Anxiety about drowning?

[Anonymous]

Anyone else experiencing a lot of anxiety this summer with your little ones near water? My just turned 4 year old has been in swim lessons and can swim somewhat but I have pretty bad anxiety about him near pools especially in social settings. I think my husband seems distracted easily. I can’t wait for a time I can feel more confident in his ability. I’m hardly comfortable with my husband taking him alone because he gets lost in conversations with people and so try to remind him it just takes a minute. Anyone else experiencing this?

[Anonymous]

Op have him wear Life vest.

[Anonymous]

His swim instructor has told us how water wings and life vests aren’t great for small kids especially at this age when it’s clicking and they may really learn, it sets up a dangerous situation where they think they can swim after floating in puddle jumpers in a pool and the parent turns their back and they jump in the pool. For a lake or something, yes of course but professionals will say life vests are horrible at the pool.

[Anonymous]

I hear you. Mine is a very good swimmer, and I still get anxious about her in the water. It does just take a few seconds. There should be a set of eyes on him at ALL times when he's at the pool. Don't send him with your husband alone and always have him wear water wings or a life vest during free play until he can pass the swim test in the dive well. Take the wings off and work with him in the pool then put them back on. Never expect someone to watch him as closely as you will. Constant vigilance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else experiencing a lot of anxiety this summer with your little ones near water? My just turned 4 year old has been in swim lessons and can swim somewhat but I have pretty bad anxiety about him near pools especially in social settings. I think my husband seems distracted easily. I can’t wait for a time I can feel more confident in his ability. I’m hardly comfortable with my husband taking him alone because he gets lost in conversations with people and so try to remind him it just takes a minute. Anyone else experiencing this?

Yes I don't let anyone else take my child to the pool or near water. Don't care. DH gets very distracted and involved in convos but he says it's because he knows I'm there but that doesn't fly for me.
Drowning is one of the biggest risk factors for kids under 5. I dont have anxiety about kidnapping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else experiencing a lot of anxiety this summer with your little ones near water? My just turned 4 year old has been in swim lessons and can swim somewhat but I have pretty bad anxiety about him near pools especially in social settings. I think my husband seems distracted easily. I can’t wait for a time I can feel more confident in his ability. I’m hardly comfortable with my husband taking him alone because he gets lost in conversations with people and so try to remind him it just takes a minute. Anyone else experiencing this?

Yes I don't let anyone else take my child to the pool or near water. Don't care. DH gets very distracted and involved in convos but he says it's because he knows I'm there but that doesn't fly for me.
Drowning is one of the biggest risk factors for kids under 5. I dont have anxiety about kidnapping.

Ok this makes me feel better. I could have written this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else experiencing a lot of anxiety this summer with your little ones near water? My just turned 4 year old has been in swim lessons and can swim somewhat but I have pretty bad anxiety about him near pools especially in social settings. I think my husband seems distracted easily. I can’t wait for a time I can feel more confident in his ability. I’m hardly comfortable with my husband taking him alone because he gets lost in conversations with people and so try to remind him it just takes a minute. Anyone else experiencing this?

Yes I don't let anyone else take my child to the pool or near water. Don't care. DH gets very distracted and involved in convos but he says it's because he knows I'm there but that doesn't fly for me.
Drowning is one of the biggest risk factors for kids under 5. I dont have anxiety about kidnapping.

+1

[Anonymous]

Good. You should be anxious around water; drowning is a real threat and you should watch them like hawks at this age. You are not being irrational.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good. You should be anxious around water; drowning is a real threat and you should watch them like hawks at this age. You are not being irrational.

+1

I was a lifeguard every summer as a teen. 4-5 y/os got pulled out of the pool *all the time* usually returned to a parent who had no idea they weren’t playing two feet away.

[Anonymous]

Yes, same. Family vacation at a house with a pool, I did not let my two year old out of my eyesight. If she napped, I was in the room with her.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PPs that you should be scared! I messed up once, I was watching my 7yo daughter like a hawk at a crowded beach but turned for a bit to grab my sunscreen and she was gone. She was a good swimmer but got caught in a wave and dragged down to another part of a beach. A lifeguard found her. Now I always go in the water with my kids.

[Anonymous]

Your husband should be in the water with your 4yo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:His swim instructor has told us how water wings and life vests aren’t great for small kids especially at this age when it’s clicking and they may really learn, it sets up a dangerous situation where they think they can swim after floating in puddle jumpers in a pool and the parent turns their back and they jump in the pool. For a lake or something, yes of course but professionals will say life vests are horrible at the pool.

Water wings are a NO. Coast guard approved flotation devices are great. You can use them without causing any delay to learning how to swim.

[Anonymous]

My club pool used to have adult swim for 15 minutes every hour. I loved it because it gave me a break from the non stop watching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:His swim instructor has told us how water wings and life vests aren’t great for small kids especially at this age when it’s clicking and they may really learn, it sets up a dangerous situation where they think they can swim after floating in puddle jumpers in a pool and the parent turns their back and they jump in the pool. For a lake or something, yes of course but professionals will say life vests are horrible at the pool.

Water wings are a NO. Coast guard approved flotation devices are great. You can use them without causing any delay to learning how to swim.

?
My water wings say coast guard approved on them. What's the difference? Sincerely asking.