Family Daycare with Swimming Pool

[Guest]

Are there specific guidelines in regards to Family Daycare with swimming pools. I would think this would be a problem with infants and the insurance would be too much to pay. Anyone?

[Unregistered]

Money vs Safety

Since it seems many of these homes with swimming pools that offer daycare services really are run by people with swimming pools that want to supplement their income the emphesis is not on safety, but money.

For child safety, the law should not allow swimming pools on daycare property when the children are too young to swim.

[Unregistered]

We are a 1 to 1 ratio for children 3 and under for any water activity except water table, sprinkler and wading pool.

[Kathy]

Daycare Safety with Pools, Ponds or Waterways

I read many of the state guidelines and they all reference pools and the safety of children and water. Even then I would be somewhat afraid to let my little ones stay there unless they had some kind of web monitoring system in place. I would want to know when they are near the pool and would also watch via the internet at that time period. I may sound paranoid but I would not even buy or rent a home with a pool while my children are that young. I would worry too much.

[Unregistered]

A pool must be fenced off in such a way a child cannot get to it, and locked.
If I'm not mistaken, the play yard must be in it's seperate fencing, not adjoining the fenced pool area as well.

[Unregistered]

Since it seems many of these homes with swimming pools that offer daycare services really are run by people with swimming pools that want to supplement their income the emphesis is not on safety, but money.
For child safety, the law should not allow swimming pools on daycare property when the children are too young to swim.

Just because a family has a pool, does not mean the provider is operating a dc just because of money. That comment is rude and makes no sense.

[Unregistered]

My Daycare has had a pool for 17 yrs. my kids would be lost without it, we have always offered a trained life guard to come in and teach swimming. Over 17 years we have taught countless children to swim, which I feel is extremely important.

[Tammy]

Minnesota Childcare Requirements for Pools or Ponds

Here are requirements in the state of Minnesota.


1. Notify the county agency before initial use of the swimming pool and annually, thereafter;

2. Obtain written consent from a child’s parent or legal guardian allowing the child to use the swimming pool, and renew the parent or legal guardian’s written consent at least annually. The written consent must include a statement that the parent or legal guardian has received and read materials provided by the department of health to the department of human services for distribution to all family day care or group family day care homes and the general public on the human services Internet web site related to the risk of disease transmission as well as other health risks associated with swimming pools. The written consent must also include a statement that the department of health, department of human services, and county agency will not monitor or inspect the provider’s swimming pool to ensure compliance with the requirements in MN Statutes 245A.14, subdivision 10;

3. Enter into a written contract with a child’s parent or legal guardian, and renew the written contract annually. The terms of the written contract must specify that the provider agrees to perform all of the requirements in MN Statutes 245A.14, subdivision 10;

4. Attend and successfully complete a swimming pool operator training course once every five years. Acceptable training courses are:
a. The National Swimming Pool Foundation Certified Pool Operator course;
b. The National Spa and Pool Institute Tech I and Tech II courses (both required); or
c. The National Recreation and Park Association Aquatic Facility Operator course;

5. Require a caregiver trained in first aid and adult and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation to supervise and be present at the swimming pool with any children in the pool;

6. Toilet all potty-trained children before they enter the swimming pool;

7. Require all children who are not potty-trained to wear swim diapers while in the swimming pool;

8. If fecal material enters the swimming pool water, add three times the normal shock treatment to the pool water to raise the chlorine level to at least 20 parts per million, and close the pool to swimming for the 24 hours following the entrance of the fecal material into the water or until the water pH and disinfectant concentration levels have returned to the standards specified in clause (10), whichever is later;

9. Prevent any person from entering the swimming pool who has an open wound or any person who has or is suspected of having a communicable disease;

10. Maintain the swimming pool water at a pH of not less than 7.2 and not more than 8.0, maintain the disinfectant concentration between two and five parts per million for chlorine or between 2.3 and 4.5 parts per million for bromine, and maintain a daily record of the swimming pool’s operation with pH and disinfectant concentration readings on days when children are cared for at the family day care or group family day care home are present;

