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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Kid at the gym

51 replies

elizadolittlechoc · 02/03/2015 20:20

AIBU to think that the woman who brought her 7 year old to the gym and expected her to behave while she worked out is unbelievably selfish? The child was sat at a table, consumed 2 packets of crisps and a costa drink and was expected to sit quietly. Unsurprisingly she was shouting "I'm bored, can I play with you, that lady looks funny" etc etc and running around in her outdoor shoes over the stretch mats, strewing crisps. Mummy smiled and made simpering comments like "Don't do that darling, sit nicely, sweety". Unfortunately there was only a junior staff member on duty who simpered along with her. I go to the gym to unwind away from kids (I'm a mum and a teacher). If the woman can't get childcare, why wasn't she running around in the park with her daughter for half an hour on this lovely spring evening? FFFUUUMMMME!!

OP posts:

PunkrockerGirl · 02/03/2015 21:33

As I said before, gym membership is expensive. Op obviously makes arrangements for her own children when she attends, so in her situation I would be bloody livid if I had to put up with other people's children spoiling the experience whilst the parents looked fondly on and did nothing.

bigbluebus · 02/03/2015 21:49

Never seen anyone bring a child to the gym I go to - although a chold can join from age 14 as long as they come with a parent and they cannot use the free weights.

However, there is a childrens group that uses the studio one evening a week and if they need to go to the toilet, they have to walk through the main gym area to get to the changing rooms. DS has reported that they don't always walk through quietly and without disturbing the other gym members. DS is 18 and finds children extremely annoying - even though it is not that long since he was one himself.

I think the issue here is not necessarily that there was a child in the gym, but that the child should have been well behaved and quiet so as not to annoy other gym users. Children who sit quietly and read/play games or use ipods/pads silently are fine if they are sitting a safe distance away from the equipment.

Clockingoff · 03/03/2015 16:27

This child wasn't just sitting quietly doing her homework, though. She was running around, making comments about the other gym users, and strewing crisps around the place.
I would complain. The staff member, however junior, should have done something about it and not simpered along with the mother. They need to be told this by a manager, or not left unsupervised again if they're not up to the job.

CremeEggThief · 03/03/2015 16:35

YANBU, although I would have expected most 7 year olds to behave better too. This girl sounds more like a 3 or 4 year old. A gym local to me, but not mine, allows babies and toddlers in buggies to come along with mums to their morning classes, so the expectation must be that they can sit in their buggies reasonably quiet for an hour!

Kaekae · 03/03/2015 16:42

I wouldn't not expect my 7 year old to sit there while I worked out, I would feel mean! My son would probably sit there and read but my other child has more energy and is more outgoing so would not just sit there and be quiet. Not fair on the child or the other gym members.

SuperFlyHigh · 03/03/2015 16:57

YANBU it's not a place for kids especially with heavy machinery. They should sit quietly too and not bother the other clients/staff.

bigbluestars · 03/03/2015 16:59

Under 16s are not allowed at my gym.
It's too dangerous.

SummerHouse · 03/03/2015 17:28

Men (or women I suppose but I have never seen a woman do it) dropping weights down. I nearly fall off the stepper in fright each and every time. I hate to be irritated at the gym. Like you op its where I unwind. I would NEVER take my children there. This child is pressing all my buttons with crisp eating and outdoor shoes to boot.

Nomama · 03/03/2015 17:44

I hope those gyms that do allow kids in have the right/enhanced insurances. Under 14s are not only not allowed on machines but not in a gym, under most insurance policies.

LaLyra · 03/03/2015 17:49

My two 12-year-olds regularly come into the gym to wait for me. Their swimming lesson finishes 20 minutes before my gym session so they are usually there for 10 minutes. Occasionally if their lesson is cancelled last minute they'll sit there with a kindle or phone (on silent) or whatever. 7-year-old has done it once when the crèche closed early. It's done quite regularly in the gym.

Difference is the only time a child has ever played up his mother marched him straight out whilst giving him a bollocking about disturbing people. The staff member should have done something as there's a huge difference between a child sitting quietly at the side and a child disrupting people (although the mother should have dealt with it herself).

