Hey everyone, the other day I was sitting around thinking what could I do with this kiddie pool when the summers over? So I came up with a few ideas and wrote an article about it. Here it is:

                                                        Other Uses For Kiddie Pools

               

                Kids love to splash and play in kiddie pools, especially during the hot summer months. But what else can you do with one of those small inflatable pools or hard plastic kiddie pools?

                The biggest use for kiddie pools beyond kids playing in them is for pets. I have never seen a dog that didn’t want to get in the kiddie pool with the kids. If the kids are done with it why not let man’s best friend have a turn. It is a great way to help keep dogs cool in the hot summer months. There was even a story that went viral a couple months ago about a lady giving away free kiddie pools to less fortunate folks with dogs to help keep them cool during the summer.  I saw one golden retriever mix that simply refused to get out of the pool and actually laid in it for several hours. This only becomes a problem if the dogs nails aren’t trimmed because they might puncture the pool.  

                Not only is a great way to cool the dogs down it is also a perfect means for giving them a bath. Once you have them in there just soap them up and hose them down. This also helps contain the soapy water and keep the yard from getting as muddy.

                Kiddie pools can also come in handy in the winter, they are great to make ball pits out of. Just inflate the kiddie pool in the living room and fill with plastic balls for hours of enjoyment. You can even purchase phthalate free plastic balls for the ball pit. This idea seems to work the best with kiddie pools that have higher sides to help contain the balls.

                Another inside idea is to fill the kiddie pool with stuffed animals and let your kids jump in it. This is always fun and you don’t have to worry about the kids getting hurt since their essentially jumping into soft stuffing. Your little one can even have an imaginary pool party with the animals.

                Little boys love to use empty inflated pools to build a fort with. Flip the pool over and use a couple couch cushions or pillows to help elevate it a bit with a blanket stretched over for good measure and you’re in business.

                If you have a hard plastic kiddie pool that you kids have grown out of you could make a raised garden bed out of it. Just poke a few holes in the bottom of the kiddie pool and fill the inside with gardening soil. Now plant your crop, water and watch it grow. Not only is this up cycling but it also is very handy if you don’t have a big enough yard for an in ground garden.  

By:

Andrew M. Geeza

kiddiepoolsdirect@yahoo.com 

www.kiddiepoolsdirect.com

Inflatable pools, Kiddie Pools, Inflatable Pool Toys & More

I just wanted to highlight an excellent little kiddie pool this week. I actually have this one for my own daughter and she love's it!

Mushroom Baby Pool

View Cart (0) | Checkout

View Images

Price: $16.99 Availability: in stock Prod. Code: 57407EP

The inflatable Mushroom Baby Pool is ready for a summer filled with outdoor splashing fun!

The Mushroom Baby Pool has an inflated size of approximately 40" wide x 35" high (102cm x 89cm).
 

Baby's own pool with built-in mushroom sun shade to help protect child from the sun.
 

The Mushroom Baby Pool features a soft cushioned inflatable floor for baby's comfort.
 

This baby pool has cute little inflatable bug and mushroom attachments for baby to play.
 

The Mushroom Baby Pool has an approximate water capacity of 12 gallons (45 L) at 80% full.
 

This baby pool is recommended for children ages 1-3 years old.
 

The Mushroom Baby Pool is easy to transport or store when not in use. Take this portable baby pool to the beach or anyplace else. Deflate and fold for compact storage or travel.
 

This baby pool comes with an easy to use repair patch.

You can purchase this pool at:  http://www.kiddiepoolsdirect.com/catalog/item/8792998/9884858.htm

Andrew M. Geeza

kiddiepoolsdirect@yahoo.com 

www.kiddiepoolsdirect.com

Inflatable pools, Kiddie Pools, Inflatable Pool Toys & More

Now that we are getting into the dog days of summer I wanted to highlight one of our kiddie pools that is very popular for todollers this week:

Jungle Fun Inflatable Baby Pool

View Images

Price: $14.99 Availability: in stock Prod. Code: 59411EP

The Jungle Fun Kids Inflatable Pool measures approximately 44" x 10" (112cm x 25cm) when fully inflated.

