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Parenting

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Original poster

My toddler fell in a pond

57 replies

blacksheep2014 · 20/04/2025 19:41

Just that really. Entirely my fault, easter egg hunt with my DSDs at their mums house, me in charge of toddler by proximity, he's 2.5. He was in up to his shoulders by the time i made up the three steps between us. He didn't swallow any water as his mouth didn't go under, he's been bathed twice since and continued about his day demanding chocolate, playing, having a nap and generally acting like nothing happened.

Anyone who's had a near miss able to give me any tips to stop the internal shaking? 15 year career in childcare, I can't actually believe it, keep replaying it in my head. And also, goes without saying but be careful, I reckon my eyes were off of him for 1.5 seconds, i saw him, shouted 'DS wait!' He said wait back to me and then stepped right in.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

GrazeConcern · 20/04/2025 19:49

I think you need to reframe it - you were supervising appropriately which is why nothing actually happened. And carrying on as normal is an entirely normal response for a 2 year old once dry warm and clean.

SauvignonBlanche · 20/04/2025 19:59

My DS stepped into a pond at a similar age when he was on reins!
It was covered in algae and I think he thought it was grass.
We were both shocked. Don’t beat yourself up OP.

MoltenLasagne · 20/04/2025 20:04

Agree with PP - you were supervising appropriately which is why it didn't turn into anything bad. 3 steps away and his mouth didn't go under. This is not a case of negligent parenting, you reacted quickly and well. Be reassured by that and the fact that your DS is clearly not bothered because it shows you were and are a good Mum.

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2 year olds Families

Cheeseismyfavourite · 20/04/2025 20:08

My son fell into a shallow river when he was about 3. He was right next to me, I fished him out and he instantly fell straight back in again!!! There were people watching, they must have been thinking what an awful mother I was.

Planetmonster · 20/04/2025 20:09

Xxxxx!

UnbeatenMum · 20/04/2025 20:09

DD2 stepped or jumped into a swimming pool at a similar age. I was right next to her and fished her straight out but she did go under. We had been swimming lots of times before so it hadn't crossed my mind that she wouldn't wait for me.

Soontobe60 · 20/04/2025 20:10

First, Parents should not have unsecured ponds in their gardens when they have small children.
Second, the child is perfectly ok, so try to relax.

NecklessMumster · 20/04/2025 20:10

This happened to my toddler, he is now 22 and fine! But I can still see his hair floating in the water as time slowed down, as I pulled him out. We'd moved to a new house with a little pond , and were still debating what to do with it to make it safe. I'd managed to chase him in time all week but that day he was a second before me. The next week we had a delivery of tons of sand to fill it in. He did get a cough the following week...GP gave me a look when I said 'well he did fall in a pond last week'.

Eggsboxedandmelting · 20/04/2025 20:11

Exh brought 2 x ds's home one Sunday.. Youngest wearing his cousin's too big clothes.. Apparently he splashed in puddles..
Older ds admitted ds had fallen into a huge, deep duck pond.. Exh was at least 20 steps away. Obviously that cunt hadn't heard of secondary drowning.. He never admitted it..mil stuck up for him as per...
He was absolutely feckless with them.
Glad your dc is OK op.

Cookiebix · 20/04/2025 20:11

Yes, agree with PPs the fact that he fell in isn't a disaster. Even if he'd gone under, all would be fine becuase you were there.

hopethathelped · 20/04/2025 20:11

Soontobe60 · 20/04/2025 20:10

First, Parents should not have unsecured ponds in their gardens when they have small children.
Second, the child is perfectly ok, so try to relax.

Maybe she doesn’t have small children. We don’t know how old DSD is

namechange55465 · 20/04/2025 20:12

Soontobe60 · 20/04/2025 20:10

First, Parents should not have unsecured ponds in their gardens when they have small children.
Second, the child is perfectly ok, so try to relax.

No they shouldn't, but we have no idea how old DSDs are so I'm not sure where you have got that the household in question has "small children".

Eggsboxedandmelting · 20/04/2025 20:13

This pond..

hopethathelped · 20/04/2025 20:13

Did he actually fall in? I would expect that to mean he tripped and went under for a second.

