Pools with a baby

[princessK30]

Hi everyone! My husband and I and our daughter who will be 9 months at the time, are going to Vero beach for the first time in August. I was just wondering if you are allowed to take infant rafts (for example ones with a sunshade attached) into the pool? If not, can we use any other type of floatie with her or is there something available to rent? We can't recall the "pool rules" on things like this for kids from any of the other Disney resorts either?? We will be going to the World in December for her first birthday too and if its warm enough we can swim then too! Hopefully someone can help, thanks so much!!

 

[Freesia123]

A life jacket might be a good idea.

 

[EagleScout]

Please just be careful, just two days ago I had to rescue someone else's child (about 15 mos old) at a water park who had on an approved life jacket - I think that the life preserver, together with being in pretty shallow water, led the parents to lessen their diligence/oversight. The boy was lying facefirst in water not breathing, in part because the life jacket was working "too well" - he apparently slipped and fell facefirst and then could not right himself because the jacket was keeping him prone on the water surface (all while his parents were distracted and not paying attention).

 

[pooh4evr]

I don't have experience with that particular resort however at the disney pools and water aprks I think floats with sunshades aren't permitted because the lifeguards need to be able to see the baby. But you never know !

 

[Gracie09]

Please just be careful, just two days ago I had to rescue someone else's child (about 15 mos old) at a water park who had on an approved life jacket - I think that the life preserver, together with being in pretty shallow water, led the parents to lessen their diligence/oversight. The boy was lying facefirst in water not breathing, in part because the life jacket was working "too well" - he apparently slipped and fell facefirst and then could not right himself because the jacket was keeping him prone on the water surface (all while his parents were distracted and not paying attention).

I see this every day at the kiddie pool at our town pool. The worst are the suits with the built in vests. People don't seem to learn. It happened to the same kid twice in one week.
We only allow our girls to use puddle jumpers because they make you float straight up or on your back. But even then we never leave them alone for a second - not that I'm saying the op would do that.

 

[set1208]

I agree that puddle jumpers are the best way to go. They're an approved flotation device but check the fit before you buy it. Nine months may be too small across the chest to get a nice snug fit. My three year old wears one and we snug it up to the smallest size and she's average height and weight.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We had one of the infant seat floats with both boys and we loved it but we NEVER took our hand off of the float. I think they are allowed in resort pools as long as they do not have a shade. Puddle jumpers are fantastic but they are not intended for 9mo old and the minimum weight is 30 lbs. I would suggest an infant carrier made for the water. There are lots of choices just google at see. We have a pool and our boys spent a ton of time in the water at that age and we have used a lot of different floats but they most liked being in our arms so we could alternate between holding them tight and light rough house play with them.

We find December pretty cool for babies in the pool most times. They are heated but when you get out its pretty cool for little ones. Also, depending on where you stay, check out the splash pad and kiddie pools. We never really swim too much at WDW so not really informed on these.

We did see a kid, in a huge winter coat playing in the splash area one time in January. It was toooo funny.

 

[princessK30]

I just want to clarify that we have no intention of leaving our child unsupervised in the pool. My husband is a pediatrician and I'm a pediatric nurse, we've both seen the results of drowning. I only asked about the raft because she loves to kick and play in the water and doesn't always want to be held so we wanted the added safety option of the raft, while supervised of course. I didn't think about the sunshade obstructing the lifeguards view - good point! At least ours is removable

 

[dsneygirl]

I have used a toddler floatie at WDW. Always within arms reach.

 

[wiigirl]

I agree that puddle jumpers are the best way to go. They're an approved flotation device but check the fit before you buy it. Nine months may be too small across the chest to get a nice snug fit. My three year old wears one and we snug it up to the smallest size and she's average height and weight.