Feeling awful about son's accident in the pool

Mine started swimming straight out of the womb, as soon as they were in the birthing pool.

Expect he’s running his own training by now

I’m so sorry this has happened to you OP. It could have happened to anyone and I hope you can enjoy the rest of your holiday. Could I ask the brand of the vest? We’ve been using a Konfidence one with my daughter but now I’m wondering if we need to bin ours too?

Please stop crying and get back to being happy and relaxed. Your son may well have been very startled and found the experience momentarily unpleasant, but the terror is your projection. He will not have been aware of the danger. Just that he fell in the water, it shocked him, then mum scooped him up. The important thing is not to let him think this was a big terrible thing as he could learn from your reaction to be scared of water.
And remember, accidents happen. You were there to prevent it being worse. So you've nothing to feel guilty about.

No harm done, don’t beat yourself up about it. You were right there and able to solve the problem. About 15 years ago we were in a small outdoor toddlers’ pool and our daughter would have been about the same age. All fine, until we looked around for a few seconds, then looked at her, and she had her face in the water. It took a couple of seconds for us to realise that she was not cutely looking into the water to see if there were some fish, or whatever - she had tipped forward in this shallow pool and couldn’t find a way back up. A millisecond more of panic and we got her out. It was really upsetting at the time but there was no damage and I don’t think I’ve thought about it more than a couple of times (probably driving past that place) since, until seeing this thread. But I’m sure it made us subconsciously more cautious, which is all good.

@ToffeePennie🏆🏆 best mother in the whole world ever award goes to…. YOU! Well done for your excellent swimmers. You are, quite simply, the queen of us all. We bow down to your superior parenting. Really, well done. Bra fucking vo.

Ah OP, it’s totally understandable that you’re feeling this way. But you were being a responsible parent, you didn’t leave his side and just took your eyes off him for a few seconds. That’s why he’s ok. Hopefully the shock will wear off soon. I agree with others to ditch the life vest and get back in the pool again tomorrow.

I’m sure we’ve all known a Mum like you in the playground…. Yawn

You've not read all of OP's posts have you?

There are a lot of people here keen to tell you about the incredible swimming abilities of their toddlers.

The reality is that drowning isn't the big splashy affair of films. It's quiet and it can happen in just a few inches of water. I think there's a statistic that most children drown within a few metres of an adult.

But you are on holiday and this is a great opportunity to help him to learn the basics. One of the most important being not to panic so the best thing you can do is try and put it behind you (at least in front of him).

We all have a 'what if' moment. The point is you were there and did react in time.

Oh OP - you’re not a bad mum. You were supervising your child and turned for a few seconds. Could happen to any of us (except the superior parents in here teaching their kids to swim as soon as they’re conceived!).

it’s a lesson learned with the vests - but you wouldn’t have known. You got him up and he was fine.

the images are horrible aren’t they. I still have a few from various accidents where they’ve fallen and hurt themselves. It will pass. Concentrate on the happy images and it will fade.

Please try not to beat yourself up anymore, we’ve all had lapses in attention when we’ve believed our kids were safe (ie in a baby pool, wearing a life jacket). When the thoughts turn up just remind yourself that you’re having a normal and natural reaction to a real fright (which, by the way, is a sign that you’re a good mum)… these are normal emotional responses, just acknowledge your feelings and remind yourself everyone is safe. I hope you feel better soon ❤️

I think you are overreacting.

Feel better for that? Hijack some poor, guilt ridden woman's thread to brag about your superior parenting and your kid's superior swimming.

Biggest eye roll imaginable.

The vests you can get for toddlers are flotation aids not life saving vests.

my kids used them to learn to swim - the idea is you take a float out every now and then and eventually there aren’t any left.

certainly won’t keep a kid safe.

op, sounds like you had a scare but hopefully all
ok now. Float to live position is probably the best thing to teach - https://rnli.org/water-safety/float

incdentally I believe rookie lifeguard training is now available for 8-12 year olds. https://www.rlss.org.uk/pages/category/rookie-lifeguard

Smug, much?!

Swimming comes first. Not dance.

Ah seriously 🙄
No need to to boast.

I recently had a similar experience, literally let go of my child for 2 seconds & it happened. Once I came to terms with the shock I took it as a lesson. Never thought it could happen but now I know it can. I'm using it as a life lesson & I hope you can do the same once the guilt lessens.

This happened to my daughter, her dad was with her in the pool and she slipped over in the shallow part, the lift vest pinned her head under the water. He was right there with her and watching and it still happened. He threw the life vest away. We use arm bands now, and they are much better at keeping head under water. They also learn to float on their belly and back with them and spin over to stop this happening. Its so hard when you think you are doing the right thing by having them in a safety vest

I really feel for you. I think it's a rare parent who can say they have never, not for a second, relaxed their guard over their child. Most of us are lucky and our children are fine, and even if something happened they are still fine, but the memory of "what if" does stay with you. I'm sure you're a great mother so forgive yourself.

Hasslehof junior 😂
You win the internet today 😄
iv just literally spat my tea out. The cat is horrified.

It’s really difficult to get child swimming lessons here. The council pool has a huge waiting list. The specialist children swim franchises are approx £20 a lesson. Plus it’s hard to sort out swimming lessons when you have another child to care for.

Without meaning any disrespect to the OP, then if that is the case you literally don't take your hands off them in the water, and take them swimming yourself without lessons until they're comfortable.

If you can't take them swimming before the holiday, then the holiday becomes the lesson - and in my son's lessons, he was in my arms for the first couple of years.