My toddler nearly drowned this morning

[swedishmum]

While I was out this morning dh decided totake ds (9), dd3 (2) and the 8 month labrador to the woods (something I'd never do because I can't keep my eye on everyone at once....). Next thing I get in Sainsbury's is phone call to say dd fell in septic pond - ds was getting the blame for her running down a bank (50m away from dh) and ending up up to her neck in slime. Ds jumped in - it was up to his chest - and held her above the surface until dh dragged them out. Poor ds is still in shock - I told dh he shouldn't have a) taken the baby and b) left her so far away from him. Fortunately she's OK. Scary. Why do men think they can do 4 things at once when the things are as important as the baby's safety?

[perfumelady]

i bet your dh is eating himself up inside and so he should be, i think the problem is parents tend to rely to heavly on older siblings to keep an eye on the younger ones, thank god your nineyear old had the sence to jump in and i hope to god that his dad has said sorry to him for blaming the situation on him, he should be thanking him for being so quick thinking, bet your dh won't let her out of his site now, a very hard lesson for him, hope you all get over this ordeal very quickly, your dd probably will quicker than you will.

[swedishmum]

I meant stagnant not septic in my first post - probably not thinking straight at the time! I made dh phone NHS direct and they were great - checked she had no cuts etc that germs could have got in. Luckily ds grabbed her and kept her head,ears, mouth etc just above the water/swamp level until dh dragged them both out. Her clothes were absolutely disgusting - covered in muddy slime all over.

She recovered really quickly - was busy making pizza dough by teatime!

I'm supposed to be going away overnight next Sat with dh - not too keen now, even though I know sil and bil will watch her much more carefully than dh did.

[user1468725328]

I am writing this message at 4.30am as I haven't slept throughout the night. I witnessed something appalling today and although it had a happy ending my stomach keeps doing somersaults of what might have happened. It was a day at the beach and my very enthusiastic nephew who is 4 couldn't wait to take off his socks and shoes and paddle in the water. His grandparents accompanied him to the edge of the water and he was having a wonderful time. Then in my horror, I was sat a few metres back there was a lapse of supervision albeit by the grandparents and the child looked like he had slipped. Although the water was barely ankle deep, there was a ripple in the sea and he lost his balance. He did manage to get up but there was something not right. I ran as fast as I could to the sea and pulled him out. He hadn't floated in to the sea, he was very much near the shoreline but there a very sudden thing that happened and every time I think about it my heart starts pounding. He spluttered a little and was absolutely fine.

I beg you all to be just that extra bit vigilante when taking toddlers to the beach or swimming pools.