There are some blog posts I wish I never had to write.

This summer, a fellow mother and beloved blogger lost her son in a drowning accident. While I do not—and hope never to—know the kind of pain Emilie is experiencing, I do intimately know what it's like to be the person no one would trade places with. The family everyone prays for but no one wants to become. When tragedy knocks, it doesn’t just break the door down—it levels the entire house.

I think about water safety often, not only because I’m a mother of two little girls, but because my husband, Shep, is a pediatrician. It’s something he has drilled into my head again and again—not out of fear, but out of fact. And here’s the fact: Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4.

That statistic haunts me.

Even more chilling? Most drownings happen during non-swim times. In the blink of an eye, during a BBQ, a birthday party, or even when you're unloading groceries from the car, a child can slip away unnoticed and silently fall into a pool, lake, or even a bathtub.

I’ve found myself haunted lately by the episode of "The Pitt” where the eldest daughter drowns while saving her little sister. I watched it and immediately thought of Nola and Stevie—of the way Nola instinctively takes care of her baby sister, how she's nicknamed her “little.” The thought of her making that kind of choice made me physically sick. That scene has played in my head more times than I care to admit.

So please, I’m begging you: make water safety a priority in your home. Not just when you're near the beach or pool, but always. Here are some life-saving tips you can implement today:

Water Safety Tips Every Parent Should Know

1. Assign a Water Watcher

Designate one adult whose sole job is to watch the kids—no scrolling, no chatting, no distractions. Rotate every 15–20 minutes.

2. Install Physical Barriers

Four-sided fencing around home pools reduces the risk of drowning by 83%. Make sure gates are self-latching and climb-resistant.

3. Ditch Floaties as a Safety Device

Arm floaties and inner tubes are toys, not life-saving devices. Instead, invest in a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for children who can't swim confidently.

4. Learn CPR

If a child is pulled from the water, every second counts. Knowing how to perform CPR can double or triple their chances of survival. Check your local Red Cross for affordable certification courses.

5. Enroll in Swim Lessons Early

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends swim lessons starting at age 1, depending on the child’s readiness. Lessons teach them how to float, tread, and get to the pool’s edge.

6. Close Toilet Lids and Empty Kiddie Pools

Young children can drown in as little as one inch of water. Always drain backyard kiddie pools when not in use and keep bathroom doors shut.

7. Educate Older Kids Too

Teach them to never swim alone, not to dive in shallow water, and how to call for help if they see someone struggling.

Free Resources to Help You Get Started

• CPR & First Aid Classes – American Red Cross
• Water Watcher Tags (Free Printable)
• Swim Lesson Locators – YMCA
• Infant Swim Resource (ISR) – Survival swim lessons for infants and toddlers

From One Parent to Another

If this post makes you uncomfortable, that’s okay. It should. These conversations aren’t easy, but neither is living with the regret of what we could’ve done differently. I write this not from a place of judgment, but from love, fear, and a fierce desire to keep your babies safe.

Please don’t assume it couldn’t happen to you. Don’t assume someone else is watching. Don’t wait until summer ends.

Water doesn’t discriminate. But knowledge saves lives.

Hold your babies close,

Ryan

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