AZ - 2 year old girl almost drowns AGAIN in same pool

[eleven]

Somebody shoot me b/c I think you are all jumping to conclusions here. This family were plenty concerned enough to install a fence. These are not cheap and it sounds like they did for the SOLE reason of keeping this little one safe. So what if they had a doggie door? Who are we to assume it was b/c they are lazy? The second time she snuck out of BED! For all we know she had never done that before and so, of course, no-one would be watching out for her near the pool.

I don't see the "plenty of concern" just because they had a pool fence installed. This girl had almost drowned once before. If that was my daughter who almost drowned, there is no way I would allow access to the backyard via a doggie door.

So, the second time she snuck out of bed. If they had done the responsible thing after the FIRST time she almost drowned, there wouldn't have been a second time! The responsible thing to do would've been to completely close off the doggy door! A pool fence is no excuse for a lack of supervision. I would also have locks high enough on the door so that there was no way she could get out w/o assistance from an adult.

They didn't ensure that she couldn't get outside w/o their knowledge. That should've been #1 on the "List Of Things To Do After Daughter Almost Drowns!" It really isn't that difficult to outsmart a curious 2 year old.

I have 3 children and we have had a pool in our backyard since #1 came home from the hospital. There have never been any mishaps or near-drownings, because as the adult, I have taken steps to ensure that my toddlers couldn't get access to the pool w/o me. One near-drowning is bad enough, but TWO separate instances of it? That is very telling of the mindset of the parents, IMO.

Sorry. It is what it is. I really feel like this is nothing but lax parenting skills. I mean, come on....if your daughter almost died in your pool, would you allow a doggy door leading to the backyard and pool to remain open?

 

[southcitymom]

Somebody shoot me b/c I think you are all jumping to conclusions here. This family were plenty concerned enough to install a fence. These are not cheap and it sounds like they did for the SOLE reason of keeping this little one safe. So what if they had a doggie door? Who are we to assume it was b/c they are lazy? The second time she snuck out of BED! For all we know she had never done that before and so, of course, no-one would be watching out for her near the pool.

I'm 100% with you on this, Brefie. She sounds like a handful of a toddler and it sounds like they are trying to respond to that. Of course, I'm sorry for the whole family that this has happened twice, but based on what we know, it doesn't sound like this little girl isn't loved or that these folks aren't trying to keep her safe.

Why is this is the Crimes in the News section? Have charges been filed?

 

[superunknown]

Why is this child trying so hard to get away from these people?

 

[2sisters]

Many people have toddlers, rambuctious ones and angels and also have pools. A few people i know with pools have, for one, no access outside to the pool area (chain locks, high locks on doors that can't be reached, no pet doors), there are many different kinds of safety fences for pools and covers that a little one can't fall on and get tangled in.
it sounds like the elderly grandparents just don't have the steam to keep up with her and the mother is a child herself making it a bad combination.

 

[Brefie]

I don't see the "plenty of concern" just because they had a pool fence installed. This girl had almost drowned once before. If that was my daughter who almost drowned, there is no way I would allow access to the backyard via a doggie door.

So, the second time she snuck out of bed. If they had done the responsible thing after the FIRST time she almost drowned, there wouldn't have been a second time! The responsible thing to do would've been to completely close off the doggy door! A pool fence is no excuse for a lack of supervision. I would also have locks high enough on the door so that there was no way she could get out w/o assistance from an adult.

They didn't ensure that she couldn't get outside w/o their knowledge. That should've been #1 on the "List Of Things To Do After Daughter Almost Drowns!" It really isn't that difficult to outsmart a curious 2 year old.

I have 3 children and we have had a pool in our backyard since #1 came home from the hospital. There have never been any mishaps or near-drownings, because as the adult, I have taken steps to ensure that my toddlers couldn't get access to the pool w/o me. One near-drowning is bad enough, but TWO separate instances of it? That is very telling of the mindset of the parents, IMO.

Sorry. It is what it is. I really feel like this is nothing but lax parenting skills. I mean, come on....if your daughter almost died in your pool, would you allow a doggy door leading to the backyard and pool to remain open?

I disagree. She got thru the doggie door after she had been put to bed. For all we know they may have kept this doggie door locked UNTIL she was in bed at night. I am not saying they did EVERYTHING right, but I certainly do not see major negligence here by any stretch of the imagination. It may very well come to light that there was no supervision, but right now it's ALL speculation.

 

[Brefie]

I'm 100% with you on this, Brefie. She sounds like a handful of a toddler and it sounds like they are trying to respond to that. Of course, I'm sorry for the whole family that this has happened twice, but based on what we know, it doesn't sound like this little girl isn't loved or that these folks aren't trying to keep her safe.

Why is this is the Crimes in the News section? Have charges been filed?

