To NOT include 9 year old DD in Boxing Day swim?

My kids from toddler age have always gotten accidently soaked in the sea at all times if the year , have a fluffy towel and clothes ready and she will be fine

Are they saying not to do it? Depends on conditions, surely?

Ill be going for a BD swim. I’ll be on less tome than it tales to put a wetsuit pn an off. Could she paddle?

An hour or more in the sea in winter with small children??????
Even in spring/autumn it feels cold after 20 minutes or so. I know loads of people who sea swim year round and in winter they literally run in, swim to a buoy and back and out, max 5 mins. It's a huge faff with changing/warming which is one reason I don't bother between October and March.

The whole thing sounds like absolute hell 🤣

And when the RNLI volunteers have to risk their lives to come out after saying to not do it, who foots the bill?

Its faffy but they love it. They get a good hour or two in the water (then when the weather warms off come the boots gloves and hats and they can be in the sea all day). I love the sea, incredibly fotunate that so far my children are willing to join me.

But if she isn't used to swimming in colder water, I'm not sure.

Let her just make her wear the wetsuit and have plenty of warm layers for her to wear after, also a foil blanket is easy enough to buy, and take a flask of hot chocolate/tea too and make her have some of that.

Up to her really, as long as you have the right kit. All of mine have done boxing day or NYD swims with me over the years, and the 15 year old and 8 year old may do again this year. 13 year old less keen.

If she’s not used to cold water swimming then now is not really the time to start but if it’s literally a dip or she has a wetsuit on I think she’ll be grand. My kids cold water swim/surf all year round (N Scotland) and are fine. Plenty hot juice or hot chocolate and clothes wrapped in a hot water bottle for after. Wear a hat.

She will be fine.

that sounds like an incredible amount of faff ! And I thought muddy football was bad😂

You would be incredibly stupid to do it at all. The RNLI are issuing warnings left right and centre due to the north easterly winds hitting the country.

Assuming you already know about cold water shock and you’re there to talk her through getting in and keeping an eye on her…why not? It’s a fun thing to do!

She’ll be fine. Don’t be the fun police.

Are there other adults not swimming? It's getting her out of kit at the end that will be the biggest pain while trying to dress yourself.

If there's someone to get her ready whenever she wants to get out then I'd put her in the gear and see how she goes. She might just paddle once she experiences the water.

She'll end up with wet feet regardless so probably easier just to put her in wet gear.

Make sure you have warm drinks and hot water bottles for afterwards.

Edited to say a brisk walk afterwards is the best way to warm up.

Both my 3 year old and 6 year old have been going in the sea almost 3 times a week for the last number of months. They have proper thick winter wetsuits - 5mm thick, boots, gloves and hats.

If she has those things then let her try, if she is planning on going in using a summer 3/2 mm wetsuit then no, dont, she will be miserable.

I just keep a close eye on them. Then as soon as they are out into the boot of the heated car, towel dried, into vests, thick socks, pjs, wooly hats and blankets with electric hand warmers and hot chocolate from a flask to bring their temperature back up

We have had no issues this way

She's a nine-year-old, not a newborn, and she's got a wetsuit. She is absolutely not going to get hypothermia from an in-and-out dip in the sea, and presumably everyone will be wrapping up warm and getting hot drinks etc afterwards. She'll be fine.

A friend of mine has been doing this with his son on New Year's Day every year since his son was around 7ish and his son's now in his 20s. No hypothermia so far!

You are are meanie. Why would you do
an activity on Boxing day that your daughter can’t join in with?

I wouldn’t be so worried about the cold this time of year if you teach her how to enter correctly but rather the safety of the water dependent on the weather.

If it’s a shallow beach with minimal waves and tides I’d let her dip her feet in (and change her mind 😂)

Mine would spend the next 4 hours with blue lips and shivering so I really wouldn't let her - using the other kids as an excuse: you all stay together.

I wouldn't go in the first place myself anyway 😂

How do you even know if the sea will be calm enough in a few days?

She'll be fine in a wetsuit for a few seconds.

I would let her. I let DD swim in the cold pool (7 degrees I think) in a spa when she was 4. So long as its quick in and out and she can get dry straight after.there's no risk of hypothermia - children younger than that go ice swimming in my country.

She’ll be fine. Won’t get hypothermia from seconds in the water. Obviously have lots of warm layers.