Hitting The Pool With A Babysitter

By Danielle Wirsansky on July 3, 2021

It is summertime, and summertime usually means it is time to hit the pool. But just because your little ones are out for the summer does not mean that you are too. While unfortunately, you must still work, your babysitter can step into your shoes for a little while and help make sure the kiddos get their summer fun in, like going to the pool.

Understandably, it can be a little bit nerve-wracking to let someone else take your children to the pool or to allow them in the water when you yourself are not present to watch over them. So how can you make pool time with a babysitter a hit for your kids, while keeping them safe and sound while you are not there? Read on for some tips on hitting the pool with a babysitter!

Photo by Yan Krukov from Pexels

Pool Date

It can be a good idea to fit in a pool date with your kids and babysitter when you can attend so that you can make sure that you feel comfortable with the situation and can give the babysitter any important information to know. You can scope out the pool and make sure that the situation is safe on that end—how deep the pool is, if there are lifeguards and how attentive they are, and how crowded the pool may be.

You can also guide your babysitter through what your child is comfortable within the pool. Some children are great swimmers while others can be a little bit iffy. Help your babysitter identify where their skills lie so she can help keep them safe.

During this pool date, you can also share your expectations with the babysitter in practice. Explain and even demonstrate for yourself so that the babysitter has no qualms, questions, or hesitations, and knows exactly what you expect of them during their pool outings with your children.

CPR Certified

Another way to allay any fears you may have about having your babysitter take your kids to the pool is to make sure that your babysitter is CPR certified. That way they are prepared for emergency situations should anything happen with your kids at the pool.

CPR certifications are really important safety safeguards for your babysitter to have. The European Resuscitation Council Guidelines for Resuscitation say, “Most cardiac arrests of non-cardiac origin have respiratory causes, such as drowning (among them many children) and asphyxia. Rescue breaths, as well as chest compressions, are critical for the successful resuscitation of these victims. Most drowning victims will have sustained cardiac arrest secondary to hypoxia. In these patients, compression-only CPR is likely to be ineffective and should be avoided.”

This could mean hiring a babysitter who comes in right off the bat already CPR certified. This could also mean offering to pay for and sponsor your babysitter to get CPR certified. Compensate the babysitter for her time taking the course or pay for the course itself. This is extra work for your babysitter that benefits your child in the end and puts your mind at rest.

Provide Water Toys & Sunscreen

To make sure your kids have a blast during their pool date with the babysitter, be sure to provide water toys. There is only so long a child and babysitter can play in the water by themselves without any other outside sources for fun. Provide safe toys like pool noodles and balls to keep children occupied, out of trouble, happy, and safe.

It is also your responsibility to provide sunscreen for your children for the babysitter to apply. Sunburns are really easy to obtain and can make your child sick and put them at future risk for skin cancer. Be sure to get the best kind of sunblock for your children and for swimming and to make sure your babysitter understands what SPF stands for and how often to reapply the sunscreen.

Be sure to explain (and provide) that sunscreen should be at least 30 SPF. David Colbert, a New York City board-certified dermatologist, says, “The American Academy of Dermatology always recommends an SPF of 30 because it is clinically proven to be a sufficient amount of protection to reduce or minimize the adverse effects of sunlight.” Your sunscreen’s SPF is only 100% guaranteed for two hours after you put it on and should be reapplied every two hours.

Photo by Alexandr Podvalny from Pexels

Set your babysitter up for success and your children up for a successful (which means happy) summer. Only you know your limits and what will make you feel comfortable having a babysitter take your children to the pool, so set yourself up for success as well by taking the steps to make you, your children, and your babysitter all be on the same page regarding issues surrounding the pool.

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