It's safety first with the Jungle Fun Kids Inflatable Pool; constructed of a quality 8ga (0.20mm) vinyl plastic material, this inflatable kids pool is certified child safe and phthalate-free.

Designed with 2 air filled rings, the Jungle Fun Kids Inflatable Pool has an approximate water capacity of 26 gallons (98 L) at 80% full.

The Jungle Fun Kids Inflatable Pool is recommended for children ages 3 years and older.

The cute jungle animal graphics make this inflatable baby pool a fun way for your kids to stay cool this summer.

This inflatable kids pool is easy to store when not in use; simply deflate and fold for compact storage.

Every Jungle Fun Kids Inflatable Pool includes an easy to use repair patch.

This Pool packs up small so it's great for taking on the go. 

Andrew M. Geeza

kiddiepoolsdirect@yahoo.com 

www.kiddiepoolsdirect.com

Inflatable pools, Kiddie Pools, Inflatable Pool Toys & More

Hello again. I came across another article that I thought you guys would be interested in, it is from the babycenter website I have pasted it here below:

Water safety

Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board

1

In this article

• How can I keep my child safe in the pool or at a lake?
• Should my child take swimming lessons?
• What should I do if my child slips underwater?

Children love to play in and around water, but no matter where you find it – in a bucket, bowl, toilet, tub, sink, puddle, or pool – water is dangerous. And although you've probably heard this more than once, it's worth repeating: A child can drown in less than an inch of water.

To help protect your child from accidental drowning, make sure his outdoor play area doesn't have even a small source of water. If your child is intentionally playing around water (like at a park with an area for water play), don't take your eyes off him for a minute.

And at a pool or the beach, it's fine to let him splash and play to his heart's content – as long as you supervise and stay close.

How can I keep my child safe in the pool or at a lake?

• Be prepared and take a child CPR course.
• Have your child wear a personal flotation device (PFD) that fits properly and is approved by the U.S Coast Guard. Never rely on inflatable toys (like water wings) to keep your child safe in water.
• Before you decide to swim at a public pool or lake, make sure it has lifeguards on duty, is equipped with rescue equipment in good condition, and has a readily accessible phone for emergencies. Take your cell phone along with you too.
• If you're swimming in your home pool, bring your cordless phone outside so you won't be tempted to run into the house to answer a call.
• At home, remove toys from the water and deck of your pool so they don't entice your child to play in or around the pool when you're not looking.
• If you have a permanent pool, make sure it's completely enclosed with a fence that's at least 4 feet high. It should also have a self-closing, self-latching gate that opens away from pool. Always lock the gate after each use, and make sure there's nothing your child can climb on to get over the pool's fence.
• For home pools and spas, make sure the drain has an anti-entrapment cover or other drain safety system, such as an automatic pump shut-off. Pool drains have been named one of the top five hidden home hazards by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The suction from a pool drain can be strong enough to hold even an adult underwater, pulling on the hair or on the body and forming a seal. Missing or faulty covers often cause the problem, and an upgrade may save a life.
• Drain inflatable or plastic wading pools after each use, and store in an upright position.

See our tips to keep your child safe in the sun.
 

Should my child take swimming lessons?

The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that a couple of small studies have found that swimming lessons for children ages 1 to 4 may lower the risk of drowning. But swimming lessons aren't a reliable way to protect your child (and they aren't recommended for children younger than 1). There's simply no substitute for adult supervision when it comes to pool safety.

And some kids may not be developmentally ready for swim lessons until they are at least 4 years old. Whether swimming lessons are right for your child depends on how often he's around water and his physical abilities.

If you decide to enroll your child in a swimming class, find a program that follows the national YMCA guidelines for swim instruction. Among other things, these guidelines advise instructors not to submerge young children and encourage parents to participate in lessons.

And as soon as you start bringing your child to the pool or lake, begin teaching simple water safety rules including:

• Don't go near water without an adult.
• Never dunk another child.
• Don't run on the pool deck or boat dock.
• Always jump in feet first.

Teaching water safety early makes sure your child is familiar with the basics of water safety as he gets older and learns to swim.

What should I do if my child slips underwater?

