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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Split swimming changing for parents and toddlers

53 replies

MummaB123 · 26/11/2015 15:41

Just wanted people's opinions on something...
A local swimming pool runs a parent and toddler session a few mornings a week, at roughly the same time as an over 50s session.
A new sign up this week states that from now on, the over 50s must use one end of the changing room, and parents and toddlers the other end.
When asked why, I have been told this is due to the over 50s requesting exclusive use of part of the changing rooms after their session.
The problem with this is that in the end we are now 'banned' from, are 2 family changing rooms with baby changing tables (I am only aware of 5 or 6 more, and obviously these are in high demand!).
Also, the only showers with doors on are now in the banned end!
I have raised my concerns with customer services and am told they have noted my concerns but are still going ahead with it. I am currently awaiting a manager to contact me as I feel this is discrimination.
They say the separation is only until 10.30 and the parent and toddler session runs from 10-11, so shouldn't cause any problems. They seem to have ignored my point that the changing rooms can be busy at the BEGINNING of a session, not just the end, and also, we sometimes leave the pool for a shower before 10.30 as it can be quite cold (bearing in mind there are many babies at this session!).
I just wondered what other people's opinions are on this and whether I am over-reacting a bit??

OP posts:
SocksRock · 26/11/2015 17:14

Um, my children are too small be left outside of the changing rooms, so I don't have much choice but to take them in when the others have lessons... Ours are communal changing rooms with cubicles, so no one is changing in front of anyone else, which I thought was the norm. Are there no private cubicles for you to use?

AliceInUnderpants · 26/11/2015 17:33

Our swimming pool female changing room has ONE changing table, ONE larger sized changing room, and four shower heads, with no curtains. The ten or so changing cubicles have curtains.

We manage fine.

I'm sure you can manage with your 5 or 6 family rooms with changing tables

Lachattequrit · 26/11/2015 17:34

Hissy appropriate name it sounds like you really, really do hate kids. A swimming pool is a public space where children and families have as much right to be as anyone else. Most pools have adult only swim times. If you're not swimming at one of those times you have to share the space with children. OP, YANBU.

Original poster
MummaB123 · 26/11/2015 18:28

AliceInUnderpants, that is a very small number of showers and cubicles! That's great that you can manage, but do you not think you'd be annoyed if the facilities were actually there but you were not allowed to use them?? Also, I wonder how many people attend your session? There are at times 30 parents each with a child at mine. There are notices to say children MUST be changed in cubicles, and the usual cubicles are only just big enough for one person, so you really couldn't change a baby in there!

OP posts:
VestalVirgin · 26/11/2015 18:37

Maybe you can work out a compromise where the families usually use the changing rooms on the one end, but can use the baby changing tables? One baby is not nearly as bad as a whole group of toddlers, and as there would be only one baby in there at the time, that should be okay.

If you think you will only be there half an hour, why not come later? It effectively changes the times for the parent and toddler session, but I feel the best solution would actually be to change times, anyway, so that the over 50s are out by the time the toddlers come in.

Hissy · 26/11/2015 18:43

No chatte, I just don't like kids out of control, or crowds of them there for no reason as I clearly stated.

And actually, the pool is hired for lessons, and not open/public sessions, both in my case and in the Op's

If I did go to public sessions, I'd accept the mix whatever it was, but this is not the case.

Sounds like your name is appropriate too chatte.. Even if you can't write French Smile

Lachattequrit · 26/11/2015 19:17

They aren't there for no reason. People don't just take their kids to hang out in swimming pool changing rooms for fun.
I am French so can confidently say that I can write in French. There's a reason why my username is what it is. I wasn't counting on anyone to be dull pedantic enough to complain about it. Smile

silverduck · 26/11/2015 19:26

I suspect the oldies want to use the large changing rooms due to mobility issues. IME mothers are very aggressive about getting the big changing rooms, when actually they can manage in a tiny one just fine if they have to.

merrymouse · 26/11/2015 19:26

I don't think it's about fair/unfair. They are selling baby and toddler swimming without providing appropriate facilities in the changing rooms.

Do they want you there or not?

