Paddl;ing pool cover

[mckenzie]

My son was given a lovely ELC car design paddling pool for his birthday which he loves. Only problem is, I only have to turn my back for a second and he's got in it, fully clothed sometimes, shoes the lot. We'd like to leave it up in the garden (it took ages to inflate and fill up) but at just 2 my son doesn't quite understand that sometimes he can't go in it.

Are there covers for paddling pools available anywhere does anyone know?

Hi Mckenzie, don't know about specific covers for paddling pools, but how about a large tarpaulin from a camping/outdoors store or heavy duty plastic sheet from DIY centre? Maybe hold it down with metal tent pegs or bricks (unless ds likes throwing bricks, which may not be such a good idea!)

I don't know if there are any for this type of paddling pool and I'm sure you already know this but be very careful. One of the things I am paranoid about is children near water. Being Australia we always hear of babies drowning in buckets of water with as little as a couple of centimeters of water in them etc. I'm so cautious with ds around water but I know what you mean about not wanting to keep filling it up each time.

McKenzie - leaving water in a paddling pool is a big risk. We had an ELC one with a cover, but just used the cover to stop wildlife and leaves getting in. If a child got in under a cover, could be worse. Also, if you leave the water in, it all starts to go scummy.

A 2 yr old doesn't need loads of water anyway - a couple of inches is plenty. Where are you anyway - weather's not up to it here- our paddling pool has only had one outing

Ummm, I think I was typing with an addled brain yesterday - I was only posting a couple of months ago about my paranoia of not wanting to take my 3yo on holiday to a villa with a pool just outside the front door! After a rethink, I agree with you, KMG.

Best to be over cautious. Our new house had a pond in the garden and the vendors begged us to leave it for the frogs. I assured them I would but as soon as the place was outs, I emptied out the pond and filled it in.

mckensie, we have the fire engine pool from ELC. We used to empty it and stuff it fully inflated in our garage as we refused to blow it up ever again!! It stayed inflated for 2 years until we had to let it down to move. It never took too long to put 6 inches or so of water in it and DS1 loved being in it when it was being filled up too.

thanks everyone for the replies. I have taken heed and emptied it and just left it in the garden as is. DS seems to enjoy it nearly as much without water in it anyway.

I dont' want you all thinking I'm an irresponsible mum though so i would like to assure you all that there was only a slither of water at the bottom and I would never have left DS in the garden on his own.