Family swimming times - AIBU?

What SAHMs

Apart from sneery posts, there haven’t been any mentions of SAHM.

You are assuming everyone who isn’t on your schedule mustn’t have a job?

You really need to work on seeing things from other people’s perspective. Your children will benefit from it far more than a regular nap time.

Our local pool has family swim 2-5 every day, I find this annoying because i want to swim earlier than 5pm, the first lane swimming session but I understand that they prioritise according to what they can sell sessions for (non profit independent pool)

Who did you speak to on the phone? The person on the reception desk or centre manager/pool co-ordinator.

I'd say, if the reason is packed with school lessons/holiday lessons then you probably don't want to be using the changing rooms at the same time anyway. It's chaos and maybe they know that wouldn't be compatible.

If you haven't spoken to someone with actual control over planning the schedules it might be worth putting it to them that a bit earlier would work really well for the older babies/younger toddlers. 10/10.30 would be ideal.

Our borough's pools have different times each day but the convenient time might not the the convenient location but at least there is some choice. I gave up adult membership as it's been so inflexible since the pandemic, not just school/general lessons but really rigid slots. The private pools/gyms seem no better.

As a side note, I honestly can't imagine a nursery being able to enforce naps much beyond 3. Once they are in pre-school rooms I'd have thought those that wanted a nap would be in the minority. Quiet time maybe (for some kids)

I have to agree with this poster, a routine is good for kids but a rigid one is just setting yourself up for failure if you want to be out and about with them.

It’s annoying but there’s not much you can do. There’ll be a time where she doesn’t need to nap anymore and you can take her swimming. Or a time she’s big enough to start lessons.
I feel your pain. My daughter does an activity for 3 hours every Saturday morning in our local city and it would be so handy to take my other two kids swimming during this time but the pool has lessons on and no public access to the it. Annoying but just one of those things.

This! I used to be a lifeguard. Swimming lessons are profitable.

This presumably works for their other clients

Honestly it will not be based on customer. It will be something like that's when they can most cheaply cover having enough lifeguards available for that pool. They don't make money off toddlers being brought swimming, they don't really want to facilitate it as a result so they have no incentive to make it easier.

My local leisure centre only has swim for all sessions for a few hours on Saturday, Sunday and an hour on Monday evening. I have complained to the centre, the local council (who have some undisclosed funding relationship) and their parent not-for-profit company. Not even a acknowledgement. Over Easter they had NO swim for all sessions for more than 3 weeks

I'm actually wondering whether this is a SAHM thing

It could be.the SAHMs i knew tended to not like getting up and out in the morning. One i knew, you never saw before 11! Her toddler was a shit sleeper & constantly whingy, only ever napped for 30 or 40mins on the go in a pram. She didn't get why the rest of us stuck to nap routines but when you have a kid who naps for 2-3 hours solid and wakes up happy and easy you don't mess with it.

Its very normal for toddlers to nap after lunch.almost everyone i know had that routine.

Then just sit in the car on your driveway or transfer to her cot/bed if she will let you.

Regarding nursery, mine would have said the same that all the toddlers slept at the same time but both of mine weren't doing so by the time they were old in the toddler room but too young for the pre-school room. They would read books or help the staff with little jobs quietly while all the others slept. A nursery can't physically make children sleep and it's not unusual to drop naps. We had dozens of friends in the toddler stage and only one or two were napping at age 3.

No it’s not. But also they don’t really have to factor in enforced nap schedules of children at nursery when those children are, in fact, at nursery 48 weeks of the year.

This presumably works for their other clients and the parents and toddlers not at nursery who can be more flexible about their schedule- so it’s a non-issue.

Lunch 11, nap on the car on the way then swim and if still tired then nap in the car on the way back

The clocks change twice a year and children and everyone else have to change their schedules then. Can you not just make nap time 12.30 Mon the 1pm Tuesday and pretend the clocks have changed

Do you think all pensioners spend their lives watching Bargain Hunt, drinking cups of tea and deliberately trying to make life hard for younger people ?
I am retired and between my volunteering job, child care , shopping for nonagenarian neighbour etc etc I will admit to sometimes venturing into shops during the sacred hours of 12-2 .
As far as GPs are concerned , if I am lucky enough to actually get an appointment I will take it regardless of time !
Ageism is alive and well on MN .

People bringing toddlers swimming don't maje them a lot of profit so it looks like theyve allocated it as their unpopular time. I would guess all their mornimgs are allocated to local primary schools and from 2.30 onwards will be formal swimming lessons for age 4+.

I don't disagree though op. I never would have taken mine swimming at that time. Everyone i know takes toddlers swimming in the morning. Can you look for a different pool? Are there better options on weekends?

But you are in favour of schedules, no?

Whoever does the scheduling is a moron, but no amount of telling them that 12-2 for a preschooler is insanely

That's not necessarily true though.
It will work for some people but not for others. If it doesn't work for you, its one of those things, maybe in a few months, next year, whenever, things may have switched round and its perfect timing.

I completely see your point here. Although not all toddlers will be on the same schedule, a majority would be, and I think it is very inflexible of them not to offer any other times.
On another note, we have always found it better in a deeper pool with armbands on rather than the kids pool. Some hotels have sessions for kids. The one near us is only 20p more expensive than the cold leisure centre pool.

How dare they ever leave the house?
🫣🫣🫣

Can people seriously not read? The OP didn’t phone up to ask or demand they changed the times of the family swim. She phoned I to ask if this was the only time (a query) and when they said ‘yes’ she just gave them some feedback.

I am absolutely with you OP in terms of your child’s routine. Some kids thrive with routine and it can mean less stress for parents if routine helps you. My mates used to take the piss out of me with my DS’s routine, but I had a child who slept though the night from 4 months and I was a better parent for it. Less tired and less stressed. Ignore any snarky comments about your child’s routine - it works for you.