Not every hero wears a cape. They sometimes arrive in swimsuit and on time. This happened to one of our readers. After a long, hard day at work, she arrived home looking forward to a relaxing evening with her three-year-old. However, when she pulled into the driveway, she was surprised to see her daughter alone in the swimming pool.

My parents own a house with a large swimming pool. I requested them to watch after my three-year-old, and they happily accepted. When I arrived from work, what I saw shocked me to the core: my child was completely alone in the pool. She was wearing a swim ring and splashing about. Suddenly, it appeared that she was slipping through the ring.

I shouted to grab my parents’ attention, but they couldn’t hear me since they were too busy gardening. If I hadn’t gotten to the pool, my daughter might have gone underwater because the ring wasn’t secure enough. What’s worse, my parents are unable to swim! I told them simply that they would not be babysitting my child again. Their reaction was completely absurd: “Babies are natural swimmers.”

How can I possible prove to them that they are incorrect? Swimming pools are vastly different from bath time or splashing in puddles for young toddlers. Even in shallow water, 3-year-olds can easily lose their balance and become tired, increasing the risk of slipping underneath abruptly. Because of their limited strength, coordination, and awareness, children require constant supervision to avoid accidents and be safe near pools.