to feel guilty about considering using a childrens club at the gym for my 19month old ?

[catswag]

since the youngest got to 18months I feel like im getting my act together a bit more
he is now v steady on his feet etc and starting to get easier etc

anyway, I'm rejoining the gym, virgin active, and they have a fab childrens play area, all very clean and safe, nice girls that work there, loads of really nice toys,bouncy castle, outdoor play area with ride ons little tikes equipment
slides etc

they also have messy play and arts and crafts

his older is sister age 7, has been there before, and LOVES it, esp if I book her in when there is a craft session on etc
and I feel 100% fine with her going as she can obviously talk n tell me if she is not happy about anything

but I've always personally,felt uneasy about under threes in childcare
mainly because he wouldn't be able to tell me if anything happened he wasn't happy about

but it would only be for an hour a time, and I would be there, just in the gym, so on hand, plus if I'm really worried I could always do it after school and so he can go I their with his sister at the same time, so she can keep a bit of an eye on him

it just makes me feel a bit guilty considering do it though

YANBU. I see your thought process, but if it's anything like my gym creche (which was Virgin until recently), they'll have a wonderful time. Plus nothing to stop you popping back to spy check they're ok (if you need a reason, leave your water bottle in the bag or something!!). Plus if there's something wrong, they''ll come and find you. Enjoy your gym time, enjoy the you time and don't feel bad :-)

He will love it. Parenting isn't about being a martyr.

Don't really like judgy comments regarding under 3s in childcare.

Millions are and millions love it.

Yabu.
Some under 3 have to go to childcare due to parents working... 1hr is nothing and he may actually enjoy it.

He'll be fine. It's only an hour. You need to take care of your health, you can't put it on hold until he's 3.

The way I see it, going to the gym is part of maintaining your physical and mental health. Keeping yourself in good shape is a good thing for you and your children. I would give the children's club a go. Like you say, you're only a very short distance away. If it doesn't work out then it doesn't work out, but I would give it a shot if I were you.

My 19mth old has been at the gym creche once a week since he was 5mths old. Sometimes I dont even go to the bloody gym, I sit and have a coffee and read a trashy mag.
He loves it, and by getting used to spending time away from me I hope it will be easier for him (and me) when he starts nursery age 3 than his big sister was!

Some under 3 have to go to childcare due to parents working

True, but I can understand OP's worries, especially if he hasn't been in any kind if childcare before. I don't think it OP was meaning to be judgy.

I felt the same as you but soon stopped feeling guilty. We also use a Virgin gym and the crèche is great. My DDs go to nursery 3 days a week plus I book them in for an hour in the crèche 2 or 3 days a week. My DDs are 2 and 3 ( so the creche is free for the 3 year old). They love it. I get a break and am getting much fitter. I figure that it can only be a good thing to be fitter and healthier for my kids. Plus I'm teaching them that it is normal to exercise regularly which is also good.
Go for it. Occasionally I book 1 1/2 hours and spend some time in the sauna - bliss!

that's a great idea, about leaving a water bottle in the bag, incase, I want to pop in.
I have got better at feeling less guilty about things, like for example, I ex bf dd until 6months, almost killed me tbh, and I didn't always enjoy it
which is a shame really

whereas with the youngest, at around 4 months I gae him a bottle here and there for no other reason than to simply give myself a break

other stupid things I feel guilty about too
its awful
must be mother guilt or something!
like we can afford to have a cleaner, but we don't etc

the crazy thing is, I honestly do think he would love it
there is nothing in there at all that is small or that he can choke on and it very clean and nice

if I do put him, or him and his sister in there for an hour, while I'm I the gym, then we could all go fro a swim together afterwards

when I have left him before, with relatives, he hasn't cried whatsoever
which has actually shocked me a bit
as dd used to cry for five mins then be fine
so I sort of think it could actually do him good

oh I would never judge someone for working, I admire them
I can barely manage to keep ontop of what I do let alone work too
I respect them

Oh god no enjoy it. I wish I had done something like this, it would've totally raised my mood when my kids were that age!

If you can afford a cleaner DO IT! Book her in for an hour or two when you go to the gym

"My 19mth old has been at the gym creche once a week since he was 5mths old. Sometimes I dont even go to the bloody gym, I sit and have a coffee and read a trashy mag.
He loves it, and by getting used to spending time away from me I hope it will be easier for him (and me) when he starts nursery age 3 than his big sister was!"

yes I had thought about this as sometimes, not all thee time, dd would cry a bit when I dropped her at preschool at 3, she was always fine within five mins, but not nice for either of us, so this could help

hamish, I agree whatever makes the parents happy tends to make the children happy in turn

it's weird, it's like I know I'm being a bit of a prat about this and that it will be good for us all, yet I can't stop it???

perhaps I will book him in for a taster with me, then the first time I leave him, I will book his sister in too so she's there, and I will do the bottle trick too

then asses how I feel about it

poopoo, that is a good idea, but baby steps for me! will need to build up to that

thanks for the advice, I'm going to give it a try.

Personally no I wouldn't leave a 19 month old at a gym creche. It's different from childminder or nursery where the child gradually builds up a close relationship with a carer. At the gym creche the children don't really have a connection with the staff, who tend to work short shifts and don't get to know the child. I heard that our local gym tends to persuade the child to have a dummy to keep them quiet for a couple of hours while the mum uses the exercise bike or has a swim etc.

I suppose it depends how desperate you are for 'me time'.

Sylvanians, that may be your experience of gym crèches but the OP specifically mentions Virgin active gyms. I do have experience of these crèches and they are good facilities. They are OFSTED inspected and staffed by qualified staff who not only work in the creche but spend the rest of their day teaching children sports. My children have been well looked after in our gym creche and have close relationships with all the staff.
If you don't want to use a gym creche that is your prerogative but don't assume all are the same be used they are not. The facilities and set-up at Virgin gyms is not something you know about unless you have used them.
And no, I don't work for Virgin!
There are plenty of things I moan about at our gym. The creche is not one of them.

Your baby will enjoy it i always think toddlers get bored of see the same faces every day a break from mummy will do him good its an hour relax

I've just started doing it with my ds he is 22 months, he seems to have a nice time, they do come and get you and have done for me, I've only done it 3 times so far. I don't like it that much but don't have another option If I want to go to classes.

I used to work in a swimming pool/gym creche we looked after the children very well and the more they came the better they knew the staff just because its short term childcare doesnt make the staff incapable and whats with the sarcastic me time

I've been using my Virgin creche since DC was 3 months old! The girls there are all amazing, they've watched her grow up, have bond with her, know her habits/likes/dislikes- whenever I come back in she is so so happy. Don't feel bad at all.