Would you be concerned?

[Anonymous]

We recently moved and started a contract with a new in-home provider in our area. Will start in Sept (hopefully).

I checked out her FB recently- I added her as a friend- and they put a pool in the backyard - like a stock pool but there is no notification on her daycare business page.

Would you be worried? I plan to ask what her plan is for safety- is there an alarm on any door that go to the backyard, etc. but it freaks me out a bit.

Any other questions I should ask?

[Anonymous]

I would be very, very concerned.

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/mother-of-boy-who-drowned-in-pool-disappointed-in-lack-of-charges-against-home-day-care-provider

I'd also check into licensing requirements regarding pools.

[Anonymous]

I am a laidback momma with three boys and that would be a hell no to me. I wouldn’t even ask her questions. I would let her know that you don’t feel comfortable with the pool and pull the contract.

[Anonymous]

What do you mean by a stock pool? Is a permanent pool or just a temporary, small plastic/inflatable pool?

At least in Maryland, I think there are some strict rules against pools at in-home providers. You can't even keep around one of those small plastic pools as a splash area.

From a safety perspective, I personally wouldn't be too worried about a pool with a few inches of water that can be adequately monitored by the the provider.

Tangential story: we've got a small inflatable pool for hour kids. It's only about a 5 feet wide pool with 5 or so inches of water. We've been letting our 2.5 year old play in it while we make dinner. We've got a very good sightline to the pool from the kitchen, but my neighbors probably don't know that. I wonder what they think when they see a little kid in the pool with no adults around...

[Anonymous]

Yeah, no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean by a stock pool? Is a permanent pool or just a temporary, small plastic/inflatable pool?

At least in Maryland, I think there are some strict rules against pools at in-home providers. You can't even keep around one of those small plastic pools as a splash area.

From a safety perspective, I personally wouldn't be too worried about a pool with a few inches of water that can be adequately monitored by the the provider.

Tangential story: we've got a small inflatable pool for hour kids. It's only about a 5 feet wide pool with 5 or so inches of water. We've been letting our 2.5 year old play in it while we make dinner. We've got a very good sightline to the pool from the kitchen, but my neighbors probably don't know that. I wonder what they think when they see a little kid in the pool with no adults around...

Is there a reason you both have to make the dinner. One in the kitchen and one with the child. What is up with you parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a laidback momma with three boys and that would be a hell no to me. I wouldn’t even ask her questions. I would let her know that you don’t feel comfortable with the pool and pull the contract.

I don't think you're a laid back momma.... Please OP, just call the day care provider and ask about it. Maybe they only bring it out on occasion when it's really hot out and only put a few inches of water in. When my kids were young, their preschool would do this sometimes on really hot days, and it never bothered me, but everyone has different risk levels.

[Anonymous]

No it looks permanent, it has a fence around it. Not like a kiddie pool, like enough space for 3-4 people and probably 3-4 feet deep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No it looks permanent, it has a fence around it. Not like a kiddie pool, like enough space for 3-4 people and probably 3-4 feet deep.

I would be freaked out even knowing there's a fence around it. Would not feel comfortable leaving my child there all day. Even the best providers are occasionally distracted when watching multiple kids. Not that it would change my decision to not want my child there, but does she have an assistant?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean by a stock pool? Is a permanent pool or just a temporary, small plastic/inflatable pool?

At least in Maryland, I think there are some strict rules against pools at in-home providers. You can't even keep around one of those small plastic pools as a splash area.

From a safety perspective, I personally wouldn't be too worried about a pool with a few inches of water that can be adequately monitored by the the provider.

Tangential story: we've got a small inflatable pool for hour kids. It's only about a 5 feet wide pool with 5 or so inches of water. We've been letting our 2.5 year old play in it while we make dinner. We've got a very good sightline to the pool from the kitchen, but my neighbors probably don't know that. I wonder what they think when they see a little kid in the pool with no adults around...

This is a bad idea. Even if you have a sightline, there are not always eyes on her if you are also making dinner. If you glance up and don't see her, you won't even know how long she was down. Also, risk is increased if there are two people and neither is specifically tasked with watching her because each person can be thinking they can look away because the other person is watching. The risks are low since the amount of water is small, but there still is a risk of drowning, as that can happen in very little water. One of you should make dinner while the other watches your daughter.

[Anonymous]

Per COMAR

A. There shall be ample, accessible space for outdoor activity that is free from conditions that may be dangerous to the health or safety of children in care.
B. If required by the office, the outdoor activity area shall be enclosed to protect children in care from accessible hazards such as a heavily trafficked area, a body of water, or environmental hazards.
C. Any pool on the premises of the facility shall be made inaccessible to children in care and have security features, including but not limited to a:
(1) Fence that surrounds the pool at least 4 feet in height;
(2) Self-closing and self-latching mechanism on the gate, door, or access to the pool;
(3) Lock that is operable and secured; and
(4) Sensor or alarm in the pool and on the access door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No it looks permanent, it has a fence around it. Not like a kiddie pool, like enough space for 3-4 people and probably 3-4 feet deep.

I would be freaked out even knowing there's a fence around it. Would not feel comfortable leaving my child there all day. Even the best providers are occasionally distracted when watching multiple kids. Not that it would change my decision to not want my child there, but does she have an assistant?

In the mornings only. Nap is 1-3 and pickup must be by 430 so I understand why. Im just supppperrr anxious about water and with older kids potentially getting access, etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No it looks permanent, it has a fence around it. Not like a kiddie pool, like enough space for 3-4 people and probably 3-4 feet deep.

Got it. I'd still be surprised if that's allowed (at least in Maryland), but maybe the fence would be enough.

And depending on the fence and latching mechanism, it very well might be enough from a safety perspective.

And regarding that Fox5 link provided earlier, a lot can go wrong if your provider is ignoring the kids for >20 minutes at a time. It seems terrible that there wasn't some sort of criminal charges against her for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Per COMAR

A. There shall be ample, accessible space for outdoor activity that is free from conditions that may be dangerous to the health or safety of children in care.
B. If required by the office, the outdoor activity area shall be enclosed to protect children in care from accessible hazards such as a heavily trafficked area, a body of water, or environmental hazards.
C. Any pool on the premises of the facility shall be made inaccessible to children in care and have security features, including but not limited to a:
(1) Fence that surrounds the pool at least 4 feet in height;
(2) Self-closing and self-latching mechanism on the gate, door, or access to the pool;
(3) Lock that is operable and secured; and
(4) Sensor or alarm in the pool and on the access door.

+1

My advice to you is that if you are uncomfortable with it then find a daycare with out a pool. They are not required to ask your permission or post on a business page, it's their house after all, and if they are licensed they must have a fence and alarm on the house doors and pool. If you are still uncomfortable (rightly so), then you should go somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Per COMAR

A. There shall be ample, accessible space for outdoor activity that is free from conditions that may be dangerous to the health or safety of children in care.
B. If required by the office, the outdoor activity area shall be enclosed to protect children in care from accessible hazards such as a heavily trafficked area, a body of water, or environmental hazards.
C. Any pool on the premises of the facility shall be made inaccessible to children in care and have security features, including but not limited to a:
(1) Fence that surrounds the pool at least 4 feet in height;
(2) Self-closing and self-latching mechanism on the gate, door, or access to the pool;
(3) Lock that is operable and secured; and
(4) Sensor or alarm in the pool and on the access door.

There you go. That seems like a pretty reasonable set of safety measures.