Baby Pool Water Safety by Patti Andrews

Babies and toddlers love splashing in a backyard baby pool, but even a baby pool has its hazards.

Babies and toddlers can drown in less than two inches of water in just minutes. Consider these water safety tips when using at-home baby pools: 

• Always, always, always supervise your child.
• Never leave children alone in or near the pool, even for a brief period of time.
• Put the cell phone away, forget about all the other things you have to do and give young children 100 percent of your attention when they are near or around water.
• During social gatherings, adults should take turns being the “designated watcher”.
• Don’t rely on flotation devices that tend to give parents a false sense of security.
• Every parent should know CPR and stay up-to-date on rescue techniques.
  
  

Drowning, although the biggest worry, isn't the only concern when babies are exposed to water. Infants are particularly susceptible to diseases that can spread through water.  Babies and toddlers should wear swim diapers to prevent accidental discharge of contamination into the pool. Never let babies or toddlers with diarrhea swim. It can be released into pools through leaky diapers and if the water is swallowed by other swimmers, can cause severe diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and dehydration.  After a dip, wash your baby with a mild soap and shampoo the hair. Also dry the baby's ears carefully with a towel or cotton ball to help prevent swimmer's ear.

Remember to empty and clean the pool after each use.  Store the pool upside down. It will protect against accidental drownings and assure clean, fresh water each time your child plays in the pool.  Backyard baby pools are fun for infants and toddlers, but their safety is a parent’s number one concern.