To think parents should watch their children more closely at beach

[BlingLoving]

Spent afternoon at beach today. Was lovely. But aibu to think that if you have a child under 5 you should not let them play in water alone? One boy, about 3/4 was splashing around all the way to his neck,and kept approaching dh and I while his dad wasn't even watching. Another boy, slightly older,maybe 5 was also splashing around. His carer was so uninvolved neither dh not I were even able to figure out who he was with.

I found it quite stressful because I couldn't ell watching out for them because I was so nervous they'd get into trouble and the parents wouldn't notice or would be tok far away.

Aibu or just a judgy pants?

Our dc have all been competent (not needing lessons) swimmers since age 4-5. They snorkel, surf and dd1 (13) now wants to scuba (which dh and I love). They've spent a huge chunk of their lives living near the sea and with a river in the garden.

I'd not leave them alone in the sea for a second - it really needs respected.

YANBU.

I went to a public paddling pool yesterday (no beaches within 2 hours drive!) and stayed by DS (2.6) although the deepest parts are chest deep, so not out of his depth, there were a couple of points when he fell and I had to pull him up. He goes to lessons and is confident in water, so doesn't panic easily and is good at recovering himself, but even in still clear water, he has to be fully attended.

He does walk loose on pavements though. He couldn't hold my hand when I had to use crutches, and steering the pram for DS2 is blooming hard. My neighbourhood has quiet roads, and grass verges between the pavement and road on the "busier" roads (still quiet). He had to follow instructions like STOP when I was pg as I had no other means to transport him. He also knows at a junction to stop and wait for me to say "all clear" and to keep close. I wouldn't trust all of his age, but he is about as good as they come, and the risk in the areas we walk in is quite low.

Actually, I retract my last post. Even if you're watching from a distance that is not sufficient with small children. It can only take a few seconds for things to turn very serious and being several yards away when a small child stumbles and goes face down in the water can make an incredible difference.

YANBU to think that parents need to supervise their children on the beach, but it depends on the beach and the child what a necessary level of supervision is. In Norfolk, my 7yo DS1 ran into the sea while we were getting changed and my DH had to go in after him as he was in deep water and in a current within seconds (we didn't know the beach and he ran off). We were lucky! However, in Weymouth, providing I am watching, and nearby I don't feel the need to hold my 4yo DDs hand when she paddles in shallow water.