Original poster
MummaB123 · 26/11/2015 19:30

Don't get me wrong, these are no 'oldies'! They are over 50s who come and swim lengths. The only time I have ever seen one of them use one of the large changing rooms was when a lady saw me heading towards it and she darted in in front of me! She certainly didn't have mobility issues!
I'm not saying they were wrong to ask for exclusive use of some changing rooms and showers, I'm saying I think management were wrong to just grant it without thinking of the impact on others!

OP posts:
kali110 · 27/11/2015 03:03

You don't know if any of them have mobility issues though.
You wouldn't know i do to look at me.
I can walk.
Im in severe pain everyday snd i struggle to bend down and get up on the otherhand..

Original poster
MummaB123 · 27/11/2015 11:46

No, you're right, I don't. But equally, who could say if any of the parents have disabilities??? I have no idea, but I doubt the staff do either!

OP posts:
thelouise · 27/11/2015 12:13

YABU to state it's discrimination which has a specific meaning. However, YANBU to complain about the petty rules.

HaydeeofMonteCristo · 27/11/2015 13:51

It would seem ok if it were the other way round, but of course the people with babies need the changing tables. That's why those tables are there.

Lots of people with small kids/babies have back problems that would make changing at floor level really hard. Plus the other group might need space but they don't need that particular space or the changing tables.

Crazypetlady · 27/11/2015 15:29

Who wants to put their baby on a changing room floor anyway ?

YANBU O.P

cleaty · 27/11/2015 15:31

I stopped going to swimming because I nearly got knocked over a few times by kids. The parents didn't even notice. I am disabled, and I can swim lengths. The water means many disabled people are more mobile in wter than out of it.

The larger changing rooms are not just for parents with kids. If you have mobility problems changing in a small changing room can be really really difficult.

cleaty · 27/11/2015 15:33

But I find most young adults awareness of disability and how hard it is, is totally lacking.

LoTeQuiero · 27/11/2015 15:45

*hrtft BUT:

Mine are well past the baby stage but that's just outrageous. I suspect that they've acquiesced to the over-50s because a) they probably made a bigger fuss and b) it's a bigger group? i.e., more money to be made??

I would definitely be calling them on that decision - the practicalities just don't make sense!

cleaty · 27/11/2015 15:46

The practicalities make perfect sense if you are older and disabled and worried about being knocked over by kids, and you need a larger changing room to change.

honkinghaddock · 27/11/2015 16:32

I have to change my 9 year old on the floor most of time. At least babies fit on a changing mat or towel.

Original poster
MummaB123 · 27/11/2015 16:35

I totally understand the disability angle, and if that is the case, then fine. But as I said originally, I was told 'the over 50s requested exclusive use of part of the changing rooms'. Nothing was mentioned about them needing bigger rooms.
I have also made the point to them that I have been glared at and huffed at for being in one of the 6 showers, because one of them got there after me and my baby and had to wait! (The rest were filled with the over 50 group, and this was prior to the rule change!) I get fed up with this sort of behaviour. I paid to be there just as they did, and it is a public swimming pool.
For those who have commented about the changing rooms being full of extra children being dragged along who are not even swimming, it is not like that. It is a session for parents with their baby/toddler, and the majority of people have one child with them. The ones who have two usually bring a grandparent with them.
I just don't see why we can't all be civilised and share, like a normal society should! If someone is disabled then fine, but there is also a disabled changing room, and I have never seen it used during these sessions.

OP posts:
Original poster
MummaB123 · 27/11/2015 16:37

Honkinghaddock, I take my 4 year old to swimming lessons at the same place, and change her in a normal changing room because she can stand up and there is (just!) room for that, but with a baby on a changing mat, there is literally no room for that!

OP posts:
honkinghaddock · 27/11/2015 16:44

They must be very small cubicles because until a couple of years ago I changed ds on the floor in single cubicles.

Original poster
MummaB123 · 27/11/2015 16:47

They are! Half of it is taken up by the bench! You could put a mat down but no way you'd fit down there with it!

OP posts:
Original poster
MummaB123 · 27/11/2015 16:48

My daughter sits/stands on the bench while I change her.

OP posts: