Natural Pool Care?

[Conteuse]

We've just got one of those small soft pools, about 10 ft. across by 3 ft. high. It's been filled, but we haven't put any chemicals into it yet.

My son practically lives in the pool all summer long, and I don't want him soaking in all that chlorine. Does anyone know any more natural alternatives to caring for a pool without spending a lot of money?

I know there's a method that uses some sort of hydrogen peroxide mixture, but I don't know much about it. Does anyone else know how to take care of a small, non-chlorine pool?

(My husband has even suggested dumping in several gallons of Epsom Salts, and making it a salty pool -- he says that would be relaxing, and at least nothing would grow in it!)

[jenji]

I don't care for a pool and don't know what else you'd use to get the balance, but I know on my huge bag of baking soda it says you can use it as an alkalinity increaser
I found this on poolsolutions.com after googling "baking soda pool care":
once you get your pH adjusted, borax tends to make it stay where it is. Unlike baking soda, which is also a buffer, once you add borax to a pool, it stays there. (The baking soda tends not to, or else to build up to excessive levels, for complicated reasons.)

However, when you first add it, it will raise the pH, A LOT! For this reason, it's a superior chemical for raising pool pH. Use it instead of pH UP (sodium carbonate, soda ash). If you are having problems with your pool akalinity being too high, you should always use borax instead of convential pH increaser