Standing in there up to his shoulder but certain his mouth didn’t go under sounds like he just walked/got in.

User57713 · 20/04/2025 20:14

I have 3 kids and 2 of them have fallen in ponds when they were small. We clearly didn't learn from our first mistake.

One was walking round a small wall at the edge of a pond holding dh's hand and slipped and fell in.

The other was with me. The pond was frozen and I was poking the ice at the edge with my foot. Ds must have thought he could stand on the ice, took a great big step and ended up in the water past his waist.

Both stupid accidents and totally our faults as the responsible adults. Particularly the ice one. That was me being completely stupid. But the kids survived.

Your ds is okay. I hope you can move on from it.

JohnofWessex · 20/04/2025 20:14

Youngest went stream dipping with Beavers

Dyspraxic 6 year old boy

He was supposed to go in up to the top of his wellies.

To nobodies surprise he went in up to the top of his T shirt

My wife came over at the end of the session with towels and a change of clothing

He's still alive at 15

The people who organised the event asked if they could use the 'afterwards' photo, its probably still on the internet somewhere

Cerialkiller · 20/04/2025 20:17

If I think about the number of near misses too hard I give myself heart palpitations.

The walking into busy roads without looking, the tripping while walking on walls, the falling off play frames, the walking too close to the cliff edge/canal lock/ angry dog.

Parents are there to protect and prevent these things. You did that.

Original poster

blacksheep2014 · 20/04/2025 20:18

Thank you everyone. It helps to read your replies, I'm just feeling a bit I think.

Confirming DSDs are teens so not an issue for them generally.

I suppose stepped in, he didn't trip, and also didn't let go of the small chocolate egg in his hand, even in the ensuing rapid undressing

OP posts:

SummerIce · 20/04/2025 20:18

Oh OP, that sounds terrifying. But the point is nothing happened, because you were there. Yes he fell in, but you were just a few steps behind him so it was all ok. You did nothing wrong and nothing bad happened. Don’t be harsh on yourself.

SummerIce · 20/04/2025 20:19

also didn't let go of the small chocolate egg in his hand, even in the ensuing rapid undressing

A 2 year old’s priorities obvs.

Dahliasrule · 20/04/2025 20:21

Apparently I fell into an iced over pond as a child. I don’t remember it so no lasting trauma!

Crazybaby123 · 20/04/2025 20:24

You were nearby and supervising properly, which is why nothing bad happened. I am sure everyone has had a near miss with their kids, weve had many. That step out onto a road when you have to grab them back etc.
We went to an elephant sanctuary when my kid was 3, we were listening to the talk on benches and out of nowhere my son bolted towards the elephants who were lined up behind the man talking. I jumped up and the nearest thing to grab was his hair and I literally yanked him back by his hair. It was either that or it would be too late and he could have been trampled by elephants if they got startled. He was fine, but my heart certainly stopped for a second.

Chocolation · 20/04/2025 20:29

My son fell in my dad’s pond at about 18 months old when they were babysitting for us. My dad was literally holding him by the hand when he fell in (but apparently had also been encouraging him to play with the hose pipe by the pond! 🤦‍♀️).I got really worried reading up about all diseases he could have caught from pond water. As it was, he was absolutely fine. They gave him a good shower and I gave him another one when I picked him up.

All was good so sure yours will be too.

Did read my dad the riot act about playing near the pond with him tho!

Cucy · 20/04/2025 20:29

You can never get rid of accidents or near misses.

What you can do is be there to supervise him when it happens, which you were.

No harm came to him and he probably won’t even remember it.

Try not to worry about it because you did nothing wrong and no harm was done.

OwlBasket · 20/04/2025 20:30

hopethathelped · 20/04/2025 20:13

Did he actually fall in? I would expect that to mean he tripped and went under for a second.

Standing in there up to his shoulder but certain his mouth didn’t go under sounds like he just walked/got in.

This is a really important distinction @blacksheep2014 He toddled in, he didn’t fall. I hope you feel calmer soon

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