Would you consider a pool when you have 2 young children

[Anonymous]

I've been eliminated houses with pools because we have a 3 and a 5 yr old. Seems like a lot of houses have pools these days and with the inventory being low it would increase our options but the idea that something COULD happen scares me. Would you consider a pool with young kids? If you have a pool and young kids, how's it working for you? My kids LOVE pools BUT...

[Anonymous]

I would, but only if it or we would put an iron fence around it with a locked gate around it.

I would also give my children swimming lessons at an early age as well.

However, I can totally see why many parents wouldn't want a pool in their backyard due to the horror stories I have heard about.

It's a personal choice.

[Anonymous]

Nope. We have 3 kids under 5 and I specifically said no pools.

You can have a mesh fence installed around the perimeter of the pool. That's the only way I'd consider but I still think I'd be a bundle of nerves. In 5 yrs? Sure, I'd love a pool then but not now.

[Anonymous]

No pools with young kids. It only takes a moment for a horrible accident to happen. Plus, the upkeep is a pain, and your friends will want you to invite them over and entertain their kids. No thanks!

[Anonymous]

No. I could never relax.

[Anonymous]

I have a 2, 4, and 6 year old. All know how to swim. No way would I ever be near a pool without watching them like hawks.

[Anonymous]

Teach your kids to swim and put up a fence around the pool. I grew up with a pool, and we have a house with a pool now. We have a newborn, but he will be starting swimming lessons at 6 months.

Only downside is upkeep. Next year I will be hiring someone to take care of the pool.

[Anonymous]

If we lived someplace hot, like AZ or FL, I would insist on a pool. Anywhere else--it would have to be super secure and I would have to love the house.

[Anonymous]

Not a single house we toured had a pool, so I'm guessing we're in a different tier of housing, but no, I would not want a pool. I would LOVE to be able to walk a couple of blocks to a pool (we have to drive), but I'd rather that be someone else's problem. A family member who has one is always complaining about the maintenance, which you could outsource, but I wouldn't want all the people who'd pretend to be my friend and the burden of keeping someone else's kids safe.

[Anonymous]

I'd love to have a pool, but they're dangerous. They're as dangerous as guns in the house. More kids drown in home pools than get shot in the US.

[Anonymous]

Friends of ours recently bought a house with a pool. They put in a high secure, iron gate all around it. It isn't as visually appealing but it is safe.

[Anonymous]

My sister has a pool with young kids and they have a separate fence around just the pool. The fence can easily be removed once the kids are older. They also have a high lock on the slider that goes out to the deck and yard.

So I do think that with the right precautions in place they can be fine. Personally I would prefer no risk at all and opt for a house with no pool though.

[Anonymous]

We have a 4 year old and 1 year old and I would love to have a pool, but we would not consider a house with a pool at this time. The 4 year old is old enough to go out in the backyard by herself, but with a pool? No way.

[Anonymous]

Never in a million years.

I would rather have a full arsenal of guns in the house than a pool with young kids.

[Anonymous]

No. No, no, no.