Thanks everyone for the tips. If I were buying new, I might not select this model for a few reasons, but since the deal too good to pass up, I am considering the one I linked.

I looked at the specs and it is only 40" high, which would mean the top step would be only 2 inches under the lip, but it is actaully shorter the other one linked in this thread (which is 42").

It does have me a little puzzled by stating it is good for pools 48"-52" deep. I guess that just assumes you want the first step to be 8-12" below the deck. Whereas the 42" high steps are marketed for pools 42" deep. I guess just different schools of thought.

Has anyone heard of a sort of table, or platform that you could throw into the shallow end for little ones?

Thanks.