16-Month-old Son in Swimming Pool

J.,
We also have a swimming pool and we stay out there most of the summer. My daughter was about the same age your son is when we bought the house. I hope you have a child proof fence around your pool. I would also get a pool alarm. It will sound when the surface of the water is broken when you are not in the pool. I liked having 2 methods of security because these little ones are very resourceful when they set their minds on something. The last thing I would suggest is to but him a floaty swim suit, make sure it fits him snuggly and let him wear it everyday at the pool. Of course sun screen, I used it everyday on my daughter and she still got a tan. My daughter loved her floaty suit and still does, she will turn 4 this year before the swimming season starts. We have been trying to teach her to swim, I think she like the security of having the floaty suit on. I hope this information helps you. Have a great spring and summer!!! J.

1 mom found this helpful

I would really think about swim lessons at that age. They can basically swim under water by that age with proper swim lessons. We have never used a flotattion device other than the swim barbels that I bought from Emler Swim School to help him practice kicking. I was always with him in the pool, but we always practiced him swimming and diving in the pool when we were there.

You need to go and buy a US Coast Guard approved Life vest for your son and make sure that he NEVER goes near that pool or any water without it. Floaties are fine and fun but are NOT safety floatation devices and will not protect him if something happens to you while you are in or around the pool. Please buy one (from a boating or sporting goods store) and USE it always. My kids never put a toe in the water without until they were in school. Up until the age of 3-4 if we were anywhere in a pool area or at the beach they had to wear them all the time. You can't be too careful. When I was pregant with my now 22 year old daughter we were at a family reunion and were at a hotel. It was nice and we went to sit at the pool and my DH noticed a little girl around 2 wandering around the pool and didn't notice anyone watching her. This really worried him so he started keeping a good eye on her as it was June and hot and the pool was very busy. Sure enough she fell in, he jumped up and went in after her, her mom did notice but after he had her on the side, it was so fast and only took a second. It was really scarey. Get him a Life jacket, enjoy your pool, your son and play away with the best protection you can get.
Have a GREAT summer!!

First, never leave you young son alone for a second. He should wear "floaties" around both arms. These will acclimate him to the water faster and give him confidence. Check the floaties often to make sure they are not leaking. My children could "swim" anywhere they wanted to go when they were just a few months old with the floaties and were swimming by the time they were walking using this method. Praise them but never let go until they are ready for you to. Pretty soon they will be jumping off the side of the pool going under water for an instant and they will love it. Good luck to you and your little ones. Watch them close!

when my son was a baby, we lived in the pool pretty much. I had a floaty that he fit in perfectly and the pool that we would go to had lap lanes, so i would put him in front of me, and kick my way down the lane holding onto his floaty. it was a great workout and it was great being face to face with him and making silly faces and playing with him that way, then i would turn him around on our way back where his back was to me and i would swim on my back with him still in his float sitting on my tummy and kick my feet through the water splashing water at him sometimes. (if that makes since) he loved it. there are so many things that you can do in the water with your little one to have fun.
as far as sunblock goes, without a doubt. i'm sure you know that though. :)
anywho, hope i helped a little.

THe first thing my daughter started learning in our baby swim class was how to climb out(she was 6 months old and could do most of it herself)- 3 years later it is still the first thing we practice every time we get in a pool. We practice having her grab the side, push up with her feet against the side until she can get as much of her arm on the deck as possible and then lift a knee up and pull herself out. When a child falls in a pool they are often close enough to the side to grab on or even climb out but they don't know how (at least according to our YMCA instructors)and that is when the unthinkable occurs. I know you will never let your little guy be alone near the pool, but accidents can happen so encourage him to learn how to be safe. Enjoy the pool- I can't wait to be out in one soon!

Sun Screen!!! The coolest thing that I found is the Little Swimmers brand makes a "sticker" that you put on your child and it changes color to let you know when you need to reapply sunscreen. I found this very helpful in keeping my kids from getting a sunburn. We always use the wet suits that have built in floatation(sp?) device in it. We also go out several times a day as apposed to one long time outside. Hope this helps.

Which ever float devices you choose, make sure you stay right there--even if it seems like they won't tip over, they can when you least expect it. I had one that was not supposed to tip over when my daughter was 13 months, and she was able to tip it over (which is what I think she was trying to do) and I was right there within arm's reach of her, (Thank Goodness) but just don't underestimate those things! :)C.