggestion though I'm all ears!