Pool safety with 1 year old twins on holiday

[KO80]

Hi,

I’m going away at the end of the month to Spain, I have b/g twins who will be 13 months and a 2 year old boy. The twins are crawling and I’m worried about them being near the pool, I Can imagine turning my back for one second and they would be off. my husband will also be there but they move so fast!

I’ve been looking at swim vests but they all seem to be from 18 months, I think the twins will be too small.

What have other people done? Any suggestions would be much appreciated TIA x

I don't think you can go swimming or near the pool safely with 3 under 3yo and only 2 adults. You need to use childcare for one child at a time while the other two are allowed to swim with 1:1 attention until they are all much older.

It's always a good plan to put your kids in some kind of buoyancy aid when around a pool. I was a life guard and swim teacher and always saw kids just run and jump in the pool. Doesn't make you a bad parent, kids just seem to know the 1 second you have turned your eye.

Swim vest are brilliant but if they don't fit we used swim belts. These are great for smaller kids as can be adjusted. Ones like the ones below. The second one I have used as a swim teacher. Kids like be it because they feel like a shark.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/swimming-float-blue-belt-15-60-kg-id8178560.html??_cclid=v36839af8c-6cb0-5e2f-a488-07ad7a036275&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-oobBRCOARIsAM5NbIMx06l5E5NYWfoaTZq87twk3RYKdhaIGkPSyzEd-ssobBTmkFG5tYaAiCqEALw_wcB

www.sportsdirect.com/slazenger-back-float-887043?colcode=88704318

Sorry the shark one I used had a slightly different belt. But I have in the past taken the belts off and sewn them smaller in order to fit. This does need to be done on a sewing machine and double stitched so it's super secure.

I take my hat off to you for going on holiday with a pool with 3 young children! I’ve no advice but just wanted to wish you a great time :)

Splash About have UV suits with built-in floats for 1-2yo, we just bought one for a recent holiday. Fit our 13mo perfectly.

However... these are not life-saving devices, and it is still possible to drown while wearing one. You will still need to be very vigilant whenever you're near the water with them.

locked doors.

I don't think you can go swimming or near the pool safely with 3 under 3yo and only 2 adults. You need to use childcare for one child at a time while the other two are allowed to swim with 1:1 attention until they are all much older

this

Is it a villa with a pool? Or are you at a hotel? I would avoid the pool tbh.

It would be a nightmare. There will be no relaxing fun, you won't even be able to do one to one.

Don’t go near the pool. Just don’t do it. It cannot be done safely with two adults and children of those ages. Sorry.

I hate the swim vests/ shark fins and similar for this age - it puts them in a perfect swimming position - face down which they may not be able to turn themselves out of. You don't need a swim aid you need something to keep their head nigh out of the water - put them in arm bands all the time - at least they will be safe even if they restrict movement a little.

Thanks for all your advice, we’re in a villa with a pool, but it’s all very safe with a fence. I think i’ll see about getting someone to come with us either my Mother in law or sister. I didn’t really think about the pool, I know that sounds silly!

I’ll look at the swimming belts thanks!

I was thinking about posting the same thing. We are about to book a villa with a pool. We only have one child, 20 months old. She has never been in a pool and we will take her to one before we go but I'm really scared of her running into the pool and know we will have to watch her like a hawk. Feel like not staying there but really like the villa.

Hi I have twins and my in-laws live part of the year in Spain so we visit a lot. When they were 1ish we just made sure we were very careful with shutting gates, and making sure we had enough adults. I didn't use swim vest or anything because mine were teeny and I couldn't get anything to fit.

Get a little paddling pool nearby that they can mess in with some toys. Watering cans etc. Easier to watch.
We have done villa holidays with 3 dc but no twins. Youngest preferred running around the pool and throwing things in at 1 and 2 years old.

We used to book villas without pools and if we wanted a swim went to municipal pools or the seaside.

you could get then life jackets instead, they're about 10-15 pounds from sports shops and come in baby sizes.

Unless you have one to one don't let them anywhere near the pool

Absolutely do not buy little twins float vests or polystyrene fins. One of my children ended up face down in a pool unable to right himself in one of those zip up bodywarmer-style vests. As a PP has said it is their face that needs to be kept clear of the water. If the pool.is lockable and you have exclusive access I don't think you need to panic. I would trap one twin in.a pushchair or playpen while twin 2 and older sib had a dip, swap em round and repeat....

I still can't find a villa without a pool! Our flights are booked to go to Cyprus in October and we still don't have a villa! They all have a pool and I'm just too scared that my toddler will run out to the pool. Is this irrational? We only have one child? I can see myself not relaxing over this while I'm there!

I'm sorry but I just wouldn't risk it. I'm a reporter and I've written up so many drownings that have happened in these sorts of situations.

You can do a villa-pool holiday when they can swim.

@Dalesgirl16 villa plus put her a pool fence for about £60 . Most of the villas have the capability to have one set up .

Make sure that the children and no possible way on earth of accessing the pool, one adult takes one child at a time whilst the other adult entertains the other two away from the pool.

I found 1to1 hard enough, I prefer an adult in the pool and one pool side as mine is very quick to climb out and try running round the edge.

dales 2 adults and 1 child will be fine but make sure doors are locked during nap time etc

hendricksy who put a fence up? I don't understand your post?

I have no idea how to find one without a pool.

I think having your MIL there is best.

My twins are 5mos and DD1 is 3y6m and when we go swimming we each take a twin and watch the eldest like a hawk. But DD1 can swim a bit, haul herself out of pool and so forth. With your older child being only 2y I think it is too risky.