to insist that the pond is covered?

[greedyguts]

Inlaws have a small pond in their garden. The pond is very near the back door and it is usually easy to see where the DCs are and if they are messing around near the pond. It's surrounded by plant pots and the DCs (5 & 2) hardly go near it.

However I am always worried that one of them ends up in it. You can't keep your eye on them all the time etc etc.

They have a heavy wire mesh cover and I always insist that this is over the pond when we're there with the kids. DH usually rolls his eyes and MIL & PIL act like I'm totally paranoid.

Am I? Should I chill out about it?

We have a pond in our garden, which as yet is not covered despite my nagging for 3 years, but it is fenced off with a 3 ft (or maybe taller) picket fence with a locked gate, and the children only go in the pond area with an adult, it is also a raised pond (3ft wall). Ds1 is very sensible about it but ds2 I do not trust at all and dh WILL be putting a cover over it THIS year. My in laws have a pond with netting over it, which would not prevent the children falling in so they are not allowed to go outside on their own at all. I would not insist they covered it but do insist the children are never alone outside as there is nothing preventing access to it. It does seem odd they they roll their eyes ect about using teh cover on the pond, they must have got it for that reason surely!

I stand corrected

Think of the toads!

"I stand corrected

Think of the toads!"

LOL!!

YANBU. Garden ponds are lethal to children.

They must be covered or filled in. Children die in them every year.

I guess insist is a pretty strong word! I would be a bit insulted if someone inisted I do anything too.

I'll try to slip it nicely into the conversation when we're dropping the DCs off.

I do like the pond and the fish (no frogs unfortunately), so wouldn't want them to cover it up. And I do see the pond aware point, but my FIL is not to be trusted to watch a 2 yr old like a hawk. Well, not if there's golf on TV

there was a pond in our garden when we moved into our house - our dds were 4 and 2. we discussed getting a cover to make it safe as it was a theoretical risk but did nothing about it until dd2 fell in - we then got a cover fixed within 24 hours when the risk felt real not theoretical - it's a metal grid that lets the frogs in but would hold the weight of a person.

My mum and her H put mesh over the pond because there was a Heron in the area emptying ponds.... But it's good protection for DS too and they'd be the first to ensure that everything is done to make sure no accidents happen.

When we came back to the UK and stayed with her, we just made sure that he was never, ever alone in the garden.

Even when the correct precautions are taken, disaster can still strike.

I don't blame you for being pretty miffed that others are not taking this seriously. Offer to help put the net on if need be.

I love ponds, I have a tiny square raised one in my garden. Landlord had a metal cage nailed on top of it, without me even asking her to.

I would however want my PIL pond covered, or it'd put me off visiting.

Don't allow them to poo-poo your feelings, you are only trying to keep your child safe.

YANBU-The worry about uncovered ponds is that children wander off, different adults think that they are with the other etc and tragedies do happen. I would be very keen that a cover was in place. I read somewhere that DCs are more at risk at GPs as most child-friendly safety stuff just isn't in place. I dread visitss when DD is mobile as my parents' is like Steptoe's!

We put a concrete slab over our tiny pod-hust enough space for waterfall to trickle into it.YANBU