If your little one loves bath time, he or she will love splashing around in the giant tub we call a kiddie pool. With these simple tips, your baby can play safe and cool off in a plastic or inflatable kiddie pool well into toddlerhood.

1. Protect babies from the sun with age-appropriate, high SPF sunscreen, a hat, and a swim shirt. You could also place the pool in the shade to further protect them from the sun and prevent overheating.

2. Use fresh, clean water every time you use the pool. Remember, kiddie pools aren’t equipped with filters or chemical treatments that kill bacteria.

3. Rinse the pool after each use and wipe it down with disinfectant.

4. Do not let kids drink the water. If your child is old enough to drink water, provide a bottle or sippy cup to help them stay hydrated. Don’t let the mouthpiece get in the pool water.

5. Carry your kids or have them wear slip-on shoes to and from the pool to keep their feet clean. This also protects them from stepping on something sharp in your yard.

6. Give children a bath before they get in the kiddie pool. It seems counterintuitive, but good hygiene prevents bacteria from spreading in untreated water.

7. Make sure they use the potty before play time. Encourage bathroom breaks. If your child is in diapers, make sure they are wearing watertight swim diapers.

8. Remember children (and adults, for that matter) can drown in shallow water. Supervise children around water at all times.

9. Store the pool and pool toys in a safe place to prevent damage to the pool. You don’t want brittle plastic, or for the pool to deflate during play time. Proper storage prevents drowning, too. Leaving toys in the water can lead to children deciding to play in the pool by themselves.

10. As with bath water, check the temperature to make sure it’s not too hot or cold. Hoses left out in the sun will run hot at first before they start spraying cold water. Babies and young children can’t regulate their body temperatures as well as we do, so don’t let it get too cold.

Kiddie pools are inexpensive. They provide relief in the hot summer months, and an opportunity for you to practice pool safety with very young children.