LaLyra · 03/03/2015 17:51

Nomama - I know at the gym I go to a child's membership is almost as expensive as an adult membership (pool and everything else is half price) and the gym said it's because of the insurance cost. When they started doing it they didn't think it was fair or right to lump the extra cost onto adult memberships.

CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 03/03/2015 17:53

YANBU

treaclesoda · 03/03/2015 18:23

Nomama the gyms I use definitely are insured to have children on site because one of them does classes specifically for mums and their children and the other two do classes for children. It would be insane of them to offer those facilities and not be insured.

perpetua72 · 03/03/2015 18:31

Seven? Christ, she sounds like a three year old. Surely a seven year old knows better than that?

Nomama · 03/03/2015 18:34

That depends, treaclesoda.

Many that I teach in have a specific 'no kids' policy... they can use the creche, the pool and the dance studio, but not the gym.

It is usually the gym that requires extra insurance for under 14s. The studios are quite regularly used for kids classes in lots of places.

Original poster

elizadolittlechoc · 03/03/2015 18:35

Glad I'm not alone. It was the sheer irony of mum working out while the poor little girl was being expected to eat crisps and be quiet made me madder than the intrusion of kids on 'metime'. Hadn't even considered 'elfensafety'. I will mention it to the manager quietly next time I see her-wasn't fair to mention to new lady there at the time. I'm more than in favour of kids in pubs and restaurants.

OP posts:

treaclesoda · 03/03/2015 18:39

Nomama two of the ones I use are open plan - there is no separate studio, just a huge open space with equipment round the sides and room for classes in the middle, or equipment at one side and open space at the other. The third has two separate rooms, but you still have to walk through the equipment area to access the other room. So presumably they'd have to be insured for children as there would be no way of keeping them only in one specific area?

There are a few other gyms in my town that I understand wouldn't have any children at all, but I haven't been in them, so I'm not sure if they have a different set up.

SaucyJack · 03/03/2015 18:42

YANBU. Get a babysitter or do a workout DVD at home.

treaclesoda · 03/03/2015 18:42

As I said, I don't actually take my kids with me anyway. It's just that I do see plenty of children there and it honestly never occurred to me that people might get annoyed by their presence.

I do fully understand though that in the situation the OP describes, with the child running round, it would indeed be very annoying and the mum should just have taken her home.

calmseeker · 03/03/2015 18:51

A bit of a tangent: I am a single mother and a teacher. I couldn't go to the gym without the fantastic gym creche which takes care of my son whilst I do classes and socialise at the gym cafe. I have attended gyms in smaller places and occasional there have been children sitting on the sideline. It isn't the ideal.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 03/03/2015 19:50

When I used to go to a gym, there was occasionally a child sat on the sofa with a book or iPad while the mum did the 30min workout. They were beautifully behaved.

I wouldn't expect however to have a child who wasn't behaving there. Yes, it's boring to sit on the side, that's why you get a babysitter or use the creche facilities (or not go).

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 03/03/2015 20:11

Children are not allowed on the gym floor where I train. Some kid almost got smacked in the head with a dumbbell once.

Jewels234 · 03/03/2015 20:16

I didn't join a Virgin Active recently for this specific reason. A gym is not a place for children. YADNBU.

CalicoBlue · 03/03/2015 20:49

My gym allows kids in the pool and the cafe. Not on the gym floor or in classes. If you need to bring your kid that is too old for the creche you can leave them in the cafe. Not that I ever have. I would not be happy with kids in the gym. Kids are everywhere, it is nice to have kids free places to go to.

Once I was at a health spa for the weekend. All the literature said no under 18's. One day guest brought her toddler and husband with her, I am sure she had her reasons, but why would you do that. They were not allowed in the main building, but it did annoy me to hear toddler noises as I was lying by the pool. I was there to have a break from my kids.

mom2twoteens · 03/03/2015 20:55

YANBU

The gym is no place for any child let alone a badly behaved one.

The crisps and Costa are a joke when 'mom' is trying to be 'healthy'.

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