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Original poster

Toddler almost drowned today

121 replies

ZogorElmer · 16/09/2019 19:06

Almost 3 year old was on his noodle in the swimming pool when he fell off and went under. DH was looking in the other direction and didn’t see and it took a second for me as a spectator to notice and shout him. He grabbed DS out of the water and he was fine but I can’t shake the look of panic on DS’s face as he was under the water trying to get up. He was under for about 2 seconds maximum but it felt a life time.

I had a huge go at DH about making sure he watches DS like hawk and keeps him at arms reach in future. I think he was over confident as DS can swim around the pool on a noodle no problem but obviously without it would sink.

I don’t know why I’m posted but I just feel like I need to tell someone. I still feel so shook up even though DS is running round like a nutter as usual.

OP posts:
LittleAndOften · 16/09/2019 20:53

DS uses noodles in his swimming lessons but has a swim fin for when we go on our own. This gives him a full range of movement and he can't let go of it as its attached. I really recommend them.

Original poster
ZogorElmer · 16/09/2019 20:55

@LittleAndOften thank you, I will look into that.

OP posts:
ALoadOfTwaddle · 16/09/2019 20:59

I'll never recommend water babies to anyone

I've heard nothing but bad things. Glad we never tried it (though exorbitant cost was the primary deterrent).

Rachelover60 · 16/09/2019 21:00

Oh thanks!
Bless him, I can just imagine him on it.

Justaboy · 16/09/2019 21:01

Just a slight variation I almost ran over a three year old today on her bike she came out from between some parked cars right in front of me absolutly slammed on the brakes and stopped short of a bemused child and a mum who was neigh on heysterical..

So perhaps to that mum and you OP just give then a big extra hug tonight and be thankfull!!

And I'll be off to the tyre shop to relace the front tyres which now have some nice flats on them, but hey! i don't mind a child is still alive :)

rubyroot · 16/09/2019 21:02

Errrmm so he didn't nerky drown did he, he panicked because he went under water for a couple of seconds Hmm

FuckFacePlatapus · 16/09/2019 21:10

No toddler should go into a pool without a armbands or jacket on, sensory issues or not, they are there to stop him drowning.

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 16/09/2019 21:17

The parents are there to stop them drowning

Sweetpotatoaddict · 16/09/2019 21:19

It’s interesting isn’t it. If my 3 yr old had fallen off her noodle in the pool when she was almost 3 she would have either rolled onto her back or swam a couple of metres to me. All because she’s been swimming with waterbabies since she was 8 weeks old.
Op, sounds like you need to take a deep breath and say he’s okay, all is okay, lesson learned from dh point of view and carry on as before.

ALoadOfTwaddle · 16/09/2019 21:23

@FuckFacePlatapus

Really, they are not the gold standard and definitely not a requirement. They encourage complacency, hinder swimming and can deflate/shrink unexpectedly. Far better to teach water safety without them and supervise them properly than wholly rely on armbands.

Celebelly · 16/09/2019 21:25

I'm sure it was scary, but being underwater for a couple of seconds is not nearly drowning!

suggestionsplease1 · 16/09/2019 21:34

I don't actually know that I would wait too long before taking him swimming again - you don't want him to get a phobia because he associates the pool with that one memorable moment. I think it was really good he stayed in the pool for another 45 mins. I would supervise him very closely obviously, maybe with both of you around, but I would try not to make too big a deal about it and keep the swimming experiences enjoyable and safe.

FindusCrispyPancakes · 16/09/2019 22:01

You are rather dramatic. I don’t think 2 seconds constitutes a near drowning, but ok. Get some arm bands on him, he isn’t going to drown from a sensory processing disorder (whatever that means) but he might from having no armbands when he can’t swim!

RachelEllenR · 16/09/2019 22:01

He's much more likely to be affected by your reaction to it than by a few seconds underwater when he's used to swimming anyway. Keep taking him, no armbands etc necessary and keep his confidence up.

Mine never used flotation devices and could both swim unaided very early.

NoSquirrels · 17/09/2019 00:38

I think you were scared by not being able to help, rather than anything else. Feeling helpless, out of control.

You've said on this thread he sometimes goes under water and you're there to pull him back up within seconds. You have also said that your DH was there within seconds (despite being distracted) to pull him back up.

Your DS spent another 45 minutes in the pool.

It's OK - all DC come up coughing and spluttering at some point. You have to shake it off, breeze through it and not make it a big deal. You are already doing all the right things.

Say sorry to your DH for panicking. Have a cuddle. Move on.

