To wear a wetsuit in a swimming pool?

[Clearlynotmyname]

Or to put it another way, if you saw someone wearing a wetsuit during toddler splash at your local pool, would you think "twat"?

DH and the DCs adore swimming, and we love doing it as a family, except I get sooooo cold that it completely ruins the experience for me. I can manage half an hour tops, and right from the start I am counting down until I can escape to the warm showers. DCs are still too small and can't swim well enough for me to just watch from the sidelines, plus I don't like not being involved.

DH thinks a wetsuit is the solution - I'm talking a shorty one, ideally with short sleeves too, not a full body one! But I still think I'll get too many stares for comfort. Not sure I have the guts to fully own the look.

(It doesn't help that DH - bless him - actually went as far as buying me one online, but when it arrived it was a lovely poo brown, so we sent it back on the basis I would look like a huge turd floating in the pool)

Verdict please MN. Or other solutions to the freezing my tits off in pool problem...

I've seen people wearing them. Didn't really think anything about it, other than admiring a pretty purplish one.

Would the swimming pool allow it?

Thanks Mozart, that's reassuring. I've never seen any at ours, but it's good to know it's not too unusual.

Babba - I hadn't thought of that! I just assumed so...

If the swimming pool allow it I don't see a problem at all. I certainly wouldn't judge or stare, I probably would think its a good idea!

Have you tried wearing a t shirt? My granddaughter wears a shortie wetsuit and never complains of being cold whilst I am always relieved to get out of the pool. I think you would look fine in a wetsuit - the swimming instructor at our club usually wears one, or a t shirt when she isn't in the water for lesson after lesson.

I'd think you were very sensible.

And that perhaps you had an unruly lady garden that you didn't want to expose to the world.

Bonnie no comment

People wear them at our pool including the swim teachers.

DD is 4 and gets absolutely freezing, so she wears a shorty wetsuit every time we go in the main pool (baby pool is lovely and warm but she can actually swim now so it's not worth us messing about in the small pool).

I know she's a child but it's the same principle, surely?

I swim in a legsuit, and if you were wearing one of those (with or without sleeves) I don't think anyone would look twice. A lot of the more serious swimmers at my pool wear them, training for triathlons etc. More unusual to wear an actual wetsuit made of neoprene though - but if the pool allows it, go for it.

A short one would be perfect thats a great idea and would not look weird. and no reason why it wouldn't be acceptable to wear in the pool, just go and wear it, don't ask the pool in advance as they may say no for no real reason and it will be awkward but once you're already there nothing will be said.

It's a great idea. But check the pool allows it. Many of our local ones ban them.

Wear what you like, as long as its permissable by the owners of the pool.

I'm starting to think a burkini might be a good option as I hate getting my hair wet. Part of me is interested to see whether I'm treated any differently by other pool users if I wear one.

Why would pools ban them? Surely they can't ban a burkini? So you could just say I'm wearing this wetsuit for cultural reasons? Seems silly not to allow a different type of swim suit which is all these short wet suits are?

I wouldn't think anything of it.

Thanks all, I will check with the pool. Wonder why some places ban them??

high we did debate a burkini - I did wonder if it would be warm enough though (obviously not a problem for your hair wet issue) and also thought I'd struggle to explain it if I met anyone I know, especially anyone Muslim!

I wouldn't think anything of it. I like to wear the one piece boyleg style costumes which aren't far off, and all the swimming teachers at the pool DD has lessons at wear short wetsuits.

I wouldn't raise an eyebrow even if I did notice.

I'd think "oh what a good idea" and consider getting one for myself esp for not worrying about unruly ladygarden

It would have to be nice though - def not poo brown.

I wouldn't raise an eyebrow. I guess I'd either assume you were religious or had a skin issue (like... maybe sun sensitiver scars or something?)

I don't think "modest swimsuits" (like burkinis or maaany other models) would be helpful.

They're the same fabric as normal ones, they won't keep you warm. Actually the opposite, because it will take longer to dry if you leave the pool...

Children often wear little wetsuits to keep warm - don't see why an adult shouldn't. I personally either wear a swimsuit with the boy shorts, or I wear long leg surf type shorts over a normal swimsuit (I don't want to expose my thighs/bum!)

Hair still gets wet in a burkini, they aren't waterproof like a swimming cap highinthesky, at least none of the ones I've ever had.

If I saw someone wearing a wetsuit in a pool I wouldnt think anything of it, and there could be lots of different reasons why someone might choose to wear one.

Sounds like a good idea to me: my main objection would have been that you would boil, so if you're freezing then why not.

Alternatively/in addition: could you and your DP take it in turns to do lengths - so when you're getting cold you head off, sprint 4 or 6 lengths to warm up, then come back?

Tbh I would be looking for a warmer pool or into the reasons why you get so cold if it's an average temperature.

Our pool is freezing, on purpose as its a training pool. I barely use it for that reason

Ahh, just noticed it's toddler splash... sprinting may not be possible. Gentle weaving through toddlers?