Help with steps!!!!

Please help...our stairs leak and we cannot afford new ones. We have an inground pool with the basic steps (fiberglass, plastic??) Anyway, I use the 'pool putty' that the shop gave us but it wears down quickly. I was needing to know if I could 'line' the step with outdoor carpet, bath mats, or something to help. Our kids stay on the steps constantly and the cracks are pretty large so any suggestions or comments will be appreciated. Oh, and I already know that I am 'cheap' so no need to comment on that.;)

you do know that those cracks can harm/slice their feet pretty easily don't you....
I would hazzard to guess your steps are fiberglass, if you don't mind pumping the pool down some, you could overlay them with some automotive fiberglass and if the cracks are not wide, you may get away with painting on several coats of resin without the fiberglass sheet. Sanding is recoomended to help the bond between the old and new material.
If the steps are plastic, there is something similar for plastics - a thick soupy coating you can also "paint" on, just not sure what teh name of it is.
If you want some grip, maybe rhino liner (made for protecting pick up truck beds) also paint on - comes in many wonderful colors - not cheap though but definitely cheaper than replacing steps.
In any case, most likely you would have to pump your pool down since none of tehse things would apply well under water.

I have a fiberglass pool and there is some kind of putty they use to fill in cracks and gouges in the gelcoat. You can call a dealer that sells fiberglass pools and they will probably be able to help you.