Having a pool and young children

Cathski · Oct 30, 2009 7:48 am

My husband is dead keen on getting a pool. I have my reservations - safety and ongoing expense being two big ones so I wanted to hear about other people's experiences. We'll be getting an above ground one and we have two young children (3 years and 8 months) if that makes a difference.

* apart from the pool fence, how else can you make it safe for kids?
* what depth is your pool?
* at what age do you think kids can go in without an adult?
* at what age do you think kids benefit most from a pool?
* do you still let your kids play in the backyard (outside the pool fence) unsupervised?
* what ongoing costs are there?
* we're in Melbourne - how many months of the year do you think I would use it?

Many thanks!

Moogles · Oct 30, 2009 1:38 pm

Hi Cathski,
We live in QLD and have an in-ground pool in the place we are renting (have been here 9mths after moving from NZ).
Obviously it is all fenced as required but I feel entirely happy about my kids (3.5 and 4.5yrs) playing in the yard unsupervised - we have made quite a point of explaining to them however the dangers of water and being near it unsupervised (I know your wee ones are younger, but never too early to start IMO).

As part of our rental agreement we have the pool people come to clean/service it monthly, which I understand costs around $50 per month, and we pay for the chemicals for it - between $20-$50 per month (usually on the lesser end of this though), depending on what is required. Friends of ours check their water and do everything themselves, so no need to pay for people to come out and do this, you can buy testing sticks to DIY.

As for use - we haven't used ours at all over winter until the past couple of weeks now it has warmed up, so I doubt in Victoria you would either, but having been there a few times over summer time, it would absolutely come in handy almost daily! I remember even as a kid growing up in Wellington we spent ALOT of time at my friends place who had a pool and we were in it everyday - as kids you don't seem to feel the cold as much!

I'm not sure what age you could leave kids unsupervised, depends on their capabilities in the water I guess...?

Hope this helps a little!

kyton · Oct 30, 2009 1:58 pm

* apart from the pool fence, how else can you make it safe for kids?
Lockable / security doors and windows on any openings close to the pool. No outdoor furniture near the fence that can be used as a "ladder" to scale the fence.

* what depth is your pool?
It will be 1.1m each end sloping to 1.8m in the centre.

* at what age do you think kids can go in without an adult?
Ten or older

* at what age do you think kids benefit most from a pool?
Depends whether they like the water or not.

* do you still let your kids play in the backyard (outside the pool fence) unsupervised?
No but then I don't let my kids play anywhere unsupervised. Yep "helicopter parent" is me :lol:

* what ongoing costs are there?
Same as PP - not much in Summer as you tend to move the water around more whereas in Winter it can stagnate.

* we're in Melbourne - how many months of the year do you think I would use it?
Not sure about Melbourne. We are in NSW - 2hrs away from Sydney. We tend to use ours from late Oct until end of Mar - this is with no heating and previously a fibreglass pool.

This time we are getting a concrete pool and have been warned that they can be cooler then a fibreglass shell so it will be interesting. But then again we always put in the necessities for solar heating so in need it can be installed.

Our kids are 4 & 2 with another due NYE. Since we have such a massive backyard they would always be supervised when outside. Plus whenever we are inside the doors are locked so as to contain them where they can be watched.

joles · Oct 30, 2009 2:02 pm

If I was to get a pool, the first thing I'd do is make sure my kids had swimming lessons and became competent swimmers. Then if all other safety measures fail/are navigated/or lapse and the worst happens and the kids get to the pool and fall in, they know how to swim to the side and get out.

onc_artisan · Oct 30, 2009 2:18 pm

joles, I think this is the only way to have some peace of mind.

suh · Oct 30, 2009 2:50 pm

We got our first pool when the kids were 2 and 5, and they absolutely loved it from that age on. My 2yo son, who had no fear, was swimming the length of the pool, underwater, before he was 3. He couldn't actually swim but kept ducking under and coming up, that's how he got around....it was so cute. Daughter had had swimming lessons before then. The most annoying thing I remember about the pool was that they never wanted to get out, each time you would ask they would duck under...and under...and under ::angry::

so on many occassions I jumped in fully clothed to drag the little so and so's out ::hyst::

onc_artisan · Oct 30, 2009 3:58 pm

Suh...
We didn't have a pool but the beach is close... same deal there :roll:

Apparently I was the same... could swim under water pushing off the bottom and come up to breathe. :lol:

Moogles · Oct 31, 2009 7:54 pm

haha Suh!
Gives me an idea of what is to come this summer with my two - sound like fun

... hmmmm

serge44 · Oct 31, 2009 8:01 pm

SUPERVISION

Anna1 · Nov 05, 2009 4:44 pm

We got our above ground pool (dug inground) when kids were 2 and 4. We absolutely love it. Summer days all day in the pool - no TV's, no computers. I get to sit and read a magazine while they play. Are 10 and 12 now. Will let them play without me watching but I always make sure I can hear them and don't leave them alone for long. One thing about above ground pools is that it is more difficult to see what is happening if you are not standing next to the pool.

I started them off using the 4 layer of foam belt thing. Floaties no good doesn't teach them the right place to have their arms. As they got more confident a layer of foam comes off. Got to the stage where my son was just wearing the belt, he thought it kept him afloat!

No probs playing in backyard as long as they can't open pool gate. Kids grow quickly - make the opening latch as high as you can manage - would recommend higher than Aussie standard.

We are in Adelaide and usually swim Oct to Mar with Solar blanket. Pool is lovely temp.

Unfortunately its green at moment as we've been renovating backyard/shed and filter has been unoperable for a couple of months. Fixing that up this weekend so should be good by December

Have fun and enjoy.

jbdave · Nov 05, 2009 4:55 pm

Talking about safety, has anybody used those pool alarms ? Supposedly when something more than 5kg falls into the water, the alarm sounds (I am guessing due to water movement hitting a sensor or something).

Moogles · Nov 06, 2009 7:49 pm

Wow, I have never heard of these... **goes off to google**

free will · Nov 06, 2009 8:35 pm

We have three kids and looking at putting in a pool

* apart from the pool fence, how else can you make it safe for kids?
Make sure no chairs or other things that can be used to get over the fence. Make sure you can see it from the kitchen.
* what depth is your pool?
N/A - not got it yet, but probably 1.8m
* at what age do you think kids can go in without an adult?
When they can swim - you can sit on the side and watch. If you mean when can they go in when no one is supervising, I would say about 8 or 9, but only if more than one and both can swim
* at what age do you think kids benefit most from a pool?
2 onwards
* do you still let your kids play in the backyard (outside the pool fence) unsupervised?
I would, but make sure there is NO WAY they can get over the fence. I would also visually check every few minutes

yvette72 · Nov 08, 2009 4:20 pm

we have had three pool now and we even had one when my son was younger its important to remembe to get them taught to swim and to supvisor at all times.we had a techincal that cme very month to sevice ourpool it was about $50.00 a month depending on what chemicals were we found it much easier than having to buy the chemicals and have then laround the house.we are about to have our fourth pool in our new home we are in the process of putting up a above ground one.We had camera on all our pool that were linked to a monitor so that kids coul be watched we will be doing this in our new pool too. we also had a alarm on our gate as well when it was open the alarm was set off we had one in the pool to if something falls in the water a alarm will sound.But even with all these meaures its important to remember the key is to watch them at all times alog with teaching them to swim