Normally I'd say stick to the baby pool with both if you're unsure, but if this is at a private home, that is likely not an option.

So you institute iron-clad rules for the 3 yo. Any violation and you immediately go home for the day.

1. Only an adult can take the puddle jumper/floaties off.
2. He must wait for an adult to be in the water AND say "OK" before he can even put a toe in himself.
3. He stays in the shallow end/where he can touch/between you and the wall unless given explicit permission to do otherwise.

Keep in mind that private pools generally don't have a roped-off shallow area, and that they get deep fast. That slope between the shallow end and the deeper water can be very dangerous -- kids are bobbing and manage to move out farther than they can comfortably touch.

On the upside, there ain't no nap like a post-swim nap.

OP here - these responses are all very helpful, thanks. For context, the pool is at a neighbor's house, just 3 doors down from us, and I'm contemplating short trips for a lot of the reasons mentioned (i.e., I won't have to re-sunscreen the kids or bring anything other than our towels). I'm thinking I'll go puddle jumper + floatie for the first visit or two and see how it works out. Will report back!

Anonymous wrote:For my kids, the main issue would be the younger one would be over the pool way more quickly than the older one. So having someone to help watch the baby while your 3.5 year old jumps in over and over and over again is really the key.

+1

Last year sucked. It took me approximately 5 hours to get ready for the pool, but the baby screamed after 15 minutes. My son wanted to keep playing. Ugh.

Hire someone! I say this as someone with a very limited budget.

I would not trust an 11yo to keep my child alive in a swimming pool. Use a puddle jumper ( they are coastguard approved) on the 3yo and hold the baby or put the baby in a flotation device and keep within arms reach.

Honestly, I didn’t think pool was worth it to go solo with two small kids. It is hard to keep a handle on a 3 yr old swimming (or jumping in when you are distracted) while tending to an infant.

Plus as a PP said, the 10 month old won’t want to hang out there nearly as long as 3 year old does. If another adult or mothers helper couldn’t come with me, I’d head to a splash pad instead.

will baby happily play with toys in a PnP? in that case I would hold baby in water for a while and then put him in a PnP in the shade (or gated off part of yard, or something) to play with older kid.

Wearing a baby in the water makes me nervous, god forbid you suddenly need to go further into the water to help the older kid, you've got a baby strapped to you!

For my kids, the main issue would be the younger one would be over the pool way more quickly than the older one. So having someone to help watch the baby while your 3.5 year old jumps in over and over and over again is really the key.

Thanks all! Had not thought of some of these options.

Mother's helper like the above poster or wear/hold the baby the whole time. With 2 I'd stick to the shallow end or baby pool if there is one.

We live in a great family neighborhood and I hired a 11/12 year old mother’s helper for times when I need help. She loves the kids and loves the pocket cash, I love the help.

Anonymous wrote:I wore my kids (when they were babies) in my bjorn into the water. That way I had both hands free for the older child(ren).

This seems like the safe way to go.

I wore my kids (when they were babies) in my bjorn into the water. That way I had both hands free for the older child(ren).

I would hold the baby or put baby in a little baby float that I hold and put 3.5 y/o in a puddle jumper.

Is there a shallow end that the older one can play in while you hold the baby? I would find a way to keep the older one safely occupied/engaged while i took the baby in for a little splashing to tire them out. Then take the baby out, change clothes and maybe feed and then put them in a stroller or car seat or PnP so they're safe and restrained and can fall asleep. Then give the older kid some hands-on attention in the pool.

Looking for an easy and safe way for me to bring both of my kids to the pool. My older son is 3.5 and is fine with a floatie, but can't swim by himself yet (so obviously, I need to be able to grab him quickly if needed). Younger son is 10 months. Those of you with multiple kids, how do you manage at the pool? FWIW, we are talking about a neighbor's pool, so it won't be crowded and there are no restrictions on flotation devices, etc. Thanks!