Family swimming times - AIBU?

Feed your 2yo at 11. Swim at 12. Your 2yo will be tired out and nod off.

I used to be flexible with routines. But I have 4 DC so you learn as you go.

What is wrong with that? They are providing a public service. If you aren't happy with something do you just put up with it like a mug? What if they get lots of phone calls telling them their policy is very restrictive? They will hink about changing it. Nothing will change for anyone with people like you sitting on your arse.

My 2 year old’s swimming lessons are at 12pm 🤷🏻‍♀️ you just have to roll with it

Wild that so many people think you are unreasonable here OP. I guess it’s old fashioned to have set times to do things, as if most toddlers don’t flourish with predictable routines of very regular food/sleep, or something.

These must be the parents I see at library story time at 11am cracking out the toddler snacks on the library carpet then letting their kids touch the books. Your 2yo can last one whole hour without food, in a LIBRARY!

Yes I am old and grumpy and they should have a family swim at a time that’s not lunchtime.

Fair enough. When I was on my second baby, I wouldn’t have complained that a session time didn’t fit around my child, or think that every child’s nap times were the same.

My two are 16 and 11 though!

Swimming is important so it is worth perhaps having a grumpy toddler or a broken night once in a while. Also, when my son was that age he used to pass out after swimming because it knocked him out, so it might well be the case for your child.

Quite. I can see why they wouldn't be fussed about your child's nap or food schedule. Like l frequently say to my own children -it's not all about you

Sometimes you need to be flexible about schedules to fit things. I say that as someone with 2 year old twins

Well then if it’s not worth it to you then simply don’t do it 👍🏻

Are the people criticising council leisure centres for trying to make money happy to pay much higher council tax bills? As councils try to cut back I think you are likely to end up with less of what you want and not more.

I agree with your last sentence, they keep shutting them down where I am or they switch them to membership only which people can’t afford. We live near the sea, it’s so vital that people can swim.

Can’t you just take her and see how well it goes?

both my kids stopped napping g at 12 months old which was crap!

You are definitely not being unreasonable. I'm of an age when there were multiple pools, lidos and you just went when you wanted. Now we have no pool within 10 miles and you have to drive to access it, with parking a nightmare. The pool timings are so odd and small, for ridiculous cost, just not worth it. We should have more pools for our ever growing population and the number of young people who can't swim is a crime.

then find a nursery that fits your (exacting) requirements?

Mine never did this. And why should kids like my son have to struggle? They can stagger lunch or bring in lunchtime cover like schools do. Forcing this onto families isn’t okay, in my opinion.

I went swimming with my kids on a Saturday morning and they had closed the main pool for pensioners aqua fit 😂

Clearly the leisure centre priorise their most profitable and valued customers, the retired or those with free time, who enjoy swimming several times a week, and thus limit shrieking, annoying toddlers to a very limited inconvenient time of day. Good for them.

Give them a small snack at 11 / swim at 12 / they’ll either eat afterwards or nap then wake up hungry. It’s not a big deal to be flexible. Sometimes pools have a different schedule over the school holidays - maybe look for a different pool.

I knew someone would recognise 😂😂 bring back the mighty monsters 😂

How dare nursery workers want a break.

How do you propose they manage bespoke nap or non-nap schedules for each individual child?

because you are making no attempt to understand how people who aren't you spend their time?

you will be old one day and i hope the youngsters are as horrible about you.

There are lots of pools .

Bit as you’ve discovered for yourself different ones offer different slots.

They’ll also offer different times to local pools to attract those who times elsewhere don’t work for.

A big city pool will have different availability to a small village pool.

A big city pool who hosts lots of lessons and a resident swim club will have less family sessions but will also likely be the ones people Google first as they age better known.

and your local pool obviously does meet the needs of many because of the session wasn’t attracting families they wouldn’t fun it!

It just doesn’t work for you.

At 2 your routine should be a bit more flexible. Give her a snack before she goes in the pool, swim for half an hour (2 year olds get bored easily) then have lunch after and give her a nap on the way home. Alternatively look for other places to swim. There are loads of private pools/holiday cottage pools that do baby swim sessions in our area.