to think that 6 is too young to use a gym changing room on your own?

[LaundryFairy]

My local gym has recently been taken over, and they new owners have changed the age at which children are told to use the correct gender changeroom from 7 to 6 years.

AIBU to think that 6 is too young to ask a child to go into a public gym changeroom on their own?

I complained at the desk, and they told me to use the "family changing room" instead. Couple of problems with that: 1) it is tiny with ony two cubicles and no hair driers. 2) the default rules should suit most people and not force them to use the family changing space.

I'm sure that many people are ignoring this new rule, but it still annoys me. AIBU? What age would you feel comfortable sending your DS or DD to a changing room on their own?

[Homebird8]

Wouldn't let my 6 year old DS go on his own. He's such a dreamer he'd never come out!

[LaundryFairy]

I should add that one of the reasons why I joined this gym was their reputation for being a family place, something that they actively promote. From their website:

"We love kids and families. The family friendly atmosphere at (name of gym) is the perfect place to bring the whole family."

Just don't think they have spoken to anyone who actually has children when they made up the rule.

[TheCrackFox]

6 does seem a bit too young. DS1 is 7 now and I have to say he seems to have lost all his "babyishness" (sp) over the past year.

[ben5]

our local swimming pool say when they hit 8 they have to go to there own chaging room which seems a good age to me. hopefully by then they can read the signs for exits

[themoon66]

8 sounds more realistic to me.

[anynicknamesleft]

my leisure centre did up the changing rooms which means that you have to go through male or female changing rooms to get in to pool. I don't mind using family room but i don't even want my 9 year old walking through male. a friend works at ex-offenders hostel and they regularly swim. when i walked him through female his eyes jumped out of their socket. I wrote to complain that their should be another corridoor they just said tell him to walk through quickly. but i can't believe a coucil can be so up on child protection and ignore this.

[purpleduck]

i wouldn't

[FranSanDisco]

I think the age limit should be 8 yo. Dd is 8 yo and just about able to get dressed on her own after swimming, without having wet hair dripping down her back or forgetting to pack everything (lost her coat the other week though). Ds is 6 yo and though he could dry/dress himself most of his clothes would be on the floor in a puddle.

[OonaghBhuna]

I wouldnt leave a 6yr old to change on their own. I would check up their child protection policy if you are concerned.

[PestoMonster]

What gym do you belong to LaundryFairy? I belong to a large chain (Esporta) and am pretty sure the rule is age 8 there.

[LaundryFairy]

My gym used to be Next Generation and now it is David Lloyd.

[islandofsodor]

I have to coax, cajoule and constantly check up on 7 year old dd when she gets dressed for school in the morning. In a changing room on her own she would just forget what she is supposed to be doing and start ballet dancing.

[piscesmoon]

Perhaps you could just suggest that they have more family changing rooms, so that people have the choice.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

6 is too young, and its also the fact that anyone could walk into chnaging rooms (tho yours is a private gym) i personally wouldnt be happy leaving a child of 6 alone

[KingHerodNametaken]

YANBU - if they really were family friendly they'd have better family changing facilities, not two tiny little rooms.

Complain, or ignore the ban and take him in with you anyway.

[LaundryFairy]

Thanks for all the comments - glad to know it's not just me. I'll probably follow KingHerod's suggestion and ignore it for as long as I can get away with it. Fortunately, DS is not terribly big for his age, and so shouldn't be too noticeable.

[smudgethepuppydog]

There's no reason why under 8's can't change in an opposite sex changing room (so 7yo boys can chnage in womens changing areas and 7yo old girls can change with their dads). All of our infants change together when we go swimming but from Year 3 (so onwards we have to use the right sex changing rooms with them (even though the boys will have female staff helping them to change).

[mamatrio3]

You are not unreasonable, I still drag my 6 yr old son into the ladies' loos whenever we are out. I would never let him go to mens loos or changing rooms alone - you just never know who is in there

[hotbot]

sorry but actually i am pretty uncomfortable changing in communal rooms with children/boys around that age.i think its different it hey are your children in aroom with you iyswim. So i think if there are family changes no matter how inconvenient you should use them.
of course i comletely reserve the right to change my mind when dd is this this age

[navyeyelasH]

Laundryfairy - I think we use the same gym, near a DVLA test centre? Do you find the water in the bigger pool extremely cold? It's always icy and the small pool jam packed!

I am a nanny and sneak my 6 year old boy in with me. If I let him go on his own I don't think he'd manage to get everything in locker, lock locker and make way to pool!