Thanks, SCM. Of course, it may well come out that she wasn't well looked after, but after reading just the one article, it's a huge leap to make.

 

[fivekidz4me]

Maybe this little one should be evaluated to rule out autism. Many times these children escape, and go through doggie doors, windows...etc. Some are highly attracted to water too. Typical two year olds are busy, but I feel there is something more going one here. She probably climbed the fence to get into the pool! I hope CPS gets them extra help and a referral to rule out autism.

 

[JanetElaine]

I'm not going to be popular for this one, but my first thought after reading that newspaper article was 'someone needs to check this grandpa out'.

 

[Brefie]

I'm not going to be popular for this one, but my first thought after reading that newspaper article was 'someone needs to check this grandpa out'.

You're still good with me! lol....but why grandpa??

 

[Angie4b1g]

I am still sticking to my "this could happen to anyone" story.

Who would expect a kid to sneak out of their room at night, crawl through a doggie door, and get into the pool?

It's easy to say you would have done things differently, and I'm sure they wish they had. However, I don't think they are to blame. Perhaps it makes me a bad mother, but I can see that happening here with one of my 5.

 

[southcitymom]

Thanks, SCM. Of course, it may well come out that she wasn't well looked after, but after reading just the one article, it's a huge leap to make.

That's where I am. And I like what 2sisters pointed out - this is an elderly couple and a very young mother. Until we know more, I am surely not willing to condemn the child's caretakers.

Of course, now that they know she's given to wandering after she has been put to bed on top of her attraction to the pool, more failsafe efforts need to be made to protect her.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

I am still sticking to my "this could happen to anyone" story.

Who would expect a kid to sneak out of their room at night, crawl through a doggie door, and get into the pool?

It's easy to say you would have done things differently, and I'm sure they wish they had. However, I don't think they are to blame. Perhaps it makes me a bad mother, but I can see that happening here with one of my 5.

sure, the first time that's what you say. But NOT the second time.

 

[southcitymom]

sure, the first time that's what you say. But NOT the second time.

The thing about the second time is that I'm not even sure the mother was there. She's mentioned as being in the house folding laundry when the first incident occurred, but it sounds like the grandparents were watching the child during this latest incident.

Also, they had tucked her into bed and seemed to expect she would stay there. We don't know if this was the first time this 2-year-old had gotten out of bed and wandered. When I tucked my 2-year-olds into bed, I expected they would stay there and, for the most part, they always did.

But a kid this age can mix things up on their caretakers in the blink of an eye. Fortunately, the grandparents noticed she was missing about 5 minutes after they had put her down and were able to find her.

I just don't see negligence in the information at hand. It will be interesting to see if anyone is charged with anything or if Child Protective Services will find negligence.

 

[narlacat]

You're still good with me! lol....but why grandpa??

lol

I'll try to make the connection.....because Grandpa molests grand daughter?

I think that's what Janet might be alluding to

 

[txsvicki]

I say this 20 year old mother needs to get out of her grandparents home and get into her own place to live and put her child into daycare. The grandparents deserve to enjoy their pool and their dogs and their own life without having to watch a child every day of their remaining life. I hope the grandparents don't end up having to raise the child like I've had to do with my grandkids because there's no way I would ever put up my pool right now because I have one that would be trying to sneak outside for a swim even with a fence or alarms. He'd just disable the alarms.

 

[Taximom]

Three of my four were/are adventurous and it's like a prison around here because the youngest still is. Anyway, here's an update:
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/96336
Family removes doggie door.

 

[southcitymom]

Thanks for that update - it gives more information about what happened and it also sounds like the little girl is doing fine.

It doesn't sound like the caretakers are being charged with any crime though the case has been referred to CPS since this is the second such incident. I think that's appropriate.

My prayers for this family that they can get a handle on this and not have to go through it again.

 

[sherri79]

you put up a fence and then put a doggy door in the fence??? i thought it meant a doggy door in the house til the update. so mom was home and the child got out of the house then went in the doggy door in the fence to reach the pool. my son was a escape artist from the moment labor was over. child locks that my daughter still could not defeat at 4 he figured out as soon as he could crawl. it was a fight to stay 1 step ahead of him. i did it and would do it again. he was worth it. my house may not look pretty with all the extra locks on stuff but he was safe. when you have a child and a pool and a accident how on earth can you not have a pool alarm???

 

[Amraann]

I'm not going to be popular for this one, but my first thought after reading that newspaper article was 'someone needs to check this grandpa out'.

why?
I guess I am curious as to what brought you to that conclusion?

 

[JanetElaine]

You're still good with me! lol....but why grandpa??

Because it keeps being the grandpa that finds her, and every time the rescuers arrive he's there doing CPR.... I know it is far fetched and the guy is probably good as gold, I just got 'visions' of a grandparent's Munchausen by Proxy syndrome.