to think baby change cubicles are not there for extended mum-changing?

[Porcelain]

I go to a weekly baby swim session with DS who is 3 months old. He's the youngest there, there are 2 who are a bit bigger, and sitting unaided, the rest of the group are all toddlers who are walking confidently.

The swimming pool only has 3 cubicles in the change rooms with baby change tables. I am sure this is more than enough for standard swim session. I try to get there a bit early, so I can get in and out of the cubicle quickly, organise our stuff in the locker etc. I usually get out of the pool a bit early as DS has less staying power, and I try to be to be as quick as possible although I have to change myself in there, as there is nowhere else to put the baby! (no room for buggies and the floor is wet tiles)

Last week I came out early, but when I came out of the shower with DS, all 3 baby-change cubicles were occupied. I could see little feet on the floor (the doors are high, I wasn't lying on the floor stalking people, that would be wierd) and it was clear all 3 were occupied by mothers with toddlers. One was standing by the door, apparently waiting for his mother to get dressed.

Now I have never had a toddler, I don't know if there is some secret thing I don't understand. I can see that you might want to change their nappy on the table, and use the nappy bin, you might even want to dress them on the table I suppose (but isn't it easier with them standing?) I have no idea though, why it is necessary to occupy the cubicle beyond that when you know people with young babies are waiting. Me and DS, along with another mum and baby were waiting in wet towels getting cold. I ended up taking DS into a normal cubicle for a feed, and it took 15 minutes for the first of the todder mums to emerge. I'm so glad DS is such a milk monster as I doubt he would have had the patience otherwise.

I'm not really sure whether I should say something to the mums, or the pool staff. I was considering asking them if they could move a freestanding table from the communal change room (it's used by a school group at that time, so closed to the public) so that I could at least dry and dress the baby in the open area.

AIBU to think that the mothers of the older children could be using a standard cubicle, or at least dressing their child then moving to a standard cubicle?

[mendipgirl]

I have a toddler and would use one of those cubicles. At our swimming pool thay call them family changing rooms rather than baby changing rooms though.

I think YABU to expect people to use them to change their child and then move them, the child and all the stuff into another changing room to change themselves, that would be a lot of hassle and if the toddlers are anything like mine once the door is opened she would be off so way too much hassle.

They probably weren't aware you were waiting and I'm not sure why it is easier to change a toddler in a small changing room than it is a baby??

[Sullwah]

[Serendippy]

It should only take mum a few minutes to get dressed after toddler is dressed, would take much longer to move all the stuff and probably a few runs while trying to keep an eye on toddler. YABU (but I understand your frustration)

Could you do it the other way round, instead of getting there early get there a bit later, then stay in the pool with DC for an extra few minutes at the end so others will be nearly dressed by the time you get out?

[smellmycheese]

I have a 2 yr old, and i would also use one of those. They are called family changing rooms here too.

[bigbarnfarm]

Oh FGS stick a changing mat on the floor and get over yourself.

I NEVER say this, but PFB!

[Porcelain]

I am sure they know people are waiting, there is a class of 10 there, if they thought about it they would realise.

Getting a baby changed in those circumstances requires a change table. My baby can't stand up to be dried or dressed, he can't even sit reliably on my lap to be dressed. He can't stand to one side or sit on the bench while I dress. Without a table to put him down on I have to hold him all the time. It's not about the size of the cubicle, it's about the facilities. The other cubicles are a decent size, but they only have a narrow bench in there, DS would roll off if I laid him on it (I tried, I couldn't take my hand away)

[BornToFolk]

I have a three year old and I'd use them, even though he's out of nappies, as it's bigger. Squashing two of us into a normal sized cubicle is a challenge. As it is, I normally just use the communal area. And y eah, it's enough of a challenge getting us both dry and dressed without moving everything into a different cubicle half way through.

Did they know you were waiting? Did you try knocking and asking politely how long they'd be?

[theevildead2]

Yeah but what are they meant to do with the pram and all the other various crap they carry around with them?

