Swimming lessons for 5yo - now have to get in the pool

[Thisischaos]

The gym where my 5yo has been having lessons pre-Covid for over a year will be re-starting these in a few weeks. I saw the swim coach the other day and she told me that we should be getting an email to say that parents must now get in the pool with their child as the swim coach cannot be within 1-2m of the children now.

The pool is about 1.2m deep so the instructor is normally in the pool with them as they are obviously not tall enough to reach the bottom at their age.

Has anyone else’s DC now have this arrangement too? I love swimming but I pick my time to go as to my shame I have blown up like a balloon to a size 16-18, and I will be intensely uncomfortable being with 5 other parents on poolside and in the pool. I know them all and while lovely people, they are all super slim while I’m a huge whale next to them. I used to be a size 10-12 and this would not have bothered me then . I know it’s more important that DS continues to learn to swim but the thought of this makes me so feel so anxious.

Also, this system is surely just doubling the amount of people on poolside (parents normally not allowed), in the pool, showers, and changing rooms? But protecting the swim coach becomes the first priority of course.

Try to focus on your child.
You are doing this for him- so he can have a lifetime of safety & fun in water.
I bet you’d give him a piece of your liver if he needed it- and that would be even more uncomfortable.

Wear tshirt and joggers, whip them off at the poolside, throw them back on when you get out. You're not as big as you think, nobody will be looking at you so get on with it.

My pool has this rule so DD can't go swimming as there's nobody to mind her 3yo brother if I'm in the water. Boo.

Op hsve you tried a swim dress?
Or a swimming costume with tummy control and dress on top?

I don't understand the pool system.

firstly - learning to swim is really important.
secondly - the other parent won't give a shit

When you were a size 12 did you look at other people at swimming pools and think ‘wow they look like a whale’? I bet you didn’t, please be as kind to yourself as you are to others

My dcs swimming lessons never required parents to get involved.

Why would a child need to touch the bottom? Or need a parent? Find a better swim school.

It's the new rules for beginner lessons, as the coach cannot be in the water. You'll need to get beyond your issues or get someone else to go in with your child.

I wear a tankini top and a pair of swim shorts, men's style ones with the mesh inside and most amazingly zip up pockets where you can put your locker key.

I feel much more comfortable with a bit more coverage over belly and thighs. I dont like swim dresses as the skirt bit floats about and feels like it's clinging to my thighs.

Don't talk about your size like that, its unhelpful. Your size is your size. It's up to you whether you want to get in the pool though, some people won't want to.

It will be fine. I prefer this style of swimming costume for coverage:

www.sportsdirect.com/slazenger-boyleg-swimsuit-ladies-354743

Could you claim medical problems and hire a babysitter to take him? Find a gorgeous teenager to make everyone else feel insecure

Mine are saying this now too, seems a bit daft to me

Our pool changes the height of the pool so is only 0.6m when my 5 year old does her lesson so the teacher is just teaching from the side now.

I honestly wouldn't worry about yourself though, all the parents etc will be concentrating on their own child etc.

@JackPaul

My dcs swimming lessons never required parents to get involved.

Helpful 🙄