that the pool may refuse to let you take a buggy in??

[macdoodle]

My elder DD1 (age 6) has swimming lesson in a newly built pool once a week...recently they have insisted we remove shoes (outdoor ones assumably as have seen many in flip flops etc) before entering changing area and pool area.....there are many notices, a roped off small area to take shoes off and patrolled by many staff - ok they say for H+S and now in summer not such a big deal (though will be pain in winter with boots and jeans on).....
Today I noticed a small line on notice saying that this extended to not allowing buggies in either - now this WILL cause me a problem (and other mums too I am sure)...I have DD2 age 4 months and draped on buggy are usually coats, bags, swim stuff, change bags...oh yes and the sleeping small baby!
SO it would involve me somehow removing all stuff (unless I want it nicked), getting everything into locker and getting baby out and then get DD1 changed whilst holding said baby, walking DD1 down to lesson, walk back out (is MUCH too hot in there to sit with baby am afraid) and then same in reverse.....bloody hell we just make it after school as it is don't much fancy all this hassle as well.....
Now to be fair no one has said anything yet to me (I took buggy in today)...but noticed row of buggies left outside although one other mum had also taken buggy in....luckily my 6 year old is very good and responsible so could be left watching baby and buggy whilst I packed everything into a locker then went back to get them but if she was smaller and needed help changing etc this would be an impossible task...
So AIBU for being pissed off??

[BalloonSlayer]

YANBU for being pissed off, but neither are they BU for trying to keep the poolside clean by banning buggies. My buggy wheels are disgusting at the moment.

Having said that, surely you should be able to bring the buggy into the changing area.

This sort of thing is why my kids can't swim as well as other peoples - it was just too bloody hard to go swimming with two small children. I don't know how other people managed it.

[BalloonSlayer]

PS Wouldn't it be nice if they would provide their own clean-wheeled buggies you could use? In my dreams eh?

[fishie]

pushchairs aside, do they really expect people in full outdoor clothes to take off their shoes and socks then go and get changed? what if someone needs to sit down to remove shoes?

they are mad, quite mad. poolside is one thing but what on earth is a changing room for if not to GET CHANGED IN????

[Charmander]

our local pool has the no shoes rule which i think ina good idea. They have benches for you to sit down on to take shoes off. The floor of the changing area is wet because people when they come out of the pool, put wet costumes down on the floor etc.

Can you put baby in a sling? Our pool has some playpen type things you could put a child in and the family changing rooms have tables/ pull down changing thingies to put a child on/ srap them into.

I would ask someone at reception for advice and stat your problem.

[alittleone2]

Message withdrawn

[Chequers]

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[bozza]

TBH I think you are making a bit of a big deal over this. When DS was 6 he was quite capable of going into the changing room himself and getting changed for swimming lessons without any help from me. And when I used to have to take DD when she was a baby I stripped her off because I agree it is usually very hot for spectators.

[cupsoftea]

what about using a carseat like a maxicosi to put your baby in when dd1 is getting changed or a babysling and a rucksack with all your stuff?

[madmuggle]

You child is six! More than old enough to be dealing with this sort of thing on their own.

[mamablue]

YABU sorry. I can completely understand how tricky it is with baby and all your stuff etc. but there is a good reason for not allowing buggies in. The wheels are dirty, they go the same places shoes go! The very good reason shoes and buggies can not go into the pool area is because children can catch horrible diseases from contaminated water. Think about it, you would not put dirty shoes in your child's bathwater! It drives me mad when people do this at our pool even though signs clearly state you must leave them outside. Sorry but YABU.

[WestCountryLass]

Take baby in car seat and carry the stuff, have done that with my 3.

[wannaBe]

I can see their point tbh.

I'm not even allowed to take my guide dog into our pool's changing area because of h&s apparently. But having said that the staff have been great at accommodating this - they look after him in the office for me, and on the first occasion a member of staff came into the changing room with me to show me the layout etc and now I can navigate from the reception area to the changing room to the swimming pool very well on my own so it works fine.

And the staff have a dog to stroke for the duration of my swim .

[misdee]

yabu

[nametaken]

it sounds like an excellent opportunity to let your 6 year old dress themself. I notice people saying take the baby in a car seat but are you actually a car driver?

If not just let your child sort themself out - you can wait in the buggy area and help with hair combing if necessary.

[macdoodle]

oh FGS of course my 6 year old dresses and undresses herself, she even showers and washes her hair...BUT I am not prepared not to supervise her (not to make sure she is dressed properly I know she can do that) but she is still a little unaware of her own nakedness IYKWIM and sorry this is a HUGE pool with MIXED changing area so although there are seperate cubicles there are men and women about and I also need to make sure she actaully gets to lesson and doesn't diappear down one of many flumes and whirlpools...looks like I will have to better organised take less crap with and park buggy and carry baby even if it means waking her up...oh and I don't actually wheel the buggy into the water ....

[kslatts]

I can see their point really, we have the no shoes rule at our local pool and it always amazes me the amount of people who ignore it, it's not that difficult to take your shoes and socks off.

[JammyQueenOfTheSewers]

Our pool has the no shoes rule too (and rightly so I say) but they have some chairs at the entrance to the changing area to sit down if required while taking the off/putting them on, and it doesn't seem to be a problem even in Winter. We also have to leave buggies in the entrance to the building - not necessarily even within sight of the reception desk. Partly for this reason we bought a cheap little stroller, as I was unhappy leaving a pricey Phil & Ted unattended while I take DD swimming, but will take the risk with a cheapo one. Personally I think the chances of anyone actually taking it are minimal, but just wouldn't risk losing an expensive piece of kit. And it goes without saying the most valuable thing I leave on the pushchair is my old, old, jacket.

[mamablue]

You do not have to wheel the buggy into the water for germs to get into it. As with shoes, dirt, mud, germs etc. are tracked into the pool area where feet travelling over it then go into the water. The pool staff are following the legal health and safty precautions. I am sure you would be the first to complain if your 6 year old caught an eye infection or worse from the pool!

[TheFallenMadonna]

I like the no shoes/pushchairs rule. We have two local pools. One has the rule, one doesn't. You can really see the difference.

[misdee]

i have alweays left the buggy outside in the buggy area, so have never had the oppertunity to take it in.

i always travel lighter on pool days, one nappy for little one, just my purse, keys and phone shoved in small nappy bag, and one swim bag for all of us. then all you have to do is carry the baby in, after taking shoes off and shoving them under the buggy or in the bag.

[Wags]

Our local pool does not let buggies in. Most people leave them outside where there is space in the foyer area. We have to put blue plastic overshoe thingies (like blue plastic bags) over our shoes to go in, so there is no way they would let you take a buggy in. When I took DD swimming when DS was little I kept him in his car seat, so carried him from car to pool. Then I actually went in the water with DD whilst he sat in seat poolside. Bless him, he was an angel, it was only for 1/2hr though. It was difficult as he was soooo heavy and I do have a really bad back as well, but thats just how it was and I never really questioned it.