When can i upgrade from "always within reach" to "always supervised" for safety?

[Abnaxis]

I am on the mend from some recent outpatient surgery--the stitches haven't dissolved off yet, but everything's closed up.

I'm not too keen on soaking in the pool all day until the stitches fall off, but my 4-year-old is itching to play in our pool. Normally he's not allowed to swim unless I'm in the water with him within arms reach at all times, but I'm debating letting him swim and sitting on the edge of the pool instead.

Other than the stairs, it's too deep for him to touch the bottom but we've been working on his swimming without flotation assistance all summer and he's a competent, though weak, swimmer. He can swim from one end of the pool to the other without touching the sides--and lift his head out to breathe while he's doing it-- and tread water for a couple minutes at a time, but his stroke isn't very efficient and his lungs run out of air fast enough that I don't think he could swim more than a few minutes without exhausting himself.

I'm think that's good enough I can hangout nearby but not necessarily in the water, keep both eyes on him at all times, and only go in if he pushes himself past his limits in the water. I was wondering at others' opinions/experiences with that.

 

[proavia]

Until you or someone else are able to provide within reach supervision, don't take the chance.
It only takes once.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Abn,

My first thought is that you let your son go for a swim and he gets into trouble, so you then jump in to save him and rip open your stiches and you then both drown... While I agree that is extreme, why take the chance??

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Abnaxis]

Abn,

My first thought is that you let your son go for a swim and he gets into trouble, so you then jump in to save him and rip open your stiches and you then both drown... While I agree that is extreme, why take the chance??

Thanks,

Jim R.

I should probably have mentioned that the pool is shallow enough I can touch the bottom everywhere. That's genuinely not going to happen.

 

[Abnaxis]

Until you or someone else are able to provide within reach supervision, don't take the chance.
It only takes once.

So when does "within reach" supervision end? When he's in high school the lifeguard at the municipal pool is obviously not going to follow him around the pool for "within reach" supervision if he goes there with his friends, what's the inflection point?

 

[an1vrsy]

You're currently writing about a 4 yr old. When your child is older, you'll feel more comfortable lounging on the deck while they swim around. If you can ask TFP, you're not comfortable and just go with that.

I have 5 and 3 yr old grandchildren. They are not allowed to go in the pool unless there are 2 adults in the pool at the same time. So if they're hanging out with me, we can't go swimming until Grandma comes home.

 

[proavia]

So when does "within reach" supervision end? When he's in high school the lifeguard at the municipal pool is obviously not going to follow him around the pool for "within reach" supervision if he goes there with his friends, what's the inflection point?

That's up to your child and how well they can actually swim. If they aren't a competent swimmer, they should never swim alone.

But if you want to take the chance, that's on you.

 

[Newdude]

Put him in a Puddle jumper. On the off chance that fails, youre right there. Gently get in and grab him. You'll only tear your stitches if you flail like a manic and that doesn't help either of you so there's no reason to, but again, that's on the incredibly rare instance the floatation device fails.

 

[Abnaxis]

You're currently writing about a 4 yr old. When your child is older, you'll feel more comfortable lounging on the deck while they swim around. If you can ask TFP, you're not comfortable and just go with that.

I have 5 and 3 yr old grandchildren. They are not allowed to go in the pool unless there are 2 adults in the pool at the same time. So if they're hanging out with me, we can't go swimming until Grandma comes home.

Asking for information to use to make an informed decision doesn't mean I'm uncomfortable, it means I want to make an informed decision. Also, who said anything about lounging?

What are you basing your " must be 2 adults in the water" policy on? Are both kids still using flotation devices?

 

[proavia]

Asking for information to use to make an informed decision doesn't mean I'm uncomfortable, it means I want to make an informed decision. Also, who said anything about lounging?

Then throw something in the pool that sinks to the bottom that weighs as much as your child.
How fast can you get to it, get it out of the pool, possibly perform CPR on it and not cause yourself undo pain.
Only you can make an informed decision about your child - that will work for you.
Those of us who have responded already know what our decision would be.