Baby Fence

[sgtb1]

I have had good recomendations for the
Katch-a-kid safety net. It was going to be about the same cost for us as one of the black mesh net type fences.

we have one scheduled to be installed in about 3 weeks I'll have to let you know. It looks a lot better than a fence to me since it is more like a total barrier.

They also sell the mesh type fences that are suppose to be hard to climb.

http://www.advanced-pool-covers.com/
or
http://houston.babyzone.com/linkinfo...03761&prid=676

[sleater]

sgt post prompted me to add a post related to safety winter covers
we got something similar to the link below
safe for the dogs and for baby
these things are expensive but excellent

http://www.inyopools.com/category_covers_safety.aspx

[CarlD]

You absolutely do not want to cheat or cut corners on your fence or gate.

Pools are dangerous and, as Ben says, full of the deadliest pool chemical of all....water.

I am very leery of those netting fences--they can be cut easily and scissors are everywhere. Just my opinion.

[sb2323]

We got our first pool when our kids were 1, 3, and 6. We're on our second pool now and the kids are 3, 4, and 7. On both pools we had a 4' wrought iron fence installed around it, with a key lock. I don't think 3' is sufficient. We had them powder coated a dark brown color, as we find it not as harsh as the black. You can get them coated any color you want. The powder coating is much more durable than the paint, and doesn't chip/peel. The whole fence, around pool and spa, ran us about $5k. That included custom fitting it around the curves and hand-welding each individual picket. They bolt the fence sections directly into the concrete, and it would be simple to unbolt them and fill in the holes if you (or future owners) decide somewhere along the line that it's not needed anymore.

At some point your daughter and/or friends, siblings will want to play in the backyard and you will not want to supervise them every minute. You never know what kids (especially other people's kids!) will do, so pay the extra money now and get yourself a fence that they cannot sabotage!

IMO the pool needs to be secured as soon as your child is mobile. Definitely get something around that pool now, even the most diligent parents can get distracted (pulling a few weeds, winding up the hose, etc.) and it's just not worth the risk. "Just a second" can turn into a couple minutes before you know it, and that's all it takes. And swim lessons are important and good, but ask any lifeguard/EMT and they will tell you that even excellent swimmers, especially children, can panic in water over their heads, not to mention leg cramps, etc. My husband's cousin is a firefighter and he said children have drowned in water *where they could stand*. They just panicked and didn't have the presence of mind to stand up.

[CarlD]

A 3' fence is not code. 4' is code. AG pools don't have the same rules--if your steps/ladder is code (self-closing) then the fence ON TOP OF THE AG POOL can be 3'.

It's all about access. My pool is AG, but because you access it off the deck, I did it to IG code on the fencing and gate.

[sleater]

A 3' fence is not code. 4' is code.

again, we have a 4' fence around the yard
the baby fence is for inside the yard, to separate the pool from the rest of the yard

re: 3' not being sufficient --> please explain why 3 feet is insufficient.
my thinking is if they can climb a 3 ft fence they can climb a 4ft fence no?
also, by the time they can climb a fence they should be swimming like "fish" anyways?
also, we'd create a strict set of rules regarding the pool area and no fence climbing would be part of those rules.

ultimately, isn't conscious supervision is the most important thing?

[sleater]

sgt
just watched the catch a kid video
it looks cumbersome and i wouldn't trust it alone as displayed in the video
i'd bet it'd lose tension within a summer or two

guess ultimately, i don't like the solution to be something a kid can crawl on above the water -- inevitably it'll become a toy ...

i think that thing would scare me.

jmho

[leejp]

I'll install myself to save some $$$ (looks straightforward enough).

http://www.cantar.com/product.asp?ProdID=8
http://www.safetyguardfence.com/

Available here:

http://diypoolfence.webdirectbrands.com/

http://cgi.ebay.com/SAFETYGUARD-Safe...QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/SWIMMING-POOL-FE...QQcmdZViewItem

I actually already have a fence around my backyard. This fence will go around the pool only for additional protection. Pending configuration, It'll be $1000-1500 for my 18x36 IG.

If anyone has a better suggestion/prices... let me know!

[sb2323]

Sgtb1: How often do you use your pool? We are usually in and out of ours at least a couple times a day. Just wondering how easy it would be to put the cover back on every time?

[sgtb1]

first in response to Sleater's comment: "just watched the catch a kid video
it looks cumbersome and i wouldn't trust it alone as displayed in the video
i'd bet it'd lose tension within a summer or two

guess ultimately, i don't like the solution to be something a kid can crawl on above the water -- inevitably it'll become a toy ..."

here is what they say about that:
"4. What happens if my child falls or crawls onto the Katchakid?
The Katchakid serves as a barrier between the child and the water. As long as the net is in good condition, properly positioned and tensioned, the net will support the weight of a young child near the pool's edge. Katchakid's unique mesh size has a dual action: small enough to prevent a toddler's head from penetrating the net while simultaneously large enough to discourage movement. Most children will find the Katchakid uncomfortable and abrasive to move on, which will deter any further crawling on the net."

--http://www.advanced-pool-covers.com/faq.html#2

My parents had one of the green "winter" covers it was really hard to get on and off. It was usually the "chore of the spring" (and fall) to take it off and put it on. This one however is suppose to be able to go on in about 8 minutes and off in 5 - at least that's what they say.

They have some interesting points about using covers rather than fences on their site also:

http://www.advanced-pool-covers.com/net.html

and they claim it has been uv treated to last up to 8 years or so.
"14. How long can I expect my Katchakid to last?
We would estimate that a Katchakid that has been treated with a reasonable amount of care would last an average of eight years" - also from the faq section

In answer to your question about how often we use the pool, - I've only been in it twice, but we bought the house in Oct of last year and the water was to cold to swim, since that time I've just been watching it turn green while we are having to drain it and get the copeing and tile replaced. They're working on it this week.

I expect that we'll be using it a lot in the summer after it's fixed and filled back up. This net system was explained to me as a minor inconvience like a car seat... it takes a little time to get right at first but is just something that you have to be willing to use considering the potential outcome otherwise. One lady told me that she was able to remove and instal the net by herself while pregnant.

We have it scheduled to be installed sometime in the next few weeks, it takes them about 4 hrs to drill the holes for the anchor points.

I believe that it has a 5 year warranty, as long as my dog's don't chew on it!
(small sections of it can apparently be repaired but it isn't warrantied)

Like I said we'll have to just let you know later, in a month or so how good it works first hand.

I think that for our pool which is roughly 18'X36' (about 95' perimeter) with a few curve and all it was about $2K the mesh fences that we looked at were about the same amount after instalation and all. They do free estimates you just have to fax them a paper from the web site with the measurements on it. They may not be in all states, though you'd just have to call and ask. But we have also been putting extra locks on the doors going to the back yard and all so that our <1yr old can grow up safe.

The comment about not making it over 3 yrs but by the grace of God is probably true also... Parenting is hard work! but then most of you on this thread probably know that already. We seem like we're always looking back seeing "near miss" opportunities for injury.

I don't know if it's for everyone, but we'll see soon how it is for us. There's always a chance that it's a "lemmon." (as it's used for cars that never work right)

Regards.