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1st Birthday Party and Pool

amberfernandezamberfernandez member
in Northern California Babies

So Bella's 1st Birthday Party is tomorrow, and we have about 40 people coming to our TINY house/backyard.  We took the fence down around the pool because frankly, we won't have room for the tables and chairs we rented with the fence up (our backyard is wall-to-wall pool).  I want to put a sign on the front door that says something to the effect of:

"The pool fence is down for the day, please be aware of where your children are at all times"

Is that rude?  I'm just so worried with so many people, and about 10 young kids running around, that something may happen.  I'm sure I'm just over paranoid, but it only takes a second to lose a child in a pool.  Especially if other people are swimming, and it looks fun to a young child who's parent isn't paying attention.

What are your thoughts?

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Re: 1st Birthday Party and Pool

  • fricksgirlfricksgirl member

    I would for sure put the sign.  Actually, i don't think I would have taken the fence down in the first place, even if it would make it more crowded.  Sounds like a recipe for trouble. 

    Sorry if that makes you more paranoid but I'm paranoid too in those situations.

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  • EmmieBEmmieB member

    As a former lifeguard - I would either

    a) put the fence back up - you are used to it being there

    b) put up the sign AND assign someone to lifeguard duty. A couple of someones, actually. It's your pool and that makes any accidents your liability.

    c) put the fence back up

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  • pink.dutch.tulipspink.dutch.tulips

    definitely put up the sign. like pp, i would have never taken down the fence around the pool in the first place. WAY too much of a liability for me.

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  • ashleyhuneyashleyhuney member
    Ditto PP.  The pool and anything that happens to it is your responsibility - the sign really doesn't do anything except warn the parents that they can't let their kids out of their sights for a minute once they step into your house (although I would want to be warned.)  I know that I'd be uptight with my LO running around an ungated pool and we have a pool at home.  I agree that you either need to put the fence back up or have someone acting as a lifeguard at all times.  You aren't being over paranoid, pools are a serious risk with littles.
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  • SweetiePSweetieP
    Another vote for putting the fence back up.  I know it's tough to not have enough seating but honestly you'll kick yourself from now until you die if something bad were to happen and the only reason it was down was "I didn't have enough room for tables."  JMHO
    Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.
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  • Mrs.BoomBoomMrs.BoomBoom
    I'd put the fence back up and think about using the front yard for extra space.  As a parent, I'd be more comfortable with my kid in the front (with the street) than in the back with the pool.
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  • tri_bride05tri_bride05
    Another vote for putting the fence back-up. I had my 1 and 3 year old at a party with an unfenced pool recently (the hosts did not have kids) and there were only 4 walking kiddos there, and EVERYONE was on edge, particularly the homeowner) the entire time worried that one of the kids would fall in the pool. We left early it was so stressful (I was on my own with the kiddos) and I'm guessing everyone was able to relax a little more when we were gone.
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  • SweetiePSweetieP

    imagetri_bride05:
    Another vote for putting the fence back-up. I had my 1 and 3 year old at a party with an unfenced pool recently (the hosts did not have kids) and there were only 4 walking kiddos there, and EVERYONE was on edge, particularly the homeowner) the entire time worried that one of the kids would fall in the pool. We left early it was so stressful (I was on my own with the kiddos) and I'm guessing everyone was able to relax a little more when we were gone.

    Exactly this.  My neighbor had a first communion reception recently and took her fence down because her 8 year old is a good swimmer.  Those of us with little ones stayed in the house while the rest of the party went on outside.  It was very awkward and segregated.  We also left early.

    Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.
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  • MeritageMeritage member

    Not to freak you out even further, but isn't drowning one of the top ways that kids die?  I remember reading something about it in Freakonomics, but can't remember the exact stats.  It was something about how everyone is freaked out about guns and kids, but way more kids die in pools than because of guns.

    I'm not sure how difficult it will be to put the fence back up, but I would for sure put it up.  As for crowding - who cares?  People will deal with it.  We've all been to crowded parties before.  We had double the # of people at our wedding than # of seats inside our church.  People dealt with it.

    We did actually go to a non-swimming birthday party once that had an unfenced pool.  It was a 2nd birthday party, so lots of little ones were there and it was a HUGE backyard with playscape, etc.  The pool was right in the middle, but surprisingly, none of the kids really showed much interest in it. 

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