How to take three toddlers to the swimming pool

July 8, 8:41 AMSalt Lake City Parenting Toddlers ExaminerLilet Gillen

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Carson, Marcus, Shalise and Jake enjoying an afternoon at the pool.

When the summer started this year, I was excited to take my toddlers to do all the fun things you do in the summer. I really wanted to be able to take them swimming at the pool but was very nervous the first time at how I was going to wrangle three kids in and out of the pool safely.

The first time we went swimming, hubby came with me to balance out the adult to child ratio. We tried a couple different methods and then finally found one that worked really well. My husband started out holding all three of the kids. They were a little nervous and all wanted their Daddy! After a little while my three-year-old son took very quickly to the water with his lifejacket on. He was treading water and moving around in no time. It wasn't long before he didn't want us to hold him, he wanted to do it by himself! So the rest of the day we let him swim around on his own with his lifejacket on. My two-year-old son was not as comfortable with just a lifejacket on so we put him in a little floating  boat and he seemed a lot more happy and comfortable that way. That left my one-year-old daughter who we also had in a lifejacket that was pretty content with being held.

We soon realized that we really could do it with only one adult in the water with all three children. With all of them wearing lifejackets and one in a floating boat, it really wasn't as bad as we expected! My husband swam with all three kids for a little while while I went to replenish our snacks and said that it was doable. He held on to the two little ones and pretty much followed my three-year-old (Carson) around the pool. This way Carson felt like he had his independance and was swimming on his own while he really was never an arms length away from my husband.

So if you are thinking about taking several toddlers swimming, it is a lot of work but can be really enjoyable with the right swim equipment and planning! I would recommend having all of them in lifejackets and the having floaties to put some of them in makes it a lot easier for you so you don't have to hold them all! And your "laying out" days will definitely be on hold for a while but who says you can't get some sun while you are swimming right? So take the precautions, keep eyes on your toddlers at all times and make sure they are never more than an arms length away and most importantly, have fun!! Happy swimming!!