Summer Safety - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

2fst · 04-11-2008, 07:18 AM

My DD is a monster and a FT job just to watch her. Her favorite things are stairs/climbing and water. My mom watches her (and other children) when I work PT. With summer coming I know my mom will have the kids outside playing. She has a swing set, 4ft pool, kiddie pool and a large sandbox. There are a number of things that I am worried DD is going to do. One, I am afraid that if my mom turns her back on her for 2 seconds she will run away. Nothing scares DD and when something catches her attention, she is off. My mom does have a gate across the driveway and lives on a quiet deadend. So she won't be running to a busy street and the yard is basically blocked in.The other thing is the pool. When the kids are not in it, my mom removes the ladder and there is also nothing around it to climb on. But when kids are in she leaves the ladder there. I considered buying one of those alarms, but they are only good when kids are not in the pool. I can just see it now, the kids are playing in the pool and one needs attention to go to the bathroom or whatever, and the 2 seconds someone is not watching DD, she will be up the ladder and in the pool. The only idea my mom and I came up with is to put her in a life jacket at all times outside or a bathing suit with floats. I never had to deal with some one so obessed with water and climbing before. DD is on the table in no time and in the toilet or dog water. Saying No has no effect on her and at 14 months I just started to tap her hand but spanking is not something she will understand yet. She just goes from one thing to the next. You get her off the table and she will walk to the stairs, you get her off the stairs and she will check to see if the toilet lid is up and if it is she is in there and you remove her and clean that up and she walks to the dog water. And when you take her away she cries like you just beat her up. Any one have any suggestions? We have even considered putting her in the dog run my mom has outside. It is rather large since it is 2 big ones put together. LOL

gardenandcats · 04-11-2008, 08:05 AM

My only suggestion is. That your mom never leave her unattended outside. If she must take a child inside then daughter goes with her always! No child should ever be left unattended near a swimming pool. Thats a diasater waiting to happen..

luckydarlin · 04-11-2008, 10:48 AM

Prior to even having a child, our rule in our pool area was any child who could not swim on their own in the deep end HAD to wear some sort of life jacket, swimmies, etc. at ALL times. That includes playing in the grassy yard space in the pool area as well because we have been to parties when children have accidentally fallen into the water by simply walking on the pool deck and no-one notices because there is too much splashing and playing going on in the water. If I have been the only adult present and needed to step into the house for even a moment, ALL children had to get out of the pool and the pool area entirely and usually come into the house with me. Now that we have our daughter, the same rules apply but even more! There are child safety fences you can get for around the pool - they aren't the prettiest thing to look at, but they are safe and they do not allow a child anywhere near the water unless you unlock the gate and allow them into the pool. The alarms will also help if a child falls in or even breaks the water surface, say with their hand by leaning over the edge. Obviously a child should never, ever, ever be left alone in the vicinity of water - I'd say if your mom can't guarantee that, then don't allow your child in the pool until you are present.

mcr285 · 04-11-2008, 07:24 PM

we have two baby swings, a high chair, a stroller and a play yard on hand when we're outside with our little ones. i usually end up watching my nieces and nephews as well as my two kids (three are 4 years old, one 3 year old, two 2 year olds, one 20 month old, and one 16 month old) several days a week and they are of course very interested in the swimming pool! the older ones know better than to go near it, and the little ones are learning.

we have boundaries they are not allowed to cross and if they do, they get an automatic time out. the little ones get time out in the high chair or stroller. if i know i am going to be too busy to pay close attention to the little ones, they get locked up in the swings, high chair, stroller or play yard. they don't love it, but it keeps them safe and i'd rather have them upset for five or ten minutes instead of drowning in the pool!!!

anyway, you CAN teach your 14 month old to stay away from the pool (and whatever else you want her to stay away from) by putting her in time out locked up in the high chair, play yard or stroller, every time she goes near it. she will learn quickly that, "if i go near this, i get locked up," and she'll stop going near it.

meechieny · 04-12-2008, 06:23 AM

I agree with everything that has been posted. To take it one step further....they sell personal alarms that your child can wear. If they get wet, the go off. We too have an outdoor playpen and stroller out with us for when our attention is divided. When I go in.... EVERYONE goes in!!!! Even for a quick grab of popscicles. You can NEVER BE TOO CAREFUL!!!!!! Good luck!