11. Have a disinfectant feeder or feeders;

12. Have a recirculation system that will clarify and disinfect the swimming pool volume of water in ten hours or less;

13. Maintain the swimming pool’s water clarity so that an object on the pool floor at the pool’s deepest point is easily visible;

14. Have two or more suction lines in the swimming pool;
15. Have in place and enforce written safety rules and swimming pool policies;

16. Have in place at all times a safety rope that divides the shallow and deep portions of the swimming pool;

17. Satisfy any existing local ordinances regarding swimming pool installation, decks, and fencing;

18. Maintain a water temperature of not more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit and not less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit; and

19. For lifesaving equipment, have a United States Coast Guard-approved life ring attached to a rope, an exit ladder, and a shepherd’s hook available at all times to the caregiver supervising the swimming pool.

[Unregistered]

Since it seems many of these homes with swimming pools that offer daycare services really are run by people with swimming pools that want to supplement their income the emphesis is not on safety, but money.

For child safety, the law should not allow swimming pools on daycare property when the children are too young to swim.

People work to earn a living, get paid, take care of their family, well daycare homes are no different. However, I agree with you about swimming pools. If you have a swimming pool in your yard, state says it needs to be fenced in & the ladder must not be up. & the gate must be locked at all times and made inaccessible to the children at all times. If it is not fenced in then the pool must be moved off location or taken down.

[Unregistered]

My county forbids pools..even little plastic ones

I live in a very strict county in Virginia and we are forbidden to use a pool during daycare hours, even a little plastic one. We also can't use a trampoline.

[Unregistered]

In MN-a wading pool needs signed permissions-I'm not sure about filtered pools, altho my home insurance said NO-they would not cover me if I had a filtered pool-everyone is different-ask the provider for proof of insurance-and call your local daycare department and find OUT-pretty sure it's the law in MN as well-to have a cover on it and no ladder in it-we had a death of a little girl (not daycare-) and I think this just passed into a law-

[Unregistered]

family daycare with swimming pool

Childern are drowning in bath tubs. not just swimming pools. To me where is the supervision for childern to be drowning in any water? so people need to take the blame off any body of water. Its time to blame the person thats in charge.

[Crystal]

Why would you state that family child care homes with pools are only in the profession to make money? That is a ridiculous statement.

In Ca. pools have to be fenced, with a self-closing gate if it is an in-ground pool. If it is an above ground pool and at least 5 feet tall, it does not have to be fenced but the ladder must be removed during business hours so that children cannot climb it.

If you are looking at a program that has a pool, use your common sense and good judgement. Check her licensing history....have there been any complaints regarding lack of supervision, injuries, etc? If she has a clear record, has a well-kept and well-maintained play space that is clearly safe, and is a good provider who meets your families needs then I wouldn't let the fact that there is a pool hinder me from choosing a quality provider/program.

[jen]

Since it seems many of these homes with swimming pools that offer daycare services really are run by people with swimming pools that want to supplement their income the emphesis is not on safety, but money.

For child safety, the law should not allow swimming pools on daycare property when the children are too young to swim.

What a ridiculous statement!

[Chickenhauler]

Since it seems many of these homes with swimming pools that offer daycare services really are run by people with swimming pools that want to supplement their income the emphesis is not on safety, but money.

For child safety, the law should not allow swimming pools on daycare property when the children are too young to swim.

You could say the same about having a blender on premises...lazy buggers, having that dangerous kitchen appliance present when a plastic cake cutting knife will do the same job.

There's a lot of things you could replace "swimming pool" with in your diatribe and have it come off even sillier. Try "lawnmower" or "boat" or "dog" or "cat" or "electrical outlets" or "motor vehicle"......all those things can be dangerous if used improperly.

But, I do think that if you're going to have a pool, especially with a daycare, it should be inaccessible (or at least really hard to access-nothing is "kid proof" 100%) by using fences, gates, etc.