[bigbarnfarm]

Put him on a fricking changing mat!

When I took my firstborn to water babies there were no changing tables and all of us new mothers had to lay our precious firstborns on the floor and nobody carped on about, nobody died, it was fine.

Christ.

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

YABU.

Toddlers in wet changing rooms can be tricky - they won't just stand still obediently waiting for their Mum to be ready.

Ime it's easier to get them and myself changed in a cubicle so they are contained!

Lots of toddlers still won't be potty trained so they will need nappies putting back on which is much easier and safer to do on a changing table.

It may be annoying for you, but these Mums are using the facilities appropriately too.

[LadyBiscuit]

Can't you change your baby on the bench if you hold onto him? I used to do that with mine. I find toddlers much harder work to get dressed - takes far, far longer than getting a baby dressed

[bigbarnfarm]

You have such a shock in store for you btw if you think 3 month old babies are harder than toddlers.

[Porcelain]

I guess I could try that bbf, I don't actually take a full change bag and mat in there with me as I find carrying DS and a bag of swimming stuff a bit much with lockers and all that, but I guess it's a fair point if I avoid the puddles.

Like I said, I've not had a toddler to deal with before, so I don't know if IABU (otherwise I wouldn't ask)

[bigbarnfarm]

Don't take a full changing bag in there, take a travel changing mat.

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

Get yourself a decent sized rucksac in that case. Keep your hands free for carrying your ds

[nubbins]

I went swimming at the weekend with my non-sitting baby and since the baby change cubicles were taken I put my baby wrapped up in towels on the floor while I changed.

I think YABU for expecting people to change their baby, then move everything and change themselves. But I do think that there should be more large cubicles with fold down changing tables.

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

Well after having a baby and a toddler, its much more trouble to change a wriggly excited bored grumpy hungry impatient whatever else toddler than an imobile baby. You could change the baby on your lap in a very small area and then wrap him up but him on the floor on a towel. - try doing that with a toddler - fucking immpossible - or is that just my experience of babies and toddlers?

[nancydrewrockinaroundxmastree]

Instead of directing your frustrations at mother and toddlers who need them just as much as you for a) nappy changing b) the extra space and c) the extra bench space perhaps you should question the management as to why a family venue has only 3 cubicles appropriate for a family to change in.

And then get over yourself just a bit.

[Porcelain]

bbf I'm not saying toddlers are easier, just different.

The rooms are labelled "baby change", but frankly I don't begrudge people using them for toddlers, just taking them up for an extended period when others need them.

[FingandJeffing]

YABU
Take a change mat, To be fair though it does depend on the toddler, you do get obedient, easy ones and you get ones the cry when you try to help them get dressed, do a runner when you don't have your pants on and start touching other peoples stuff when you are doing your bra up.

I have one of each with the more challenging one I would favour a cubicle :)

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

OP - I'm not sure thta your posting name is doing you any favours with an AIBU post like this one!

[bigbarnfarm]

I wouldn't say "baby change" excludes toddlers, would you?

In your OP you refer to it as a baby swimming group then say it's full of toddlers.

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

And who (apart from you) says that they are using them for an extended period?

When you have a toddler and yourself to change perhaps you'll see that it can take far longer than changing yourself and a small, immobile baby.

[OTTMummA]

I think YABU
You are at a swimming pool, just because you have a small baby doens't mean you should get first/exlusive use of the changing rooms.
Sometimes you have to wait.
I garuntee in 2 yrs time you will still be using the changing rooms with your DC.
If you really feel hard done by complain to management, but you won't get your way, and they will snigger behind your back for making such a silly complaint.

I would, if i were you, just wait 5 mins longer in the pool, having a nice long cuddle with your DC and then go get dressed in a free cubical.

[FunnysInTheGarden]

I can see why it would be a pain, but dealing with a toddler after swimming is a challenge in it's self. I always used the larger changing rooms as they are family ones at our pool and not just for small babies.

Can you not get your pushchair in the changing area at all?

BTW you are coming across as rather PFB!