At what age are you 100% comfortable leaving your kids to their own devices in a pool?

[Anonymous]

I grew up on the ocean. I would (and have) swim alone, in bodies of water I know well.

My own child didn't grow up swimming. He could swim by about 6. By about 8, I'd let him go in the pool without me. By maybe 11 I'd be fine without having him always in eyeshot (at a pool, not the ocean).

Thinking about him going to a pool without adult supervision? I.e. get on the bus, go to the pool? Maybe 13, with a friend? (Do kids have to be 13 or 14 for public pools -- I don't remember).

[Anonymous]

I guess that I tolerate a ton of risk. I was fine sitting on the side of the pool watching when my kids were old enough to be able to doggie paddle over to the side after they jumped in. So maybe 4?

I know that I just dropped them off at swim team when they were 7, and they rode their bikes there at 9.

[Anonymous]

Hmmm this is interesting. Our pool requires kids to have an adult with them until 11. But my 7 year old is a strong swimmer and I don’t require her to stay in my eyesight. She knows not to go to the diving well without me because the older kids are crazy and I’m afraid that they will land on her. I keep a loose eye out so I have some sense of how things are going. It’s not too stressful. I think I will be in the loose eye out phase for at least another 5 years because while there are life guards they can’t be watching everyone on the busy days. I’m most worried about someone jumping on my kid and knocking her out under water. Some life guards shut that down better than others.

I’m never more than 15 feet from my 4 year old even when he can stand. Watch him like a hawk. It’s much more stressful.

[Anonymous]

I grew up on a lake, and it was a firm rule among everyone I knew that you don’t swim alone, regardless of swimming ability. Maybe pools are different, but there is no age I would let my child swim alone anywhere. Once they are older teens and are in a group I might allow it as long as they were all strong swimmers and the type of kids who make good decisions. My parents allowed the kids to swim in the lake without a parent once my brother was a lifeguard but I’m not sure I would want to put that kind of responsibility on my oldest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you mean like let your kid go to a public or community pool with lifeguards and other adults you know around, but you aren't there? If so, our pool has a rule of 10 which seems reasonable to me.

Or do you mean like let them swim in a backyard pool by themselves without an adult? For me, when they've gone through lifeguard training and have a buddy (so 15) or when they turn 18.

You wouldn’t let your kid in the pool without a buddy until they turn 18? Am I misunderstanding?

I would not let my kid swim alone in a pool (e.g. a backyard pool where no one else in in the vicinity, not a public pool) and I wouldn't swim alone myself. I think it's a situation where there is safety in numbers. When they turn 18 they can obviously make their own choice.

That’s…extra.

I agree with the PP. My kids, husband and I are all strong swimmers and none of us, regardless of age, swim in our backyard pool without someone else around. Same with skiing. My kids and I are strong skiers, but none of us ski alone (meaning on slopes where we don't have a buddy or where we aren't always in view of a good number of people). So for us it's not about their being kids, it's about general safety. When we chose our house, though, we specifically chose one where you can see the whole pool out the back family room window, so it's very easy for someone to go for a swim while someone else is in the family room with windows or doors open. Hasn't been difficult for us over many years with this set-up and the kids (teens) don't mind at all.

Interesting. It would never occur to me not to swim alone in a pool.

NP. Not swimming alone is a standard safety guideline around water for adults, not just children.

Oh come on. The OP has 3 under 3. She isn’t asking when she can let them go down to the lake alone at midnight. She wants to know when she can be one of the moms sitting on the side of the pool with a book and a Diet Coke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you mean like let your kid go to a public or community pool with lifeguards and other adults you know around, but you aren't there? If so, our pool has a rule of 10 which seems reasonable to me.

Or do you mean like let them swim in a backyard pool by themselves without an adult? For me, when they've gone through lifeguard training and have a buddy (so 15) or when they turn 18.

You wouldn’t let your kid in the pool without a buddy until they turn 18? Am I misunderstanding?

