To let my child swim in the lane swimmers area

[Impatientismymiddlename]

I took my 9 year old DS swimming. Usually we just swim in the general area but today it was heaving so we swam in the lane swimmers area instead. My son is a decent swimmer (he can manage 200m without stopping using reasonably good technique), he was at least as fast as most of the adult lane swimmers so he wasn't holding anybody up or getting in anybody's way.
A lady approached me and said that my son shouldn't be in the lane area as people use the lanes to swim properly and to get away from the children. I said that I couldn't see a problem as he was swimming just like everybody else in that area and was keeping up speed wise and wasn't causing any problems. She went off huffily to speak to the lifeguard and she then walked off towards the changing rooms. Me and my son carried on swimming, fortunately my son didn't hear the woman's comments as he was too busy swimming up and down, but he would have been upset if he thought that he had made somebody angry.
The lifeguard didn't ask us to leave or say anything to is, so I don't think that he had any problems.
There are no signs stating that there is an age limit on the lane area and my son stuck to the anti clockwise rule that is stated on a sign at the end of the pool.
AIBU to swim with a child in the lane area?

YANBU as long as he wasn't messing about or stopping in the middle of lanes, if he was sticking to lane etiquette then he's fine.

I would say that if DS is swimming appropriately in the lanes (and from what you say he was) then YANBU.

If he is a swimmer, and he was following lane rules then I don't see a problem.

YANBU, as long as he was swimming according to the instructions.

He swims better than some of the adults who think they'd like to swim in the lanes at my pool.
I don't see a problem with it. I do have a problem with people who can't swim a whole length without stopping, and don't let you pass.

No he wasn't stopping in the middle or messing about. He was swimming 6/8 lengths at a time and then stopping at the end for a minute or so and then swimming another 6 or so lengths, pretty much the same as the adults (although some adults were doing one length and then stopping for a rest).

Thanks all, I shall not be afraid to swim in the lane area with him next time it's busy.

Yanbu. I could understand if he was really slow, etc but as you say he isn't then I don't see the problem.

How are we meant to encourage kids to be active, improve possibly to a high standard if all they're allowed to do is bob about in the melee of people pottering and chatting.

if he can only swim 200m i wouldnt have let him swim in the lanes, but if all the adult swimmers were pretty poor too then i dont suppose it mattered. i wouldnt let those adults in lanes either
i let mine lane swim at that age but they could swim a mile and were fast so they genuinely needed lane swimming and were good at it
the argument about getting away from children sounds a bit chip on shoulder

My OH did suggest that maybe the woman was just embarrassed that a wee kid was swimming better than her

I only get cheesed off lane swimming when someone is continually because they're in a slower lane than they should be. Well done to your DS. He must be feeling pleased with himself for having progressed up in the swimming pool.

Yanbu, good for him!

YANBU, he sounds a better swimmer than me and I swim in the lanes!

YANBU. If he can keep to the general pace and follows lane etiquette then that is fine. If the lady wanted to be away from children she should have gone to an adults only session.

YANBU. If he was swimming properly then he had as much right to be there as an adult.

Yanbu

"Swimming lanes" are for people who plan on swimming properly. Your son was doing that. There isn't an age restriction on it!

Plenty of adults stop for a rest after 200 ms. I wouldn't have a problem with it and I always lane swim. If someone can keep up and doesn't get in the way when resting then they're entitled to lane swim.
Lanes aren't there for people to 'get away from the children', they are there so that people can safely swim lengths.

The woman spoke to staff and the staff didn't say anything to you, so you can assume there was no issue with you. Lifeguard probably just explained to her that your son was perfectly entitled to be where he was.

sheesh, I often find lots of old biddies people chatting swanning slowly up & down the lanes in pairs holding other people up. I wish lifeguards would moan at them.
YANBU, he followed lane rules, nothing wrong with it.

I think it's fine.

I let my DC swim in the lanes if they actually want to swim up and down. Once they get fed up with it they move out to practise diving or whatever.

Obviously not on "adults only" sessions but then they wouldn't be there then anyway. If the lifeguard said nothing to you then it was clearly fine with him

YANBU. It's a public pool not a place to "get away from children". She was rude and anal retentive don't think on it.

YANBU.

She was being nasty with no good reason,and the lifeguard did nothing because she was wrong.

Don't give it any more thought,unless you see her again,then go and swim in the lane again with your DS just because you can.....

And well done your ds for being able to hold his own with the adults.

Good on him, as long as he was swimming properly and not messing about tan fine. Obviously the lifeguard felt the same as tey did nt ask you ds to leave the lanes.

Our swimming pool is full of moaners like this, DS's swimming coach is always moaning about them. Whatever anyone else does they need to moan about it, they will only ever be happy if they have an entire lane to themselves every time. I get really pissed off with a pair of women that regularly go when I go who swim up and down the slow lane (I really can't go in the faster ones) next to each other, chatting away. I don't go and moan about them though.

Yes, I forgot that they have adult only sessions, I should have pointed that out to her.