Instilling in your child a love for the water can give her an exercise outlet for years to come. While swimming pools offer your toddler many benefits, they also carry safety risks that can have deadly consequences. Keeping your child safe around a swimming pool requires your careful supervision and pool equipment measures to ensure your child has a safe swimming experience.
Significance
An estimated 1,000 children die annually in the United States from drowning and a significant amount of these deaths occur at a home swimming pool, according to Kids Health. Because infants can drown in as little as 2 inches of water, it's vital that parents and guardians closely observe infants when in and around pools.
Prevention
Swimming programs offered at your local pool may begin with groups as early as 1 year of age, according to the website What to Expect. While these programs may not be suitable for every child, if your child's attention span and coordination are good enough for a swimming class, he may be ready for lessons. These lessons typically focus on swimming basics: floating, dog paddling and safety tips toddler can understand.
Equipment
Infant swimmers require flotation devices that ensure their safety. Infants should wear a Coast Guard-approved life vest anytime they are near water--even when you are not planning on them getting in the pool, according to Kids Health. Infants should wear a vest that has both a collar and straps around the legs. This is the best option for infants, because water wings or "floaties" are not enough to prevent drowning.
Pool Regulations
Although you should check with your state and county officials concerning home pool regulations, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has standards for pool fencing in order to prevent drownings. The pool should be fenced in such as way that children cannot get over, under or through fencing in order to access the pool. Guidelines include having a fence that is 4 feet high with no foot or handrails; slats less than 4 inches apart or chain link with no opening larger than 1 3/4 inches; and self-closing and self-latching gates set to where your child cannot reach the latch. Pool alarms may not be a sufficient deterrent for infants, according to Kids Health.
Parent Responsibilities
In addition to giving your child the proper equipment and instruction, parents and guardians must watch infants at all times when they are near the water. A supervising adult should always be within arm's reach, according to What to Expect. Ensure the pool your child is swimming in has rescue devices, such as a shepherd's hook and life preserver, and that a phone is nearby in case of emergencies. As a supervising adult, never assume that because a child has knowledge of swimming that she will not drown. Even good infant swimmers can experience accidents.
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