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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To leave baby in pushchair, at the side of the pool, while I go swimming?

220 replies

Zootopia · 22/09/2016 16:05

Hi, not sure if this would be unreasonable or not.

I have a son who has swimming lessons. It's at a country club, so you need a membership card to even have any kind of access to the pool and it's pretty small in there. Just some nice seating around the sides. I have a newborn baby who I'd rather not take swimming when DS is there as I like to focus on just him in the water (he is 3) and he is encouraged not to use floats, as he can swim underwater, but we're just getting him to do it on top, so not an option for the time being. Also, I'd just rather wait until I do baby classes.

Would I be unreasonable to leave baby in pushchair (asleep) while I go into the pool with DS? It's not mother and toddler classes, it's just him and a couple of other children but I can still use the swim lanes and would be nice to swim. Also, he likes to have a free swim before lessons start.

Thanks Smile

OP posts:
duxb · 23/09/2016 07:09

You suggesting taking the baby into a private members club whilst your eldest child swims is one thing, suggesting you will also swim seems wildly irresponsible to me, particularly when you are wary of leaving youngest at a crèche.

Surely both need to be in the water with you, or your eldest does his class & you watch from the side with your youngest.

honkinghaddock · 23/09/2016 07:10

My concern would be the temperature given the poor temperature regulation in newborns. I have an older child with poor temperature regulation and he has been admitted to hospital because of overheating poolside.

PenelopeFlintstone · 23/09/2016 07:31

Sounds fine to me. Lots of people do it where I live.
It's interesting to read other views, but sometimes OPs get shirty with posters with different views because of the way they labour the point so heavily.

JellyTipisthebest · 23/09/2016 07:35

Its not a public space its a private gym with a pool so far less risk. As long as you are i the uk and not somewhere that has earthquakes I don't see a problem.

taybert · 23/09/2016 07:44

I'm not sure how the OP is asking other clients to supervise her child? the older one has a teacher, she is in the pool with the baby in view/earshot. It all sounds like quite a small, quiet setting where she would be able to hop out and respond if the baby cries, I'm not sure what the problem would be? I think in a busy council pool the answer would be different.

Swissgemma · 23/09/2016 07:50

In my local pool (not lane swimming but bobbing around in warm water thermal baths) is fine with babies in carry cots on sun loungers. There are frequently sleeping babies while parents swim. (Admittedly in Switzerland)

taybert · 23/09/2016 07:55

The OP is upset because of the implications that she's hugely irresponsible and probably depressed as well as not aware of whether her vagina is still bleeding because she asked if this is something that people generally do. If the answers had been "No, sorry OP, I've never seen that" or "that's not allowed where I go" then that's a bit different to "your life has changed, you can't do the things you used to, give your newborn the care they deserve, are you depressed?"
Christ. It's a good job I didn't know you lot when I'd just had my second. I would have been bloody depressed.

Natsku · 23/09/2016 08:15

If the pool is alright with it then go for it, sounds fine to me. I'd use the carrycot instead of the car seat though, less likely to overheat and they shouldn't be in car seats longer than necessary anyway.

vitalite · 23/09/2016 08:15

What taybert said

Beeziekn33ze · 23/09/2016 08:25

Sycamore - the several belligerent and aggressive posts I read on this thread were not from OP! How very gf to ask whether she is coping! 🤔

Tobebythesea · 23/09/2016 08:30

I personally wouldn't as I'd be worried the baby would get too hot. I'd use the crèche and have a robe with me and for my son so if I was called by a staff member to bf I could.

BlurtonOnKites4eva · 23/09/2016 08:38

Honestly with these attitudes how the fuck does anyone do anything with a baby?

I hope the OP comes back saying they'll let her do it.

pilotswife · 23/09/2016 08:39

I did this with all my babies - would have gone mad if I didn't swim. I had a carrycot and just put them down in the shade under an umbrella. It was a private club and not unusual at all for parents to let babies swim while they had a swim or swam and played with their other children/child.

pilotswife · 23/09/2016 08:40

Ha - should read "not unusual to let babies SLEEP while they had a swim !!

WhisperingLoudly · 23/09/2016 08:44

sycamore FFS could you be anymore patronising Hmm

The OP is clearly coping and happy to venture into the big wide world. Good for her.

Lots of women recover very quickly after birth (I was back swimming within days) and just get on with parenting without the drama. That should be celebrated not used as an opportunity for head tilting faux concern

MiddleClassProblem · 23/09/2016 08:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mycraneisfixed · 23/09/2016 09:01

Make use of the crèche and feel lucky you have that option.

Wdigin2this · 23/09/2016 09:06

Can't you get a friend/relative to go with you? I don't think I'd risk it otherwise!

GreenPetal94 · 23/09/2016 09:09

Sounds fine if its a v small friendly kind of pool and the people who run it are happy.

mumonahottinroof · 23/09/2016 09:12

I used to swim in a pool where a mum with a toddler (about 3 and big) used to strap him in a buggy poolside with a Nintendo and do her lengths.

I was always a bit Hmm about this, but she obviously needed the swim for her sanity, so hey ho

With a sleeping baby which I am SURE the OP would put in a safe place ie not near edge of pool where it could get knocked in, I can't really see the problem.

RB68 · 23/09/2016 09:13

I think in a small underused place its fine, she will prob be checking baby every 2 mins anyway. I don't find it alot different to baby being in their cot upstairs and Mum downstairs - bar the being available to others in a public (albeit quiet club) space. But then she is watching and all any staff have to do is watch - which fundamentally they are there to do anyway.

I would not have pushchair but carrycot or babyseat becasue of the wheel issue ie 1. they are dirty and 2. There is a risk of it rolling.

I think its situational and in the environment described with permission of the club fine. In a public baths with 25m pool and furious lane swimming and minimal supervision by anyone - absolutely not

Beeziekn33ze · 23/09/2016 09:14

Blurton. I only came back in the hope that OP's pool had said it was all right!

RB68 · 23/09/2016 09:14

err can't use creche as baby too young....

RB68 · 23/09/2016 09:18

re reference to sids - that is really uncalled for - it would probably have happened anyway whether she was on phone or not. I remember as a child the queen came through our town and Mother and baby in old fashioned lie down pram watching parade, baby died in pram (My Mum sorted and helped as ex specialist baby nurse) there was no such thing as on the phone in those days pre mobiles and nothing the parent did was wrong either. It sounds like you blame your friend for her baby's death!!

MiddleClassProblem · 23/09/2016 09:21

I bloody well don't! How dare you? And this was pre mobiles.