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Original poster

6 yr old and 5 yr old in villa with a pool - do floation vests work as safety precaution?

11 replies

Snowstorm · 09/04/2009 17:29

Toying with the idea of a villa with a private pool somewhere this summer. Am looking at Spain and none of the pools are fenced off. DD's are 5 and 6 years old and they are generally pretty good children (unlike my nephew who is almost uncontrollable, so this idea would be unworkable).

Was thinking that the whole pool/children thing might work if they are only allowed into the garden with an adult and they couldn't get out of the house 'to explore' first thing in the morning.

Would really appreciate hearing what other people do with regards to child safety and swimming pools (other than just not do this kind of holiday yet) ... so that I can think it all over and see if is a viable idea.

Floation vests on when the children are outside (can you get them for a big 5 and 6 year old?). Just don't let them out your sight? (My brother uses a 'turtle' thing which is an alarm and his children have to wear bracelets which will set off an alarm if they get wet ... has anyone else tried this?)

All experiences/thoughts welcome please.

TIA.

OP posts:

MilaMae · 09/04/2009 18:35

The vests are definately not to be used as life jackets,they say so on the inside. Also they do topple in them and take a long time to get used to. I think they're really designed to be used as a kicking aid. Having said that they'd probably give you time if you were around when they toppled in. If they were alone I don't think they'd be that great.

My dc are 5,5 and 4 and we've stayed in places with pools in France that were fenced off and locked. Wouldn't have considered it otherwise to be frank. You'd only have to turn your back for a min. Could you trust every single person to lock the door every single time? If so then you'd probably be ok but if not it's a big risk.

Have you looked at French villas as they all have to be fenced off? Having said that you know your own children. Personally I don't feel I can trust mine yet but yours maybe different and if they can swim it's slightly different.

Sorry to be so neg but you did ask,will be interested to here about those turtles We're going with dsis to France who is already wetting herself about the fenced off pool which is nowhere near the house so those turtle things could set her mind at rest.

LongDroopyBoobyLady · 09/04/2009 18:42

We've holidayed in villas with private pools for the last 11 years and there is no substitute, I'm afraid, for adult supervision.

LilianGish · 09/04/2009 18:56

You say they are generally good children, but are they good swimmers? I wouldn't do this sort of holiday unless they were - I think the constant supervision required and heart-stopping moments when they are out of sight would cancel out my enjoyment of the holiday.

Original poster

Snowstorm · 09/04/2009 18:59

Don't worry - I don't count it as negative - I'd probably say/think the same. I'm a bit paranoid about children/pools so this is the first year that the whole idea is even vaguely thinkable (because of their age and how they are ... I think whether they can swim or not is largely irrelevant because of the whole falling over/banging head thing...) but at the same time it would mean that the DD's would not be allowed to go anywhere near the thing (and I mean ANYWHERE near) if DH and/or I weren't around.

Turtle things - just Googled it and came up with this one (you need to scroll down to 'Safety Turtle' once on the page - www.poolchemicalsonline.co.uk/Around_The_Pool/Pool_Safety_Products
My brother says that they are good (but he only ever goes to fenced off places in France).

I don't know ... maybe I'm mad to even contemplate it ... I just think of the positive sides of it as they (and DH) love swimming so much that it would be brilliant for them.

Easier to keep an eye on them in a pool then on a crowded beach too ...

OP posts:

hotcrossllama · 09/04/2009 19:01

agree with Mila.. find one with a fenced pool or watch them always

QOD · 09/04/2009 19:08

depends on the child, we didnt really worry when my neice was 4 (mine was 7 at the time), just lots of yelling "DON'T RUN!" - but then there were 3 adults and 2 older kids ....

SalBySea · 09/04/2009 19:15

a floatation vest is not necessarily a "life vest" (which inflates on impact with water and flips the person on their back)

hotcrossllama · 09/04/2009 19:24

i think flotation vests still allow face in the water?

Original poster

Snowstorm · 09/04/2009 19:34

Okay - so either a slightly twitchy over-parented holiday ... or no pool. Can't find one fenced off in the area we're looking in.

OP posts:

hotcrossllama · 09/04/2009 19:54

that would be a shame

snow i found my child (who i had locked in the room that I was sleeping in with the dc) keening by the side of a pool in the middle of the night

his toes were touching the water, he was half asleep: I didn't know how easy it was for the lock to be unlocked

he was only four, and I should have know about the lock but that's the basis for my advice

if you go for it then be really REALLY twitchy!

Original poster

Snowstorm · 09/04/2009 21:49

Think I've sorted it ... have found a holiday apartment with a shared pool ... but the children can't get to the pool without us going with them because we wouldn't be on the ground floor - TA DA ... problem solved!! Not to book it!

Thank you everyone for your messages - you were telling me what I really already knew and that resolved it all for me.

Hooray for MN!

OP posts:

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