2y old paddling in sea - safety - opinions please

[Anoriginalusername2]

Opinions please. 2y old with no life vest paddling in very calm sea. Parent is 15m away, intermittently watching. Is this ok?

15 minutes, miles or meters?

No

No. The child should be with an adult at all times. Preferably holding hands att all times too.

No. i wouldn’t be ok with that.

A 2 year old, I’d either be holding their hand or at least be standing directly next to them so that if they fell over I could scoop them up before a wave washed over them.

The paddling in calm sea without a vest is ok, but they should be watched the whole time and parent should be closer imo. Things can happen so fast.

Imagine asking this
"I leave my 2 year old alone in the bath, and I sit in my bedroom and go in and check every few minutes".

Would that be reasonable? Of course not.

No. They should be holding a parents hand or arms reach at that age. The life vest wouldn't make it any better if they weren't within arms reach either

The paddling without a vest is fine but parent shouldn’t be out of arms reach.

It's absolutely fine if you're standing over them or very close (1-2 meters away).and watching them continually. 15 meters away is nuts.

15m is a long way.

Given how many dc have drowned recently def not from me.
Some were in with an adult.
Still weren't safe.

Does ‘intermittently watching’ mean the parent is mostly on their phone?

Absolutely not. That’s horrific parenting stupid.

No!

You should be close enough to scoop them up instantly.

This.

No. Intermittently is bonkers. Needs to have hand held.

No. Arms reach.

Of course it's not. I'd guess you know that, surely no one would be daft enough to ask it here. Child's father or grandparents did it?

WTF. NO, not ok. Parent should be there holding their hand. Anything further than half a metre is too far.

The red flag here is 'intermittently' watching. No matter how close or far you are a parent should be alert and continuously monitoring, not intermittently. I have let my kids play in very calm water (no waves, minimal current, water up to ankles) with no life vest and been more than a couple of metres away, but have had my eyes on them at all times, ready to react.

Fuck no. My 2 year old is tiny. I would be next to her at all times.

Not Ok, at that age they should be within arms reach. No need for life vest if parent should be within arms reach.

No. I would say if you can’t be arsed to get up and play in the sea with your 2 year old then the person shouldn’t have had children.

No.