When the heat and humidity start rising, we enjoy getting out the baby pool and using it to cool off. It can be a lot of fun for little ones and even their parents. Here are some ways to have lots of fun with the baby pool.
First let’s cover safety. Never ever leave a child alone with the baby pool. Babies and toddlers can drown in just an inch of water, and accidents can happen quickly. Last year, I witnessed my then one-year-old leaned over the side of the baby pool and topple in head first. Luckily I was there to pull him up and out! Consider only filling the pool with only a little bit of water and sitting in it with your child.
Fill the pool early in the day so the water has time to warm up a bit. The water directly from a hose can be quite cold, especially if it is coming from a well. You can always add some warm water to the pool from your indoor tap, to make it more comfortable.
Invite a friend over to share in the pool. Not only is it a lot of fun to have another baby to play with, but a reluctant child may benefit from watching someone else in the pool. An extra parent gives you an extra set of eyes, too, in case you have to run to the bathroom, grab a snack for the kids, answer the phone or take lots of photos and video.
Add some fun toys to the pool. Simple squishy balls to throw and splash and different sized cups to pour the water are great ways for little ones to explore and learn. Corral the toys in big plastic bins that have holes for drainage. You can just throw the toys in the bin and rinse them off for next time. The hole will allow them them to dry.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. Starting June 1st, don’t miss her articles in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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