Swim Party but Mom Is Too Cold for the Pool

No! If it is deeper than a wading pool. Speaking as a former lifeguard, floaties and inner tubes are not safety items. They are fun items. They are not meant to keep children safe. An adult needs to be in the water with children who cannot swim and many pools require parents to be in the water with kids under 5. When I was about 3 I slipped through an innertube and got caught underneath it. My dad was right there and I was only underwater for a couple of seconds, but if he had not been right there I would not have been able to get my head out of the water on my own. I still almost 40 years later remember the terror I felt. While life guarding I saw many times when the same thing happened to kids. It takes just seconds for a child to drown.

My 4 year old swims with me on the side all the time. But she can swim really well with no floaties. As long as you are prepared to jump in I don't see why not

I'm sorry, but I wouldn't. If my child couldn't touch and couldn't swim comfortably without floaties then I would be in the pool with her and close by at all times.

Since you have an outstanding circumstance I'm not sure what the best course of action would be, but since it's a party I think it would be even more important to be in the water since there will be many children. So, I guess my advice would be don't go, talk to another friend who is going to party and ask if she can help supervise your child, or ask your husband to go instead.

Check the pool rules. Our public pools here require an adult within arms reach of children under the age of seven, so I had to be in the pool with my kids, even though they could swim. When we went to private pools I allowed my kids to swim without me, but I usually had them wear a life jacket, not floaties, depending on the pool.

It depends on your child's abilities. There have been times when I haven't felt like swimming because it is cold and my kids could swim pretty young, the floaties were more for double protection. If my child was in danger how cold the water is would be the last thing on my mind.

It would be different if you were on the side fully clothed but if you are suited up, ready to jump in, and your child is competent, then hovering is not a problem.

Could your husband go along with the 2 of you, Or is this a women's only situation?

I would. As long as you are literally close enough to leap in if needed. A quick story - we have a very wide first step into our pool, forming a shallow place to play. When my older son (now 5) was 2, he was playing on there while I was adding air to his floaties. I was sitting at the patio table probably 5 feet away from the edge of the pool, and my husband was in the pool maybe 3 feet away from him. He walked off the edge of the step, forgetting I guess that his floaties were not on. My husband and I both went right for him, and I beat my husband to him. Easier to run and hop in through the air than to cover a smaller distance in the water! So stay very alert and be dressed to take that dive if needed, and you should be fine.

What about either a life vest for her or one of those short legged and short sleeved body suits for you to help with the cold?

I never let my 4 yr old in water without me.
Maybe you can do 50 jumping jacks (or something aerobic) before you take her to the pool to warm yourself up before getting into the water.

My daughter has a Puddle Jumper. It's coast guard approved and she slips her arms through it and it buckles in the back. If yours is coast guard approved, maybe it's the same thing?? Anyway, she just turned 4 this last week and I've "helicoptered" around the pool on many occasions this summer with her in the pool. She jumps into the pool from the side, she swims all around and I feel she's safe, especially with other people in the pool. I would do it.

Floaties, life vests and the likes, no matter if USCG approved are no substitute for adult supervision. Children can and do still drown even with a life vest on.
To me it is too dangerous. Maybe you are better than me, but I get distracted at events like those... maybe another child catches my eye for a few minutes, maybe another mom comes over to talk to me. There is just no way I would be able to guarantee that my eyes where on my kid in the water every single second.
And then there is pool rules...our pool requires that all kids under the age of six must be at arms length of an adult at all times.

I think in your situation, since it is a mom's group and you probably know many other of the mom's why not ask one of the other mom's to supervise your's and her child in the water. Maybe there is a family with a younger sibling that you can supervise on land while his mom looks after your daughter in the water.

Or of course you suck it up and be cold for an hour...

Good luck.

Yes, I would watch her from close by

Why does she need floaties? Is she not a good swimmer? My parents sat on the side in a chair or with their feet in the pool. However, I was a strong swimmer. I hadn't needed floaties for quite some time. If she is a strong swimmer, you shouldn't need floaties, nor to helicopter. Strong swimmers simple need good supervision.

I would not do it, sorry. Not if she needs floaties and helicoptering. Not at all.

I feel comfortable with my kids in the pool .. My son can do the real swim thing. and my daughter has the Puddle Jumper (you can get them at walmart) and she can kick around the pool. It is not often that my husband or I are not in the pool with my 2 year old. We are always right there and ready to jump in.

If this place is at a club, it might be indoors and heated so that should help you out.

Have fun.

I would ask for help. I am sure one mom can handle 2 kids especially one with floaties.

You need help from another mom. Can you work that out in advance? I think you will end up getting in the water no matter what, in order to help her or if she falls or if she cries.

If I were you, I would not wear a suit to the pool. You have a condition of some sort that you do not understand and it could be bad for you to get in the pool. The only way to NOT get in the pool is if you aren't dressed for it, and another mom is willing to pinch hit for you.

Hope so much that the doctors can help you with this.

DoYou Have A Sitter Who Swims? Another Relative? A Young Non Swimmer Needs Someone At Arms Reach To Be There. I Get Cold, Painfully Col, Where Coming Out Of A Pool I Am Under ComforterS Drinking Coffee On A 90 Degree Day.But Once A Week It's Where I Am Malong Sure Mykids Learn To Swim.

If you already have a system worked out, why do you think you couldn't do the same at this pool?

I don't go in as I get too cold, but most parties I've been to are at warm water swim clubs.
I would only have a young child go in with an adult.

lots of pools don't allow the floaties (you mean the arm bands that go on each arm?????) because they aren't actually safe, but they give kids (and parents) the mistaken impression that they are going to keep your child safe.

By 4 my daughter could swim because she had been in swim lessons. If she was not a good swimmer I would go in the pool with her or I would not attend the party.