Be Prepared This Summer
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Lock up your pool
Even if Baby can't crawl yet, it's important to have a self-closing door that leads to your pool area, as well as a fence surrounding any bodies of water in your backyard that you don't want Baby to access, including a Jacuzzi or a decorative koi pond. Even "big kids" like toddlers can drown in less than an inch of water left in a bucket, for example.
Though you should certainly go through the procedures of barricading your pool, don't rely on fencing and self-closing doors to serve as your only security measures. Always stay within arm's reach of Baby when you're by (or in) the pool — or any body of water for that matter.
Cover up
If you're not comfortable applying sunscreen to your infant's skin, you still need to protect it. Keep Baby out of the sun during the peak intensity hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and cover him in UPF clothing or swimwear as well as a hat and sunglasses.
Enroll Baby in swim lessons
Your baby may or may not be able to swim on his own (with proper tutelage) in his infancy, as every child is different. However, introducing Baby to the water at a young age helps ease any anxieties with water that could build with age. It also shows Baby that water is fun, and helps him develop a healthy — and safe — relationship with the water than can last a lifetime. Stay consistent with lessons throughout the year (preferably at an indoor climate- and water-temperature-controlled facility) so Baby's swimming confidence can continue to blossom.
Get certified
It never hurts to take a CPR certification course (available online or through a local branch of the YMCA or the American Red Cross). Ensuring you know exactly what to do in the event of a water emergency is an invaluable tool.
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