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Original poster

Do your kids have a proper body and hair wash after their swimming lesson?

108 replies

OohAhJustALittleBit · 10/09/2023 10:08

Mine do because we tend to go straight out after instead of going home. The chlorine is terrible for their hair, and I figure they might as well have a quick wash while they're at it. Whole thing takes about 5 mins but I notice the vast majority just do a quick rinse off. Am I breaking some post swim shower etiquette or am I just the odd one out?

OP posts:
WandaWonder · 10/09/2023 10:30

When younger a rinse when older towel and dress only

whyisitallsohard · 10/09/2023 10:30

You should rinse thoroughly with shower gel at the very least after the swim, then shower properly with hair wash when home. It’s gross to read some people are only rinsing with water, after a PUBLIC swimming pool session with bacteria and all sorts, not to mention people who dont wipe their asses properly. I dont even use public swimming pools after i learnt about how unhygienic they are.

GonnaBeYoniThisChristmas · 10/09/2023 10:30

Rinse or just towel off and then do full wash and hair at home.

I view public pool showers as provided to to rinse off chlorine but not to do a full wash of your body/hair.

TrudyProud · 10/09/2023 10:30

Quick Rinse poolside and shower (incl hair) at home. DD is only 17 months but personally given there are limited poolside showers (her toddler class and the older kids class let out at the same time -3 pools) I'd be pretty miffed if I had wait for someone's child to have a full shower (not entirely sure how you do that without being naked and my daughters poolside is unisex) and wonder how if they can afford swim lessons they can't afford to run a hot shower at home .

I think it's poor etiquette- if you insist on a full shower wait until all the quick rinse people are done.

Blarn · 10/09/2023 10:30

I sometimes shower them there, sometimes when they get home, depends how busy it is. It's definitely easier to get properly clean at home rather than rushing.

PuttingDownRoots · 10/09/2023 10:32

@evtheria 5 swimming lessons ending simultaneously could be 30-40 children.

Our pool had 12 showers... more than enough for public swim, not enough for that many kids to have a proper wash.

itsgettingweird · 10/09/2023 10:32

My ds walked under the shower and chucks on a dry robe!

But he swims 9 times a week and often twice a day.

Hair and condition on his 2 days out of the pool. Quick shower at home other days before bed.

Oysterbabe · 10/09/2023 10:32

Mine are both very blonde and it's always just a quick rinse. Their hair doesn't seem to suffer for it, it's soft, shiny and healthy looking.

megletthesecond · 10/09/2023 10:33

Mine always showered at home.
The queue for the pool showers was awful.

EquallyDetermined · 10/09/2023 10:33

Straight home, not enough showers and too many kids messing about in them or those with long hair taking ages to faff about with conditioner oblivious to the shivering queue.

evtheria · 10/09/2023 10:34

PuttingDownRoots · 10/09/2023 10:32

@evtheria 5 swimming lessons ending simultaneously could be 30-40 children.

Our pool had 12 showers... more than enough for public swim, not enough for that many kids to have a proper wash.

Wow. Ours is nowhere near that busy, I'd def be rush-rinsing my kid and heading straight home for a proper wash if there were people stood waiting for showers.

Tinybrother · 10/09/2023 10:35

Hair wash yes but they stay in their costumes. There are loads of showers and no queues.

itsgettingweird · 10/09/2023 10:35

But no I don't think you're breaking any etiquette. I wash in shower after I swim because I get really itchy skin. I then apply a cream to my hair because it's a curly mop!

CoodleMoodle · 10/09/2023 10:38

We never shower at swimming. We get dried and dressed and I put DD's hair in a hair towel, then when we get home she gets straight in the bath and has her hair washed. Then DS has the same. If we've been swimming too (so not lessons) then DH and/or I will go in the bath or shower afterwards.

I have sensory issues with having wet hair, and this extends to the DC having wet hair (I try not to let it show to them, though), so the idea of not washing and drying it ASAP after swimming is unbearable for me. Any wet hair makes me uncomfortable but the chlorine makes it so much worse.

