Why do people still run the risk of toddlers and garden ponds?

[JackandDiane]

We all know it is not a risk worth taking? Parents, grandparents, whoever
WHY?

Are there any statistics (other than anecdotes on the thread) of how many kids fall into ponds and don't drown? That might give a little perspective, too.

Yep - they are lethal.
i know of a case where a family were holding a big celebration for a kid's holy communion...

But it is not the pond at fault here, it is the lack of supervision (as in many accidents).

I hate the attitude that as long as you are looking after them properly there should be no problem.

The issue comes when you think they are in one place when they are actually in another. It is SO easily done.

We have a pond at the bottom of the orchard. It has a five foot fence round it and a padlockable gate. It still worries me. But there are two fences between the garden and the pond so hopefully that will be enough.

As for the road danger being comparable, this is ridiculous. We have no real choices about living by roads. An unfenced pond is never necessary.

The issue comes when you think they are in one place when they are actually in another. It is SO easily done.

But that is very specific to your circumstances. In a large gathering , spread across a house and garden ,with many children it is quite likely.

In a small open plan flat, with one child and one adult less so.

Every parent adjusts their risk perceptions to their own situation.

As for the road danger being comparable, this is ridiculous. We have no real choices about living by roads. An unfenced pond is never necessary.

An unfettered child by a road is never necessary. Any parent who does not have reins or a lead on their child is being stupid and taking an unnecessary risk.

We found it possible to cover our ponds with sturdy metal grills without paying lots of money. It doesn't have to cost a lot. Bits of wood across for support, twist ties, several large pieces of 2" square mesh from iron mongers. Our toddlers/preschoolers could walk comfortably on the results.

But children are allowed to play in gardens. That is one of the major advantages. You are not going to let them play by the road, are you?

But children are allowed to play in gardens

Of course, but not unsupervised if there is a risk of falling in a pond.

We have a mere with an island in the middle that adjoins neighboring gardens. Can't be filled in but tbh I wouldn't anyway - I grew up in Holland and there is water bloody everywhere! The only accident in our house was when my DSis pulled a pan of boiling water over herself. And we all still cope with ovens/hobs in the house.

I think sensible kid plus decent supervision is all that is required. DH has also suggested tying DS to a tree with a bungee rope

That was my point really. Why have pond in the garden that means you will have to supervise a child all the time they are in it?

In our case it's too big to fill anyway - but we have so much wildlife in the garden (7 ducklings arrived yesterday!) I sort of think it's worth the extra supervision so that we all get to enjoy the lovely views and moorhens, ducks, hedgehogs, bats, newts etc. It's worth it to me although of course it means we need to be more vigilant.

So those who don't have ponds, do you have paddling pools out in the summer?

If the answer is yes then you obviously supervise your child/children... exactly the same if you had a pond.

Sadly children also drown in the bath. A lot of people still have baths though.

Growing up without a pond in the garden will not mean you've had a boring childhood

No, but by the time you've removed everything that is remotely risky it will.

I also don't believe in removing all risk.
But I still wouldn't have an unfenced pond. What would be the point of it?
Paddling pools are temporary. I would hate to have to police my child for every moment they were in the garden. Do all of you really follow your child around your garden the whole time? I like to let mine roam free, so I remove the removable risks.

You wouldn't leave sharp knives out where children could get at them, or dangerous chemicals. To me an unfenced pond is about the same risk as leaving a bottle of pills out where a toddler could reach it at any point. You wouldn't say "no point removing all risk, I just watch them around the pills".

OP Why do some people still run the risk of toddlers and cars?

The answer is that the benefit is calculated at outweighing the risk.]
Simples.

To me an unfenced pond is about the same risk as leaving a bottle of pills out where a toddler could reach it at any point

And to me it isn't.

Besides, you'd just put the pills away so it's a daft comparison.

but surely that is exactly my point? pill AND ponds out where a child can reach = unnecessary risk.

We have a stream on our property. First thing we did was fence it off, though a determined four- or five-year-old would be able to get to it if they took it into their head to scale the railings of our deck, climb over, and jump about a meter down to the garden. So we just don't leave the kids to play on the deck unsupervised. Fortunately the whole deck can be easily seen from anywhere in the living /dining / kitchen area.

We play in the garden together daily, and we are extremely firm about water safety. The only incident we've had is DD (2) slipping as she came across the bridge and tumbling down the bank once. She grabbed a handful of reeds and hung on, and I hauled her out.

To me, having the birds and wildlife in our garden is worth the managed risk of the stream. In fact, we bought the property in part because of the stream as I wanted my kids to grow up close to nature.

When my exh left, the firstthing I did was got rid of the pond that I never wanted in the first place as our baby grandson lived with us.
His face when he came round and saw it was in the process of being filled in.

There was no way it was staying. Our house in Florida had very low bathtubs.
My daughter had had a bath and moved into the bedroom in her towel leaving the bath water in the tub.

My little grandson came pattering in and as soon as the thought entered my head, I d better pull that plug, he'd tipped straight in, head first
This was done inches in front. Of me. I just grabbed him by whatever I could get hold of and fished him straight out.
I still shudder to think what would have happened if I hadn't wandered into the bathroom.

Outside we had a big swimming pool. The doors were always kept closed and he was watched if we went outside.

But who would have thought a bath tub?

We went to granary wharf Leeds on a cold , grey February day. I got out of the car with my daughter and started looking at the stalls.

While my husband was parking up the car in the car park the 8 and 10 year old got out.
My 8 year old jumped into the water. He jumped over a shallow grey wall about 6-12 inches deep and straight into the wharf were it was about ten feet deep.
Luckily a passer by saw what happened and grabbed him ...thankfully it wasn't near the weir...that makes my blood run cold just thinking of it.

The bottom of the wharf is full of reeds and plants. It doesn't bear thinking about if he'd got caught up in those.

We asked him what had possessed him. It was so grey and raining he really hadn't noticed the water at the other side of the wall...

Grey hairs all my own . Kids and water. You just can't take the risk.

Btw..this was the unadventurous child!