Whenever your child is in the water, it's extremely important not to leave him unattended, even for a second. If he slips under for a moment while playing in the pool, he'll probably come up coughing and sputtering.

But if he's been underwater for longer than that, you'll need to move calmly and quickly. Follow these steps:

• Lift your child out of the water.
• Gently tap or shake your child to see if he responds. If he's unresponsive, isn't breathing, or has no pulse, immediately start child CPR.
• If someone is nearby, shout for help and tell them to call 911.
• Don't stop doing CPR until your child begins breathing on his own again or until emergency personnel arrive.
• If your child has come close to drowning, immediately take him to the emergency room for a complete medical evaluation. Even if he appears fine, he may have inhaled water and stopped breathing, which could cause lung or nervous system damage.

Although it's unlikely you'll ever need to do CPR on your child, it's wise to learn how to do it, just in case. For more information, see our illustrated guide to CPR.

Thanks for coming by and check back for more updates.

Andrew M. Geeza

kiddiepoolsdirect@yahoo.com 

www.kiddiepoolsdirect.com

Inflatable pools, Kiddie Pools, Inflatable Pool Toys & More

Hey everyone just returned from a great trip to the beach with my family and must say it was hot but we had a great time. On a pool note one thing I noticed was a number of families that had very young children used small inflatable pools under their umbrella to keep the kids occupied and cool. This got me thinking which one of our pools would be good for this and I came up with this one:

Inflatable Dolphin Baby Pool

View Cart (0) | Checkout

View Images

Price: $18.99 Availability: in stock Prod. Code: 57400EP

The Intex Dolphin Baby Pool is the perfect pool for children to splash and play with a fun and friendly dolphin pal.

• This inflatable baby pool measures approximately 35" x 21" (90cm x 53cm) when inflated.
   
• The Dolphin baby Pool features a soft inflatable cushioned bottom that baby will love.
   
• This baby pool has a 15 gallon capacity and a 6 inch wall height.
   
• The Dolphin Baby Pool comes with a repair patch.

The great thing about this pool is that it has a small whale and play bar with sliding inflatable characters to help keep your kids entertained. It's smaller size is perfect for keeping the pool in the shade of the umbrella. So next time your going to the beach with the little ones think about bringing this pool along with you. Thanks for coming by talk to you soon.

Andrew M. Geeza

kiddiepoolsdirect@yahoo.com 

www.kiddiepoolsdirect.com

Inflatable pools, Kiddie Pools, Inflatable Pool Toys & More

Found this helpfull article on repairing a hole in inflatable pool floats:

Inflatable Pool Float: How to Repair a Hole

By

DoItYourself Staff

what you'll need

• Extra patch that came with the float or duct tape
• Super Glue
• Gloves
• Marker or crayon
• Scissors

While everyone enjoys a dip in the pool on a hot summers day, there is nothing like a hole in your inflatable pool float to ruin your fun. Usually made of vinyl, inflatable pool rafts and toys are easy to move around and play with in the swimming pool, but their lightweight construction and design make them susceptible to tears that can reduce their lifespan.

Follow these steps to repair a hole in your float with things you already have around the house, and get it back in the pool instead of the garbage bin.  

Step 1 - Identify the Hole

Submerge your float in a bathtub or pool and look for escaping bubbles. These will indicate the exact spot of the leak.

Another alternative to this is to spray a mixture of water and soap directly on the surface of the float, covering one section at a time. The appearance of soap bubbles will indicate the spot where the hole is. Draw a circle around the hole using a marker or crayon.

Step 2 - Temporarily Tape on the Hole

Dry your float completely and blow it as much as possible before putting a small piece of duct tape over the hole. This is a temporary fix to the leak until you apply the permanent patch.  

Step 3 - Glue the Hole

Cut the patch or a piece of duct tape to cover the area of the leak completely, allowing ¼-inch overlay around the edges. This will provide more surface area for it to hold. Apply superglue to one side of the patch or duct tape, completely covering it in an even layer. Do not glue just the edges as it will leak.

Place the patch or duct tape, glue-side down, over the hole already covered with a piece of tape. Apply even pressure for a minute so the glue sets in evenly. 

Step 4 - Allow to Dry

Allow the glue to dry completely before using the inflatable pool float it in the water again.

Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/inflatable-pool-float--how-to-repair-a-hole#b#ixzz2YtzltzIu

Andrew M. Geeza

kiddiepoolsdirect@yahoo.com 

www.kiddiepoolsdirect.com

Inflatable pools, Kiddie Pools, Inflatable Pool Toys & More

Check out this great article about Inflatable Pools i found on the web today.


Inflatable Pools: Worth The Money?

• FAMILY & PARENTING
• AUGUST 5, 2010
• BY: LAUREN BEILMAN
• Subscribe

0Email

Toys, Games & Gear newsletter

Fun! Even for adults!

Photo credit: 

personal photo

A lot of families do not have the space for an underground pool or a big above ground pool, let alone the money for one!  There is an affordable option, and although it's not as grand as an underground pool, it can still be fun for the kids! 

Inflatable pools can be found in several shapes and sizes, and for many age groups!  For the purpose of this article, inflatable pool means the pools in which the entire side is inflatable, not the inflatable ring pools that rise as you fill them.  There are Inflatable pools small enough (and shallow enough) for infants to play in all the way up to pools big enough (and deep enough) for an adult to lay down!  Inflatable pools can hold up to 461 gallons of water!  For those of you can't picture that...a pool that could hold that amount of water, for example, would be a 10' wide, 25" high, octagon shaped pool.  This size pool is wide enough for an adult to lay down and for kids around the age of 10 to play in.  Now take in mind that these pools are inflatable, the average 10 year old cannot jump on the sides of this pool without the side collapsing and water draining out.  The good news is, if this happens, you can just refill it!  Most inflatable pools also come with a patch, for which you can use to patch a hole.  Some inflatable pools also come with "shade covers".  This you will mostly see on infant pools.  Other inflatable pools are more of a play area than a pool, with little slides, spraying water, etc.

Setting up and taking care of an inflatable pool is relatively easy!  Use a hand held electric pump to inflate, then fill to the fill line.  Once your pool is filled, it will need to warm up a bit before anyone will want to swim in it.  Usually, a day in the sun will do the trick!  Using a pool skimmer will help to get leafs and bugs out of the pool.  Once people start using the pool, you will need to pay attention to the water.  If the water starts to look a little murky, you will need to drain the water, wash the inside of the pool out (using a stiff spray on your hose usually works), and refill.  Every couple of times you change the water, you may need to clean the inside of the pool with a cleaner to remove algae build-up (you won't see this algae but the bottom of the pool will feel slimy).  Some inflatable pools come with a drain plug in the bottom of the pool, some do not.  If your pool does not have a drain plug, use a small piece of hose to siphon the water out.  This will empty the pool down to about 2" of water.  This you will have to empty by lifting the pool from one end until the water drains out the other side.  It is not recommended to cover a pool of this size.  A cover will hold the heat in which will cause algae to form quicker. 

Remember before you start filling your pool with water, you need to have it placed exactly where you want the pool to sit.  If you are putting the pool on a deck, it is important to know that most decks are only equip to hold a pool with ~360 gallons of water.  If you are putting your pool in the grass, a ground cloth is recommended.  This will double the protection of the bottom of your pool.  Setting your pool in the grass will kill the grass!  When the summer is over, make sure your pool is COMPLETELY dry before storing it!  If there is any moisture left in the pool when it is stored, mildew will form.

Inflatable pools can be found for $25 and up.  A 10' square inflatable pool which hold ~360 gallons of water will run you about $35.  Inflatable play centers can run you up to ~$400.  Take in mind the play centers may not be durable enough for big kids!

For a regular inflatable pool, suitable for play up to the age of ~10, $35 is well worth it!  A+

For an inflatable play center, suitable for play up to the age of ~4, $400 is a little steep, but worth the fun that will be had, as long as no big kids or adults try to use it! A+

Comments and questions are always  welcome!!  The_La@comcast.net

Also, check out my artwork at www.artbyla.com

Andrew M. Geeza

kiddiepoolsdirect@yahoo.com 

www.kiddiepoolsdirect.com

Inflatable pools, Kiddie Pools, Inflatable Pool Toys & More