Natsku · 10/09/2023 10:41

Going to depend on how busy it is surely? Never that busy at my local pool, and the showers are nicer than our shower at home so makes sense to have a proper wash (and sauna too)

BellaTheDarkOverlord · 10/09/2023 10:42

Towel off and dress then shower with body and hair wash before bed. I tried getting dd to use the shower at swimming but christ it’s like doing bucket challenge it’s that cold.

ThreeRingCircus · 10/09/2023 10:49

Always a proper shampoo and use the shampoo as body wash for DDs poolside. It takes 2 minutes and they share one shower so one is rinsing their hair while I'm shampooing the other.

Then into the changing room and costumes off and towelling ponchos on, flip flops on and I spray leave in conditioner into their hair and brush it. We're driving out of the car park 10 minutes after swimming lessons finish. I'm not sure why some PPs assume people are taking 30 minutes to shower at the swimming pool!

KeepOnPushingOn · 10/09/2023 10:51

whyisitallsohard · 10/09/2023 10:30

You should rinse thoroughly with shower gel at the very least after the swim, then shower properly with hair wash when home. It’s gross to read some people are only rinsing with water, after a PUBLIC swimming pool session with bacteria and all sorts, not to mention people who dont wipe their asses properly. I dont even use public swimming pools after i learnt about how unhygienic they are.

There's no 'should' involved in this choice is there? It's completely a preference that doesn't affect anyone else. I don't think I've ever showered properly at the poolside and don't see how it's gross in any way. I'd much rather have a proper shower at home after. I'm not going to say it's gross that some people choose to do this at the pool though. People are weirdly judgemental about the most inconsequential stuff

DatumTarum · 10/09/2023 10:54

whyisitallsohard · 10/09/2023 10:30

You should rinse thoroughly with shower gel at the very least after the swim, then shower properly with hair wash when home. It’s gross to read some people are only rinsing with water, after a PUBLIC swimming pool session with bacteria and all sorts, not to mention people who dont wipe their asses properly. I dont even use public swimming pools after i learnt about how unhygienic they are.

Love this! If you don't shower immediately after swimming you can't wipe your bum properly? Grin

SpongeBob2022 · 10/09/2023 10:57

DS has lessons at a private pool in someone's house so the kids tend to just shove their clothes back on and make a quick exit (parking is such that we all block each other in). Its only a ten minute drive home.

If someone thinks a shower at the pool is a 'must' then that's fine. I can see the pros of it. I wouldnt judge someone for doing it either way but I would judge someone who thought I was a lesser parent for not showering at a pool.

FawltyTower · 10/09/2023 11:03

it's a bit selfish to hog the showers for half an hour

Half an hour 😂

I'd say ds is in and out of the shower in about 3 minutes.

  • Step under water, get thoroughly wet for 30 seconds, wash face.
  • Squirt bodywash into his hands which he lathers over whilst I wash his hair (shampoo/conditioner in one). 1.5 minutes.
  • Step back under shower and rinse it all off, 1 minute. Done.

Appreciate it could take longer for girls with long hair but there's really no reason for it to take anywhere near half an hour!

Tinybrother · 10/09/2023 11:04

“I dont even use public swimming pools after i learnt about how unhygienic they are.”

yeah it’s probably for the best if it bothers you that much. Bear in mind that the people who do use public swimming pools are often fully aware of levels of hygiene but are able to tolerate it because the benefits for them outweigh the downsides

YewTree84 · 10/09/2023 11:06

I can't remember what we used to do but I think your logic is fine, killing 2 birds with one stone!

pastabest · 10/09/2023 11:12

We have a routine

I squirt shampoo into their hair poolside as soon as they climb out and lather it up before they head for the showers - means I'm not getting wet trying to do it once they are in the shower.

they wash it out in the shower and after that's done they get out and I spray leave in conditioner in and comb it through.

we don't bother with hairdryers at the pool as it's a 20 min drive home in the car so they keep brushing it in the car with the blowers on warm.

there's enough showers though for there never to be a queue.

two children under the age of 8 both out of the pool washed and dressed in about 10 mins.

DysmalRadius · 10/09/2023 11:16

How do poolside showerers get clean under their swim suits? This is always the main issue for me!