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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not wash my kids after swimming?

150 replies

siblingrevelryagain · 04/08/2017 12:17

I seem to be the only one who doesn't-lots of threads I've seen in the past seem to have 50% of parents showering at swimming pool, with the other half talking about bringing them home and throwing them in bath or shower.

I do neither; they get dressed (onesie and pj's in winter!) and come home, and later go to bed without showering.

In my defence, they all have good skin and strong constitutions so I can't see any outward effects of this, but equally I'm prepared to be told if im being dirty/unhygienic.

OP posts:
FindoGask · 04/08/2017 13:29

Argh! From the link that LurkingHusband posted..

"Contaminants introduced by swimmers can dramatically influence the operation of indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Sources include micro-organisms from infected swimmers and body oils including sweat, cosmetics, suntan lotion, urine, saliva and fecal matter; for example, it was estimated by researchers that swimming pools contain, on average, 30 to 80 ml of urine for each person that uses the pool.

In addition, the interaction between disinfectants and pool water contaminants can produce a mixture of chloramines and other disinfection by-products. The journal Environmental Science & Technology reported that sweat and urine react with chlorine and produce trichloramine and cyanogen chloride, two chemicals dangerous to human health. Nitrosamines are another type of the disinfection by-products that are of concern as a potential health hazard."

Nice.

onceandneveragain · 04/08/2017 13:31

Yeah I don't understand why you wouldn't - they're already wet and still have to change from swimming costume to dry clothes so surely you save very little time and effort. Chlorine can be very strong ((and swimming pools very manly) so I wouldn't like to go home without very quickly rinsing it off even if I didn't do the whole shower gel, shampoo and conditioner.

StiginaGrump · 04/08/2017 13:32

I can't be bothered by the relatively small quantities on their skin - they have drunk a bucket load whilst swimming. There is all sorts in dust, on door handles and keyboards. We are designed to cope.

abigcupoffuckyou · 04/08/2017 13:34

We're not designed at all, but why the question is why wouldn't you? No, its not going to do you any harm, but its such a simple thing to do. You won't die not washing your hands after the loo either, but you should do that.

lettuceWrap · 04/08/2017 13:35

YABU I used to swim every day (as a young adult) in a chlorine pool and it was terrible for both my hair and skin. I very quickly learned to shower properly (before and after!) to minimise that.
My hair (red/fair and a bit curly) would be like a pile rough frizzy straw, and it affected the natural colour too, until I started putting in a chlorine protective hair product before swimming and special shampoo afterwards.
My skin, if not washed and moisturised, would be itchy for hours and developed this ghostly white top layer (of bleached old skin cells I presume), especially on my arms for some reason.

I loved swimming but I have to say, when I stopped in favour of a gym with no pool, I also stopped getting constant minor bugs...

LondonLassInTheCountry · 04/08/2017 13:36

Def have to shower and wash hair afterwards.....

TuckMyWin · 04/08/2017 13:39

The primary school pool my kids have lessons at on the weekend doesn't have showers. We do make sure they have a bath that evening as I don't like to think of them going to bed with chlorine in their hair/on their skin.

lettuceWrap · 04/08/2017 13:44

A pool with no showers Shock

firawla · 04/08/2017 13:50

Mine just rinse in the pool shower. They have swimming caps on so I don't get them to wash hair there. I normally tell them be quite quick as there are not many showers and other kids waiting too, so quick rinse then change and home. Sometimes proper shower at home, sometimes not!

elevenclips · 04/08/2017 13:59

Always shower my kids at home. I take it your kids must have very very short hair if you don't feel the need to wash off the chlorine?

LuLuuuuuuu · 04/08/2017 14:00

Not been swimming in many years but remember that the chlorine was not as strong as in my teens . The pool used to stink of chlorine and it was the type made your eyes red for a while after .

BeALert · 04/08/2017 14:32

A pool with no showers shock

We swim in hotel pools so we have no access to a shower until we're home again.

OTOH DH is part of the management team running the hotels, so we do know how the pools are being kept clean.

Original poster
siblingrevelryagain · 04/08/2017 14:37

In response to the question above, j have 2 boys with short, thick hair and a daughter with shoulder length curly hair (which doesn't end up like dreadlocks when it's conved before bed).

I find it hard to get worked up about the surface of their skin to be honest; if I thought hard about the stuff going in their mouth/ears/up their nostrils i'd probably never go near a pool again.

And for those saying it's easy-three children all swimming at different times means I'm always juggling a child into or out of clothes and into a lesson, so it's not going to be as simple. We swim Friday eve after school so it's lovely to come home and have a night off (I use all day suncream in summer which has to be washed off so rarely have shower free nights)

OP posts:
RobotGoat · 04/08/2017 14:51

I always wash the DC after we've been swimming. It's nothing to do with concerns over germs or chlorine for me; it's just that I always feel dry and tired after swimming and a shower tends to refresh me. I just assume that if I feel that way then the kids will too!

TuckMyWin · 04/08/2017 15:43

I suppose it's possible the school kids have access to showers in the main building (perhaps with the gym changing facilities) but we only have access to the pool building which has none. It wouldn't surprise me if there weren't any though - I don't recall most primary schools I've been in having shower facilities. And the pool is one of those that used to be outdoors and had a greenhouse type roof retrofitted. It only has one toilet - in the girls' changing room!

oldlaundbooth · 04/08/2017 15:44

Grim here too.

DH's family seem to think swimming in a lake constitutes a bath/shower too Hmm

LAlady · 04/08/2017 16:40

My DD swims competitively for a club and can be in the pool twice a day. She's in the shower when she gets out of the pool to rinse off and again when she gets home for a proper wash. Not showering after being in the pool is just awful.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 04/08/2017 16:44

ew, so they have dry chlorine and piss covered skin

nah, shower them takes 5 minutes

RaininSummer · 04/08/2017 16:49

I dont think its dirty as they have had a bath in bleach but the chlorine smell and effect on skin and hair is nasty esp on long hair.

flickertee · 04/08/2017 17:16

Grim. Chlorine and piss. Sad

NevermindtheBollocks · 04/08/2017 19:08

*Today 12:30 GameOldBirdz

I judge people hard who don't shower themselves or their children after they swim*

I judge people harder when they don't shower BEFORE swimming.

After?.... Meh! I don't.

NevermindtheBollocks · 04/08/2017 19:09

oldlaund I don't shower after swimming in the lake/sea/river. I consider it cleaner than the pool. But I don't consider them a shower alternative either

Velvian · 04/08/2017 19:16

YANBU. I have taken the dcs swimming today & not showered them (or myself) at the pool, as the showers are disgusting, they're in the toilets. Tbh i always find swimming pool showers grim to the point that i feel more dirty after using them. I have showered at home though & just about to get dcs in the bath. It wouldn't be the end of the world if they didn't have a bath though.

user1471443504 · 04/08/2017 19:26

Swimming lesson 4.30 - 5 . Home by 5.40 at the latest and straight into the bath and hair washed whilst tea is cooking. Their hair dries while they are eating.