I would not let my kid swim alone in a pool (e.g. a backyard pool where no one else in in the vicinity, not a public pool) and I wouldn't swim alone myself. I think it's a situation where there is safety in numbers. When they turn 18 they can obviously make their own choice.

I have a backyard pool and completely agree with the above. It may not be likely, but the consequences are so serious if something were to happen. And it happens so fast. This is basic pool safety 101.

If it's a public pool with a lifeguard, then I'd stop watching around age 9/10 if they were strong swimmers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At a community pool? Age 8-9.
At a large, public pool/local water park? Age 10-11.
Alone in the backyard pool? High school.

PP who would not swim alone in a backyard pool… are you also scared to stay in your home alone overnight? That seems over cautious to say the least.

NP, you can't drown in your bedroom. That's a straw man argument. Basic pool safety dictates you should not swim alone. Of course, people do it and can do it and are allowed to do it -- but it doesn't mean that it is smart or a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you mean like let your kid go to a public or community pool with lifeguards and other adults you know around, but you aren't there? If so, our pool has a rule of 10 which seems reasonable to me.

Or do you mean like let them swim in a backyard pool by themselves without an adult? For me, when they've gone through lifeguard training and have a buddy (so 15) or when they turn 18.

You wouldn’t let your kid in the pool without a buddy until they turn 18? Am I misunderstanding?

I would not let my kid swim alone in a pool (e.g. a backyard pool where no one else in in the vicinity, not a public pool) and I wouldn't swim alone myself. I think it's a situation where there is safety in numbers. When they turn 18 they can obviously make their own choice.

That’s…extra.

NP: It's not safe to swim alone. I've definitely done it but it isn't safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you mean like let your kid go to a public or community pool with lifeguards and other adults you know around, but you aren't there? If so, our pool has a rule of 10 which seems reasonable to me.

Or do you mean like let them swim in a backyard pool by themselves without an adult? For me, when they've gone through lifeguard training and have a buddy (so 15) or when they turn 18.

You wouldn’t let your kid in the pool without a buddy until they turn 18? Am I misunderstanding?

I would not let my kid swim alone in a pool (e.g. a backyard pool where no one else in in the vicinity, not a public pool) and I wouldn't swim alone myself. I think it's a situation where there is safety in numbers. When they turn 18 they can obviously make their own choice.

That’s…extra.

I agree with the PP. My kids, husband and I are all strong swimmers and none of us, regardless of age, swim in our backyard pool without someone else around. Same with skiing. My kids and I are strong skiers, but none of us ski alone (meaning on slopes where we don't have a buddy or where we aren't always in view of a good number of people). So for us it's not about their being kids, it's about general safety. When we chose our house, though, we specifically chose one where you can see the whole pool out the back family room window, so it's very easy for someone to go for a swim while someone else is in the family room with windows or doors open. Hasn't been difficult for us over many years with this set-up and the kids (teens) don't mind at all.

Interesting. It would never occur to me not to swim alone in a pool.

NP. Not swimming alone is a standard safety guideline around water for adults, not just children.

DP - it is. Red Cross safety standard is never to swim alone. https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/water-safety/swim-safety.html

[Anonymous]

I don’t swim anywhere without a lifeguard and unless my kids take swimming significantly more seriously than I did/do (eg life guard trained, etc) I will encourage them to do the same. They’re young yet (under 3) so right now it’s at one complete adult per child and hanging onto them while in the water, but I think the 10-13 range being suggested for it being safe for the kids to be alone/mom to read by the pool is reasonable from my childhood.

[Anonymous]

My are 10 and 12. They are great swimmers but are prone to a lot horse play in the pool. One is significantly bigger than the other. So I like to stay close by, not hovering, but within eye and ear shot. I’ll read a book or work

[Anonymous]

Are we talking lake or pool? Lake I would never let them swim without an adult present and being vigilant. Great teen swimmers drown in lakes in multiples every year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you mean like let your kid go to a public or community pool with lifeguards and other adults you know around, but you aren't there? If so, our pool has a rule of 10 which seems reasonable to me.

