What age did you stop watch your DC in the pool and leave it to the life guards

[Anonymous]

pArents need to remain vigilant of their own young children, even in the presence of lifeguards and swim instructors. I had to jump in fully clothed to retrieve my 5 year old son during a group swimming lesson when I realized the instructor had not noticed that he had stepped back over his head in the water. There was no noise, splashing, etc. I barely noticed in time to save his life.

[Anonymous]

Older one, 8. Younger one is 6 and was on swim team this past winter. Much stronger swimmer than older brother so I'm already not watching.

[Anonymous]

Haven't yet. I figure not only does a kid have to be a strong swimmer but he/she has to be strong enough to stay afloat should a bigger kid try to hold him down (either intentionally, saw this happen once, or unintentionally as a drowning kid will naturally try to cling to someone else).

[Anonymous]

5th grade - to the pool on their own.
3rd grade - I was there but maybe not paying as close attention unless I had a concern.

[Anonymous]

There was a mom at the pool last week who was not in the water with her 7-9 year old boys, and they were shooting water guns at toddlers and the lifeguard had to come down from the stand and take the toys away from them. The mom was like 'well, they won't listen to me, they'll at least listen to the lifeguard' which was infuriating!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15 or so. I would never trust the life guards. They are kids and do not always watch the pool the way they should. Plus, at our pool, there are way too many people and I don't feel there are enough lifeguards on duty for the number of people or the lifeguards are not posted in places where they can see all parts of the pools. We have two pools and there is often only one lifeguard on duty even though both pools are in use.

15?!? Can your kid not swim? I started working as a rough water lifeguard at the beach in Hawaii the day I turned 16. If you can't trust your 15 year old at the pool, something is very wrong. My 12 year old and his friends go to our community pool by themselves almost every day.

[Anonymous]

After 4 years of lessons and when they could swim the length of the pool repeatedly on their own.

[Anonymous]

My 4 1/2 yo is a great swimmer - passed swim
Test - can swim length of pool and can tread water for a minute but I'm still in pool w her or rarely standing on side if for some reason I'm out - last week we did a short distance and somehow she swallowed some water and panicked and grabbed me - she's super adventurous and it freaked her out - I think she doesn't have great judgment on exhaustion as well. She is allowed to do the diving board but I have appreciated the lifeguards who have twice told her she needed a break to rest -

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 4 1/2 yo is a great swimmer - passed swim
Test - can swim length of pool and can tread water for a minute but I'm still in pool w her or rarely standing on side if for some reason I'm out - last week we did a short distance and somehow she swallowed some water and panicked and grabbed me - she's super adventurous and it freaked her out - I think she doesn't have great judgment on exhaustion as well. She is allowed to do the diving board but I have appreciated the lifeguards who have twice told her she needed a break to rest -

I will say her friends parents and babysitters are not in pool and not nearby and I have had to "rescue" them many times this summer from ending up in water too deep

[Anonymous]

9 when I knew my son was/is a very strong swimmer and able to save and help himself. He took private lessons and joined swim team to ensure he didn't need me! He swims much better than I can!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a birthday party recently for a 7 year old and I was the only parent who stayed to watch mine at the pool. There was no one else besides lifeguards at the crowded pool area.

I cannot stand swimming birthday parties at crowded pools for kids under 13. And my child can swim but it's such a dangerous party. At a private pool at a home or a pool where the only kids swimming are at the party, maybe but even then it just seems ill advised. I don't let my kids go and we have a pool and I couldn't imagine hosting one. That's a major responsibility.