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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

About a mother bringing a playpen in the pool change room?

87 replies

GotArt · 01/04/2011 23:30

A mother comes weekly with her 10 month old, (I know this because she's always talking loudly to the her DD about how amazed she is by her being 10 months old, I heard it when she was 9 months and I reckon we'll all know when she turns 11 months, but anyhow) bringing with her a playpen that she sets up which does nothing but creates havoc as you can barely make it around this damn thing. Its 4x5 feet. The family change room is also the disability facilities and right now is very busy as well due to renovations of the change rooms, so is only for women, so lots more traffic. The woman also has a large stroller which she straps the car seat into and brings all this into the change room. She puts the stroller in front of a set of lockers, opens up the playpen, takes her DD out of the car seat/stroller and plops her in the playpen long enough to take her swimming gear out of her bag and a blanket, picks up her DD, and heads into the change stall, all this space within a step of each other. She changes, changes her DD and comes out, plops DD back in playpen, sorts out a locker, picks up DD to put back in stroller, folds up playpen and heads out to the pool. She completely spreads out over a whole 6 foot long bench and got pissy with me today because I asked if she wouldn't mind making some room for my DD to sit on the bench. A big huff and slamming around of her stuff. I quite honestly asked nicely too. When its time to get out, she does the same routine, although the playpen is set up longer as she is showering and such in the stall. The stall is by far large enough to wheel in the stroller, but she leaves it in front of the lockers and gets pissy with anyone, even staff, when it gets moved so people can get to their lockers, rightfully. Today, there was 3 disabled people and their carers there and you couldn't get their chairs around this damn thing. I'm familiar with one of the carers as we go swimming weekly, at the same time they do, (the woman in question I see on Mondays, but she came this Friday) and she asked "who's the heck is this?" I pointed to the stall and said "she's in there. She brings it every time. A bit extreme, IMO." She agreed, we chuckled and exchanged Hmm faces. I moved the playpen so she could get by and put the playpen back. Aside from the irritating things she says to her DD that make me cringe, like when she starts fussing, "Oh, little dudette, chillax." [grrr], AIBU to think that she should have some common decency to see how she is inconveniencing people. How can someone be that thick to not notice? DH thinks I should complain to staff, but really, it just annoys me more than anything, but should I complain on the behalf of others in this.

OP posts:
Underachieving · 02/04/2011 17:59

Whoever made the point about more stuff making it harder not easier is spot on.

What would we say you actually need to take with you to take a baby to a swimming pool? I've had a crack at what I think is a sensible list, see if you would change it.

The baby, dressed in suitable clothing for going back to the car all damp after your swim.
A swim nappy and a swimming costume if your baby wears it.
A clean nappy for afterwards.
A bottle of top to toe wash.
A towel for baby.
A bottle and a bib if you use them and think a feed will be required too soon after the swim to go back to the car first.
Yourself, dressed in suitable clothing again.
Your own swimming costume.
Tampons if you need them.
A towel for you.
A hairbrush.
Your shampoo if you really wont get by by stealing babys top to toe wash.
The right coin for the locker.
Make up if you find that important (and remover to get your previous make up off in that case).
A bag to carry the wet things in, which isn't my handbag.

Other people might be justified in taking a floaty baby seat or baby arm bands if that's thier thing, I don't use them but some do, one bit of floaty kit is far from excessive.

So did I miss anything important? Or pack anything frivalous?

RunAwayWife · 02/04/2011 18:07

She sounds a bit mad

GotArt · 02/04/2011 21:30

Good list Underachieving I don't even take top to toe wash, we just get a good rinse in the shower because we always bathe before bed.

In my bag,
two towels and one bath matt towel, all old andfraying cause who cares if they get accidently left behind.
hair brush
hand cream
water bottle
diaper, (DD wears swimsuit and swim diaper to pool)
bra, (I wear swimsuit to pool)
sandwich, a piece of fruit, two cookies, one for DD and one for me... sometimes I eat both if she lingers too long on her sandwich. Blush and one juice box.

DD brings one 'friend', doll or stuffed animal of some sort, with her, but mummy DOES NOT carry it. She brings it it in, she hauls it out. Grin

OP posts:
GotArt · 02/04/2011 21:33

Someone asked about 'chillax'; its chill and relax. I will scream if this word gets added to the Oxford dictionary next year. Grin

OP posts:
onepieceoflollipop · 02/04/2011 21:40

Arrive 10 minutes before her with a large silvercross type pram or double buggy. Bring your own playpen and spread a picnic style rug on the floor. If anyone remarks on this, espeically this woman, shrug and say "chillax dude(ette)"
hth

Grin
GotArt · 02/04/2011 21:42
Grin
OP posts:
Booandpops · 02/04/2011 22:53

She sounds like an utter loon!!

When I take mine swimming I take them in shower with me, then I dress them. ( I stay wet until they are dressed) then I sort myself out when they are settled on the bench/ pushchair with a snack. I get a bit chilly but all part of being a mum in a tricky situation.

YANBU!!!!!!

Lucyinthepie · 02/04/2011 23:11

The fact is that if the area isn't designed for play pens, and she is causing a big enough obstacle that people have to struggle around it, and people in wheelchairs can't get past without moving it... it's a hazard. This means that the management of the swimming pool should be taking an interest and telling her that she can't use it. In the case of a fire she would be delaying emergency evacuation, and the results could be fatal.
Playpens provided as a facility are another matter, because they will be sited so that they don't obstruct access.
So with that in mind I'd probably write to the management and point out what is happening, point out the H+S risk, and sit back and let them deal with it.

plopplopquack · 03/04/2011 18:36

Someone asked about 'chillax'; its chill and relax.

Fuck!

PumpkinBones · 03/04/2011 19:17

Three towels. Three swimsuits. One swim nappy. One new nappy. Debit card. One ten pence piece. Me, DS1 (4) and DS2 (1).

PumpkinBones · 03/04/2011 19:17

Forgot to add; in carrier bag Grin

Blondeshavemorefun · 03/04/2011 19:45

pumpkin sounds the same as me

apart from 4 towels/4 cossies/shampoo and conditioner,hairbrush and £1 coin

3 kids and myself :)

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