We picked this hotel for our staycation specifically for Ella Grace. It’s one of the rare ones in the city that has a kids salt pool and for our water baby that reacts to even sunscreen, this was a big thing.
The joy of getting to explore and play independently in the shallow pool and the peace that she will likely not be covered in rashes or have her eczema flare up from the chemicals was super exciting and a huge relief.
I prefix that to say that we are the kind of parents that are generally quite cautious.
For her birthday, our swim lover really wanted a pool party with her friends so we hired a lifeguard whose sole purpose at the party was just to keep eyes on the littles in the pool. While it seemed a bit extreme for a home birthday party...this, this is why.
***
I am vulnerably sharing her falling in the pool to show you how quickly it happens. How quiet and unassuming it is. One minute she is laughing the next she is panicking in knee deep shallow water she can stand in, too shocked to move or think. To know that it could have ended so differently if we weren’t watching her or if she didn’t learn to instinctively save herself.
I hope that after you watch and read this, that it changes and empowers your family to be safe around the pool and to think about some dangers or tools or classes that you might not have considered or prioritized before.
But mostly, I share because you are a part of my tribe and I want to keep you and your littles safe too.
Be safe mamas, education and prevention is key. ❤️
***
CHILD SWIM SAFETY TIPS
NO ADULT, NO WATER
Always always make sure someone is keeping an eye on your little in any body of water whether it is in the pool or tub or shallow water play. Even though J and I were just a few feet away from her (he had just moved out of the frame so I could take a video of her being adorable) it still felt like a lifetime away.
Another big rule we have for Ella Grace especially w a pool in our house and even w the bathtub, she has to wait until we’re in the pool or we put her in the tub before she can get in. No adult, no water.
DROWNING IS SILENT
If you were just glancing, you would just think she was playing in the water and not realize she was flailing because she was panicking. Often, we think drowning is the victim screaming for help and splashing around but if they can’t breathe, they can’t scream. 😭💔
STAY CALM.
I have no idea how I managed to stay calm but I knew she needed me to and I knew I needed to tell her to STAND UP in the clearest way possible. I wasn’t dressed for the pool and didn’t want to panic her even more but if she had struggled anymore, I would have jumped in there without a doubt to pull her out.
SWIM TRAINING
Through swim training, she also knows that if she’s in trouble, she swims to the side and tries to pull herself out (thank you Aquabubs Swim School for all those hours of practicing) it was so good to see her instinctively do that.
DEBRIEF
She had a big cry after and we held her but didn’t gush panic over her (even though I felt 😱😱😱) so she didn’t build a fear of water. We made space for her to be scared and recover and within a few minutes, she went back to playing.
But more importantly, we debriefed again later on what happened and with what she did right - check to see if your feet can reach the ground then get to the side for help - reframing fear and helplessness for brave and able.
SECONDARY/DRY DROWNING
Another big thing to look out for if your little swallows a lot of water accidentally is secondary drowning. In swim, they teach us not to do more than three to six submersions an hour and to make sure that her belly is still soft and not rigid/bloated full of water. Secondary drowning signs don’t occur immediately but progressively over a few days - drowsiness, irritability, fever, nausea/vomiting, child being ”off”, coughing, breathlessness.
In this instance, she didn’t swallow enough water to worry about secondary drowning but if your little requires intervention in a pool incident or anytime after pool time w littles, although rare, it’s still good to know the signs and symptoms to look out for.
TOYS OUT
We all know that our favorite little people have very poor impulse control so a big rule we always have is taking any toys/balls out of the pool after play when we are done. It removes the temptation no matter how “well” they listen or behave. To us we see the pool as danger but to them, it’s a giant playgym.
Also something to consider is the fake bravado of having floats on. It actually works against them learning to swim in the long run and might actually keep them underwater if it slips or is under inflated but more than that, swimming w littles still absolutely requires adult supervision regardless if they have floats on or not.
LET THEM BE LITTLE
Having said that, let them be little. Let them explore, let them have fun, let them play and splash around. It’s what childhood memories are made of but also be very firm of your boundaries.
No running around the pool. No jumping in by yourself. No pushing anyone into the pool.
Even if I bubble wrap her, I still can’t guarantee she’ll never get hurt. Instead I have to teach her to be safe around water. Empower her. Supervise.
I do my best until I know better and when I know better, I do better.
That’s the sum of what it means to be a parent. You do your best. You let them be little. You lead with love.
We got this, mamas. My mama heart still wants to bubble wrap her but I know instead, I have to teach her to fly.
Ps. Check out comments to see a picture of her after!
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