HerRoyalNotness · 17/09/2019 00:52

Get your child some swim survival lessons

www.infantswim.com/. ExAmple here, check for providers near you.

All of the flotation devices including arm bands, noodles, puddle jumpers etc out the child in an upright position in the water which makes it difficult for them to get air if the fall in without.

My 2yo has learned to float swim float this year using these lessons. She can get herself the length of the pool or to the side and climb out.

BlackCatSleeping · 17/09/2019 01:10

Have you apologised to dh for having a go at him?

I don't get this at all. The DH was in the wrong for not watching him properly and yes kids can drown with two parents nearby if not being watched carefully.

I don't blame the OP for being shaken up. It's really scary when you see something like this happen but can't help.

SofiaAmes · 17/09/2019 02:11

My dc's swimming lessons at that age included learning how to turn over and float on their back and included being tossed in the pool as part of the lesson so they knew how to self-rescue. Having said that, I wouldn't even look the other way when my two were in the pool (we have one in our back garden) and even now that they are teenagers, I still require them to have an adult present if there are a bunch of them in the pool.

mathanxiety · 17/09/2019 02:38

You need to watch DS closely for the next 24 hours.

'Secondary drowning' or 'dry drowning' can occur after an episode of submersion. It's very rare but forewarned is forearmed.

www.parents.com/kids/safety/outdoor/dry-drowning/
[No matter your child's age, be on the lookout for these dry drowning signs and symptoms in babies, toddlers and big kids:

Water rescue. "Any child pulled from the pool needs medical attention," says Dr. Berchelmann. "At the very least, call the pediatrician."
Coughing. Persistent coughing or coughing associated with increased work of breathing needs to be evaluated.
Increased "work of breathing." Rapid shallow breathing, nostril flaring, or where you can see between the child's ribs or the gap above their collarbone when they breathe, means they're working harder to breathe than normal, says Dr. Denny. This is a sign that you should seek medical help immediately.
Sleepiness. Your kid was just excitedly playing in the pool, and now she's fatigued? It could mean not enough oxygen is getting into to her blood. Don't put her to bed until her doctor gives you the go-ahead.
Forgetfulness or change in behavior. Similarly, a dip in oxygen level could cause your child to feel sick or woozy.
Throwing up. "Vomiting is a sign of stress from the body as a result of the inflammation and sometimes a lack of oxygen, also from persistent coughing and gagging," explains Dr. Berchelmann.]
nsldriver · 17/09/2019 02:48

You managed to see a lot of detail for somebody who was busy with a baby whilst spectating. He was only under for 2 seconds, he didn't nearly drown.
Do you have anxiety?

fabulous01 · 17/09/2019 03:22

I saw this a few times on holiday...
And once with mine. Child aged 4 went too far too quickly (I have twins so I was caught with the other).
Got a little too deep and then was bouncing and started to struggle. I saw it so I was on route but someone was beside her saw me in a panic and sussed it out and grabbed her.
It taught her not to go far again and me to be a little more on it when I was on own. The other also saw my panic so knew to do what she was told (even in excitement)
But... they both learned a bit more swimming on holiday and it had a bigger impact on me

There were a few parents it happened too which I saw

The main thing is that it was a lesson learnt. Take the learning and at least all are well

ineedtoeatnow · 17/09/2019 03:54

People saying he didn't almost drown obviously have no idea how long it takes for a child to drown. Your dh shouldn't have taken his eyes off him, you had every right to be annoyed.

LoreleiRock · 17/09/2019 04:21

Some of us do ineedtoeatnow. My child slipped silently into an empty pool (no one else in the immediate area) I was absolutely horrified by the lack of sound and the tranquil waters. I think it would have been less alarming in a public pool, if they just slipped off a noodle and my husband was in arms reach. I think kids going under while playing is normal, but the horror of a still pool with your child underneath is chilling.

Original poster
ZogorElmer · 17/09/2019 04:32

@nsldriver yes I do have anxiety, which I know can cloud my judgement.

@mathanxiety thank you for the info. I was aware to monitor him closely for a few days afterwards, he hasn’t coughed at all yet but will watch his breathing closely.

OP posts:
TryingAndFailing39 · 17/09/2019 04:33

You managed to see a lot of detail for somebody who was busy with a baby whilst spectating. He was only under for 2 seconds, he didn't nearly drown.
Do you have anxiety?

What a deliberately insensitive and unhelpful comment. Does it make you feel good to type this? Whether op has anxiety or not, this comment could make her feel worse than she already feels (but then of course you know that which is why you wrote it).

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