Laying out while kids swim

[Anonymous]

I was wondering what everyone thought about laying out while the kids swim? I babysit two girls- 6 years old and 10 years old. They are both excellent swimmers. We go to their neighborhood pool in the mornings so there are never many people there. There are always two lifeguards on duty. I swim with the kids half the time and then lay out the other half but while laying out I still keep an eye on the kids at all times. Obviously if the kids ask me to come play with them I do. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I think given their ages, the lifeguards, the fact that you DO get in the water with them and when your out your still watching the, makes it OK. However, I understand why you may be feeling a little guilty over it. As long as it's something you don't think that parents would get upset over then you should be fine. I think its the nannies that take naps or text the entire time that upset people since they are paying attention to their charges while they are in the water. Enjoy the sun and pool though, I'm jealous since my charge and I don't have access to one!

[Anonymous]

PP: *aren't paying attention

[Anonymous]

Sounds fine to me. I do the same thing as long as the kids are safe.

[Anonymous]

I'm an MB and would be totally fine with the situation you describe, OP. Enjoy the sun!

[Anonymous]

Op here-Thanks for such kind responses everyone!

[Anonymous]

I am a MB and totally would NOT be fine with it. You get paid to keep both eyes on the kids, not work on your tan.

Why not ask your MB what she thinks?

[Anonymous]

Totally fine. My charges have taken swim lessons for 5+ years and are excellent swimmers. I don't even go in the water with them but read books or go on Ipad. Mom is the one who told me I didn't have to and suggested keeping myself occupied because they love to swim. They always play with other neighborhood friends in the water and have a blast. This has been fine for 4 years.

And to the pp, I don't work on my tan. It's a hassle for me to be outside for 4+ hours as I'd rather be inside with air conditioning.

[Anonymous]

I'd be completely fine with it as long as you could see the kids the whole time.

[Anonymous]

I would NOT be okay with it. If you're not IN the water, I want you sitting on the edge watching them, especially when they're in water over their heads .

[Anonymous]

The OP mentioned there were lifeguards on duty. In this instance, I think it's fine. Lifeguards are trained to watch and save people in the pool. Many nannies aren't water safety trained and do not know the signs of drowning or even how to rescue a drowning victim. Obviously, at your own home, more caution should be taken but since the kids are good swimmers and there are lifeguards, I see no wrong here.

[Anonymous]

I think it's okay as long as you have your eyes on them at all times. It's one thing for the lifeguards to keep them safe. But you also need to be aware in case you need to step in for discipline reasons.

[Anonymous]

As long as there is a lifeguard on duty and you are keeping an eye on them and engaging with them, and not, say, knitting in the corner, I as an MB would be fine with that.

[Anonymous]

Not a huge deal but remember lifeguards aren't babysitters so you still need to keep an eye out. I wouldn't put in your headphones and tune the world out or anything.

[Anonymous]

As a former lifeguard and now MB, I would not be okay with this. I've worked with many well-meaning lifeguards over the years who had trouble staying focused on the pool, especially during an all-day shift in the heat. Even the best of them occasionally have to stop watching the pool as a whole in order to address inappropriate behavior or help someone in trouble, either in the water or on deck with a first aid issue. That creates a vulnerability, especially for a child as young as six, which is precisely why most pools do not allow children under the age of 10 or 12 to be on site without adult supervision.

If you were my nanny, I would expect you to be sitting on the edge of the pool, in a chair or otherwise, and watching/supervising my kids closely rather than looking up from your tanning session once in a while to "keep an eye on them." The lifeguard is there to prevent and intervene in emergencies; he or she is not in a position to fully supervise an entire pool full of kids.