Or do you mean like let them swim in a backyard pool by themselves without an adult? For me, when they've gone through lifeguard training and have a buddy (so 15) or when they turn 18.

You wouldn’t let your kid in the pool without a buddy until they turn 18? Am I misunderstanding?

I would not let my kid swim alone in a pool (e.g. a backyard pool where no one else in in the vicinity, not a public pool) and I wouldn't swim alone myself. I think it's a situation where there is safety in numbers. When they turn 18 they can obviously make their own choice.

That’s…extra.

I agree with the PP. My kids, husband and I are all strong swimmers and none of us, regardless of age, swim in our backyard pool without someone else around. Same with skiing. My kids and I are strong skiers, but none of us ski alone (meaning on slopes where we don't have a buddy or where we aren't always in view of a good number of people). So for us it's not about their being kids, it's about general safety. When we chose our house, though, we specifically chose one where you can see the whole pool out the back family room window, so it's very easy for someone to go for a swim while someone else is in the family room with windows or doors open. Hasn't been difficult for us over many years with this set-up and the kids (teens) don't mind at all.

Interesting. It would never occur to me not to swim alone in a pool.

NP. Not swimming alone is a standard safety guideline around water for adults, not just children.

DP - it is. Red Cross safety standard is never to swim alone. https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/water-safety/swim-safety.html

How many adults who are good swimmers drown in pools where alcohol isn’t involved per year? My guess is not many. It’s not particularly risky to swim alone. As someone said upthread you probably have more risk of choking when eating by yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At a community pool? Age 8-9.
At a large, public pool/local water park? Age 10-11.
Alone in the backyard pool? High school.

PP who would not swim alone in a backyard pool… are you also scared to stay in your home alone overnight? That seems over cautious to say the least.

NP, you can't drown in your bedroom. That's a straw man argument. Basic pool safety dictates you should not swim alone. Of course, people do it and can do it and are allowed to do it -- but it doesn't mean that it is smart or a good idea.

Water is just so unforgiving. Its not about swimming ability. If you have a LOC for any reason you are done. If you have a LOC in your living room you don't drown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you mean like let your kid go to a public or community pool with lifeguards and other adults you know around, but you aren't there? If so, our pool has a rule of 10 which seems reasonable to me.

Or do you mean like let them swim in a backyard pool by themselves without an adult? For me, when they've gone through lifeguard training and have a buddy (so 15) or when they turn 18.

You wouldn’t let your kid in the pool without a buddy until they turn 18? Am I misunderstanding?

I would not let my kid swim alone in a pool (e.g. a backyard pool where no one else in in the vicinity, not a public pool) and I wouldn't swim alone myself. I think it's a situation where there is safety in numbers. When they turn 18 they can obviously make their own choice.

That’s…extra.

I agree with the PP. My kids, husband and I are all strong swimmers and none of us, regardless of age, swim in our backyard pool without someone else around. Same with skiing. My kids and I are strong skiers, but none of us ski alone (meaning on slopes where we don't have a buddy or where we aren't always in view of a good number of people). So for us it's not about their being kids, it's about general safety. When we chose our house, though, we specifically chose one where you can see the whole pool out the back family room window, so it's very easy for someone to go for a swim while someone else is in the family room with windows or doors open. Hasn't been difficult for us over many years with this set-up and the kids (teens) don't mind at all.

Interesting. It would never occur to me not to swim alone in a pool.

NP. Not swimming alone is a standard safety guideline around water for adults, not just children.

Oh come on. The OP has 3 under 3. She isn’t asking when she can let them go down to the lake alone at midnight. She wants to know when she can be one of the moms sitting on the side of the pool with a book and a Diet Coke.

Follow the subthread quoted above which was about solo swimming for adults not just kids.