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Original poster

What age to allow child in pool solo?

64 replies

Monket · 29/12/2022 01:21

Just curious what age the MN mind thinks is appropriate to allow a child (or two children together) to play alone in a pool, at a place like a holiday home / villa? Adults within shouting distance but not observing.

OP posts:
Icecreamandapplepie · 29/12/2022 01:22

Over 8 AND can swim confidently

SkylightSkylight · 29/12/2022 01:26

Personally I wouldn't allow solo until they're teens and if 2 or more ud keep bobbing in & out.

mostly I'd take a drink & book out & BE outside with them. But 'swimmers' from about 9 I'd be ok with popping inside for the loo or to get a drink etc.

it's too easy for them to have an accident completely unsupervised.

Original poster
Monket · 29/12/2022 01:34

Thanks - I ask as I’m observing someone else’s choices on holiday, and am wondering whether I’m being precious and unreasonable.

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Dancingdragonhiddentiger · 29/12/2022 01:34

I’m not sure. At 7 my oldest is allowed to be in the pool with me poolside and paying attention (chatting with another person is fine if still looking at the pool but wouldn’t start reading a book). When he was younger I was always in the pool. So I’d imagine in a couple of years, maybe 9ish I’d think it was okay in some circumstances, but depends on SO many factors such as if there is a lifeguard, If there is a friend/sibling who can raise an alarm, if they are a good swimmer, how deep the pool is and how far I was away/distracted.
Depending on those factors, somewhere between 8-14 for a typically developing child.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 29/12/2022 01:42

I think it totally depends on the child.

DD1 I could have let at 6. Confident swimmer, but not over cocky. Risk averse, cautious, sensible child.

DS1 probably 9/10. Confident swimmer, but not the best at assessing risk until then. Not a bold child so unlikely to do anything daft.

DD2 - such a day-dreamer and risk taker that I still have a “Jesus what if something happens?!” gut feeling when she goes on with her friends and she’s in get 20s!!

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 29/12/2022 01:42

Also two kids together would always be slightly older for me as kids often bring out the worst in each other in terms of risky stuff.

mackthepony · 29/12/2022 01:43

Er, you should always observe children swimming, at any age. You need to be poolside

Nat6999 · 29/12/2022 02:06

By 10 ds used to go to the local wave swimming pool with the big flume slides, I sat in the poolside cafe while he swam.

ZestFest · 29/12/2022 02:09

Wow, some answers here horrify me. My DS is 12 and I wouldn't leave him unsupervised in a pool. Too easy to slip while you jump in and out. I would be in a lounger poolside.

Original poster
Monket · 29/12/2022 02:13

No lifeguard, in case that makes a difference.

OP posts:
glittermoomoo · 29/12/2022 06:24

Monket · 29/12/2022 01:34

Thanks - I ask as I’m observing someone else’s choices on holiday, and am wondering whether I’m being precious and unreasonable.

So you're sat judging someone? If it's your family why not offer to sit by the pool and supervise?

PuttingDownRoots · 29/12/2022 06:28

Howdeèp is the pool? What are they doing? How competent are there?

Big difference between a pool where they are in depth, swim several hours every weeks and doing lengths to a cold deep pool, can barely manage a doggy paddle and playing at standing on pool floats...

Mumdiva99 · 29/12/2022 06:33

I wouldn't leave my 10 year old unsupervised around water....or with others his age. Too young.

I would leave my 15 year old. He's much taller, more sensible and stronger swimmer and stronger child overall if something happened in the water with someone else.

Augend23 · 29/12/2022 06:36

mackthepony · 29/12/2022 01:43

Er, you should always observe children swimming, at any age. You need to be poolside

What does that mean though?

I regularly swim in an outdoor pool alone and am an adult. Obviously I don't need my mum supervising. Clearly I didn't suddenly not need her supervising on the day I turned 18.

In fact I could swim a mile by the age of 8. I'd actually be allowed to swim alone in a lifeguarded pool round here at the age of 8.

You might feel 8 is too young but there is clearly a point before a child becomes an adult which isn't too young.

TeenDivided · 29/12/2022 08:20

I think it depends on the pool, including the depth, and the competence of the swimmers.

Our local 'fun' pool lets kids in unattended at age 8. No way would I have let my DD do that as she still wasn't in her depth and at times they have a strong current, and the pool gets crowded.

Whereas I would have let her swim at the David Lloyd (who don't let them at 8) as no current, and much emptier.

Chihuahuasrule · 29/12/2022 08:22

12-13

ChristmasCakeAndStilton · 29/12/2022 08:37

As an adult, I was much happier swimming in a pool with no lifeguards with a friend rather than on my own.
I wouldn't actually swim if there was noone else in the pool. It felt unsafe (out of my depth for the whole pool). But 2 of us would quite happily go and swim a km or 2.

In an unattended pool I would be poolside with my teen and tween. Not necessarily eyes on them the whole time, but paying attention. Drowning is silent.

MassiveSalad22 · 29/12/2022 08:40

Yeah technically 8 but there is no chance I would let my kids go age 8 😄 DS is 7 and a brilliant swimmer but you just never know. Definitely teens I’d say, for a pool with no lifeguards.

Newuser82 · 29/12/2022 08:56

My son is nine and a decent swimmer, I'd let him in the pool by himself but would be sitting next to the pool watching him. It's just too risky, especially without a lifeguard.

ShandaLear · 29/12/2022 09:00

I’d let them go to a well staffed leisure centre with friends from about 8. At a pool with no lifeguard probably 13-14. Mine are both able and confident swimmers.

JemimaTiggywinkles · 29/12/2022 09:10

With no lifeguards it'd be around 14 for me. With lifeguards, probably 10 if they were a sensible child who could swim well.

Soproudoflionesses · 29/12/2022 09:11

Not an age thing more of a competence thing for me - my dd swims better than me now bit l would still be nearby

Fireyflies · 29/12/2022 09:13

Probably 8+ and confident swimmers if there were other people around. Not sure how parents who are worried about slipping think they'd be able to prevent that if they were sitting at the side. 🤔

StrawberryPot · 29/12/2022 09:21

I had a friend whose teenage dd - who swam competitively- drowned in a swimming pool where other people and a lifeguard were present. She fainted and nobody noticed.

At school 2 boys in my class drowned in separate outdoor swimming incidents (one fainted and another seam out of his depth).

So I'm extremely cautious around water and wouldn't be leaving children of any age unsupervised.

Whataplanker · 29/12/2022 09:26

Depends on the competency of swimming rather than age.