Pool Safety and Villa Life: What to Ask Your “Nanny Near Me” in Bali

The dream of a Bali villa holiday often involves watching your kids splash happily in a private pool while you relax with a cold drink. The nightmare scenario is the exact opposite.

Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death for young children in tourist destinations like Bali. The primary reason is the architectural style of Balinese villas, where living areas are completely open-air, leading directly into an unfenced swimming pool just meters away. A toddler can wander from the sofa to the water in ten seconds flat.

Hiring a nanny is a wonderful way to get extra help, but it is not a “set and forget” safety solution. You need to have a very frank, specific conversation to gauge their capability and establish ironclad rules.

Here is the reality check and the script you need for that conversation.

The Cultural Reality Check: Do Balinese Nannies Swim?

Before you start interviewing, manage your own expectations.

• Swimming is not a universal skill: In many Western countries, childhood swimming lessons are a rite of passage. This is not historically true in Bali. While younger generations and those working in tourism are more likely to swim, many older Balinese women from rural villages—the demographic often working as nannies—cannot swim confidently, let alone perform a rescue in deep water.

• The ocean vs. the pool: Historically, the ocean is viewed by the Balinese as a place of powerful spiritual forces, used for ceremonies and cleansing, not necessarily for recreation. A nanny who grew up near the beach may still not be a strong swimmer.

• The “Yes” Culture: Balinese culture is incredibly polite and agreeable. If you ask, “Can you swim?”, a nanny might say “Yes” because she can paddle in the shallow end, or simply because she doesn’t want to disappoint you. You need to ask better questions to get the real answer.

The Interview Script: The Hard Questions

Do not rely on a CV that says “swimming.” You need to have this conversation face-to-face, ideally at the villa with the pool right there.

1. The Ability Question (Ask This First)

Don’t ask “Can you swim?”. Instead, ask a scenario-based question that requires more than a yes/no answer.

• Ask this: “If my child falls into the deep end of this pool, are you confident you can jump in and get them out safely?”

• Watch for: Hesitation, looking away, or a nervous laugh. A confident swimmer will say “Yes, absolutely” immediately. Any hesitation is a “no.”

2. The Comfort Question

If they pass the first question, gauge their actual willingness to be in the water.

• Ask this: “Are you happy to get in the pool and swim with the kids today, or do you prefer to watch from the side?”

• Why: Many nannies prefer not to get their hair wet or don’t have swimwear. Knowing this helps you plan. If she prefers to watch from the side, you know her role is “external lifeguard,” not “in-water playmate.”

The Safety Protocols: Setting the Rules

Once you know her ability, you must set unbreakable rules. This is where you take leadership.

Protocol A: If the nanny CANNOT swim confidently.

This is not a dealbreaker, but it requires a strict boundary.

• The Rule: “Because you are not a strong swimmer, there is a strict rule: No swimming when parents are not here. If we go out for dinner, the children must stay inside the villa away from the pool area. You must not take them into the water.”

Protocol B: If the nanny CAN swim confidently.

• The Rule: “When the children are in the pool, you must be in the water with them, within arm’s reach at all times. Not sitting on the edge, not looking at your phone. You are their lifeguard. Eyes on them 100% of the time.”

The Ultimate Safety Net: Install a Pool Fence

Do not rely solely on a human being—parent or nanny—for pool safety. Humans get distracted.

The single best thing you can do for your peace of mind is to rent a temporary pool fence for the duration of your stay.

• How to do it: There are several reputable companies in Bali (e.g., Bali Baby Hire, Bali Pool Fence Hire) that will come to your villa and install a bamboo or metal fence with a child-safe gate before you arrive.

• The cost: It is a small fraction of your holiday cost for priceless peace of mind.

• The benefit: It creates a physical barrier, turning the villa back into a safe zone where your toddler can wander freely without you having a heart attack every time they move toward the door.