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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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

Yes, just about every drowning prevention and water safety group in the country warns against this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Yet we drive every day. If you have a LOC then, you’re likely to kill or maim yourself and others.

Sorry, I’m not buying that swimming alone in a pool is dangerous and no one is able to provide any proof that it is. It’s much like co-sleeping, very low risk when certain conditions are met but recommendations are made based on the lowest common denominator.

[Anonymous]

I don’t send mine alone, I still go, but I felt comfortable reading my phone or a book once they started winning heats at swim meets. So 7/8? They are older now so it’s hard to remember exactly. We have lifeguards and I poke my head up periodically, and our pool is rarely crowded.

[Anonymous]

I would actively discourage my kids from using devices in a pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Yeah, I grew up on a lake and that was our rule. Someone needs to know that you're in the water and at least be able to see you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Yet we drive every day. If you have a LOC then, you’re likely to kill or maim yourself and others.

Sorry, I’m not buying that swimming alone in a pool is dangerous and no one is able to provide any proof that it is. It’s much like co-sleeping, very low risk when certain conditions are met but recommendations are made based on the lowest common denominator.

Then go ahead and swim alone. Don’t expect the rest of us to buy into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Yet we drive every day. If you have a LOC then, you’re likely to kill or maim yourself and others.

Sorry, I’m not buying that swimming alone in a pool is dangerous and no one is able to provide any proof that it is. It’s much like co-sleeping, very low risk when certain conditions are met but recommendations are made based on the lowest common denominator.

At least you have a chance in a car. In the water it is one and done.

[Anonymous]

Does camp count? My 8 yo goes into the pool without parental supervision at school and camp, but there are lifeguards.

[Anonymous]

About 10 to relax by the pool supervising but not watching like a hawk. 13 or 14 to swim unsupervised in our backyard pool.

[Anonymous]

My son is 7 and can swim and the rule is no deep end if I am not with him in the pool. I am watching him the whole time listening to podcast - no book. This is a pool with a lifeguard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does camp count? My 8 yo goes into the pool without parental supervision at school and camp, but there are lifeguards.

Camp has counselors and life guards. Its a bit different. But, as a swim team mom whose kids did daily lessons as little ones, there is zero chance I'd let my kid at that age swim at a camp as there is very little supervision by counselors and they leave it to the lifeguards. They often don't test the kids except the deep end and we've seen some close calls.

[Anonymous]

At our neighborhood pool with lifeguards? I stopped getting in the water with them when the youngest was 5. My kids are tall and play in a pool area where their head is above water when they stand up. There is a break every hour so I can assess how tired they are.

Do you mean go to the guarded pool without me? Probably 12.

Swim alone without a lifeguard? No one should swim alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does camp count? My 8 yo goes into the pool without parental supervision at school and camp, but there are lifeguards.

I used to lifeguard swim team, and there were always dozens of kids at the 8&under practice without a parent in attendance. People saying that they won’t let their kids out of sight until they are 12 are crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does camp count? My 8 yo goes into the pool without parental supervision at school and camp, but there are lifeguards.

I used to lifeguard swim team, and there were always dozens of kids at the 8&under practice without a parent in attendance. People saying that they won’t let their kids out of sight until they are 12 are crazy.

I'm one who said on the older end -- that was assuming no serious swimming, based on my own childhood experience. If my kids get into swimming or any other aquatic sport, I'll probably look to coaches/other parents for appropriate freedoms for different ages. But assuming they're solely casual swimmers only getting practice at public pools in the summer (as I did), I think they need to be older before I'd be comfortable letting them swim without my supervision.

[Anonymous]

My uncle won’t allow adults to swim alone in a pool. If I leave my 240 lb husband in the pool to go inside, he’ll ask me who is “watching him” like he’s a child. His own daughter is an IRONMAN triathlete, who has done a mile swim IN THE OCEAN and he freaks if she doesn’t tel someone she’s in the pool.

Oh why yes he has raging unchecked anxiety. Why do you ask?