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Original poster

Unsupervised in paddling pool? How old, how long?

30 replies

Snigletted · 01/07/2020 12:19

How old would you leave two children unsupervised in a paddling pool and how long without checking on them?

OP posts:

cheeseismydownfall · 01/07/2020 12:22

Totally depends on how old they are?

TokyoSushi · 01/07/2020 12:22

Mine are 7 & 9, I'd happily leave them whilst I was in the kitchen, but wouldn't leave them whilst I was upstairs for example and I'd keep at least listening out for them.

I've always just applied the same rules as I would with the bath...

anon444877 · 01/07/2020 12:24

Can they swim? Not under 5 certainly and after that it would depend on their sense for how long. If you can see them from the kitchen longer than if no visibility!

Sexnotgender · 01/07/2020 12:25

Depends on child. I’d probably want them to be at least 6+ and probably max 5 minutes unsupervised.

Mylittlepony374 · 01/07/2020 12:27

Mine are toddlers. Wouldn't leave them unsupervised ever. Depends on age really

Michaelbaubles · 01/07/2020 12:30

Mine are 6 and 8 - I wouldn’t necessarily sit watching them (it’s a very small paddling pool!) but also wouldn’t be off engrossed in something else. So if I’m doing wfh stuff I’d move my laptop into the kitchen where I can see them from the window, and leave the window open to be able to hear them. I leave them alone in the bath now too.

Chipsahoy · 01/07/2020 12:32

Leave my 9 and 12 happily and have done for a few yrs. Depends on how old the oldest is and how responsible. Also leave my two yr old in his tiny pool with my 12 yr old sitting by him if I need to run to the toilet or whatever. Wouldn't leave him with the 9 yr old though. He'd get distracted and forget to watch him

2007Millie · 01/07/2020 12:39

Well quite obviously it depends on age. Duh

Toastandjams · 01/07/2020 12:42

Never.

NuffSaidSam · 01/07/2020 12:44

'Well quite obviously it depends on age. Duh'

Well quite obviously that's why the OP's question is 'how old?'. Duh.

Spied · 01/07/2020 12:45

DC 9+10.
I'd leave them for 10 mins if I was for e.g putting clothes away upstairs but I'd be listening out and I'd be checking out the windows.

Spied · 01/07/2020 12:45

And certainly no younger

2007Millie · 01/07/2020 12:46

@NuffSaidSam

So the OP would like a breakdown of every age between 0-18 and how long they should be in a paddling pool?

Much easier for OP to just say "DSs are 4 and 7, how long would you leave them for?"

NuffSaidSam · 01/07/2020 12:50

'So the OP would like a breakdown of every age between 0-18 and how long they should be in a paddling pool?'

That's really a question for the OP, not me.

I imagine she wants people to say ages of their children and how long they leave them, which everyone has done.

LaurieFairyCake · 01/07/2020 12:56

Only over 18

(Not really but Mumsnet is really cautious )

Original poster

Snigletted · 01/07/2020 13:04

Thank you! Yes, I'm interested in what other people do. I'm so conditioned about not leaving them unattended but as they're pretty much larger than the paddling pool, constant supervision seems a bit OTT! DC (8) who can swim is more sensible than DC (10) who can't.

OP posts:

ineedaholidaynow · 01/07/2020 13:08

How big is the paddling pool? Is it deep enough to swim, as I would have thought that might be relevant for the 10yo? We never really graduated much further than a toddler paddling pool so I would have thought that sort of pool would be fine for your DC, but a deeper one then I would still want to be close by.

sunrainwind · 01/07/2020 13:11

Ours is a small, shallow pool and both children can swim (6 and 4) so my concern is mainly them getting knocked out or something. I will leave them for a few mins to do bits in the kitchen as I can hear them. As soon as I can't I go and see what they're up to (normally plotting something) or I go and have a quick look every 5 mins or so.

Noworrieshere · 01/07/2020 13:14

My 8 yr old was in and out the paddling pool all day yesterday with minimal supervision. There's only about 6" of water in it though and it's not really long enough for him to lie down in. I didn't think that was particularly risky. I guess he could slip and fall face down with his face in the water and knock himself out and drown but I consider that to be fairly unlikely.

TimeWastingButFun · 01/07/2020 13:20

Up till about age 9 and 7 I was sitting out there with them, or in it. After that I would leave them for a few mins to get something from the house or something, or do something that meant I could see them out of the window. Now they are 12 and 10 I will leave them while I do things in the house but I am always checking in case of freak accidents.

kenandbarbie · 01/07/2020 13:41

Same as Bath. My youngest is 7 and only now allowed a bath on his own. I would probably check him every 15 mins and he is within earshot.

Original poster

Snigletted · 01/07/2020 14:30

Pool is a 1.85 x 1.80 x 53cm. Definitely not large enough to swim in!

OP posts:

BrandyandBabycham · 01/07/2020 14:37

2007Millie were you born in 2007? Bit immature!

Horseshoe5 · 01/07/2020 14:39

No way would l leave them unsupervised. What if the kids were messing about/horseplay etc.

poupeediop · 01/07/2020 14:40

Does it make a difference if they can swim?

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