Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Natsku · 04/08/2017 19:35

I can't stand the smell of chlorine (and my local pool doesn't even use that much, not compared to pools in the UK) so no way would I not wash DD after swimming, it just wouldn't occur to me. Always wash with shampoo and shower gel too otherwise I can still smell the chlorine, go to the sauna as well to get properly clean.

Don't feel the same need after a swim in the lake though as that's fresh water though sometimes a hot shower is nice afterwards to warm up!

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 04/08/2017 19:37

I actually judge people who DONT shower before they swim
It's 2 second to rinse your morning poo traces and sweat off

I think it's maybe best to not even contemplate Hmm

Natsku · 04/08/2017 19:39

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

Same here. Showers before swimming are mandatory at my local pool (and all other pools in my country most likely) and if someone dares try to go swim without showering first you can bet that someone will tell them off (my friend got told off for showering with her swimming costume on - got told to take it off and shower properly!)

YellowLawn · 04/08/2017 19:43

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

exactly - it's properly minging not to shower before swimming. and to not plait hair or using caps if you have lonv hair. euww.

Gwenhwyfar · 04/08/2017 19:44

Chlorine's really bad for your skin and hair.

PurpleDragon76 · 04/08/2017 19:45

Mine shower before and after. Before cos the signs at the pool ask you to so they do, after to wash the chlorine off. They have swam in water I wouldn't want them drinking so I want it rinsed off their skin. Thats me, don't really care what others do but a bit surprised they can't have a 30 second rinse

winglesspegasus · 04/08/2017 19:51

chlorine is poison read the links above,it turns into an even worse poison in pool on skin
you slather them in sunscreen but dont bath them before or after swimming
unfortunatelly lakes oceans are as bad for other reasons,was a professional scuba diver and even with a wet or dry suit we bathed before and after diving in anything

What Are the Causes of Giardiasis?

Giardia are found in animal and human feces. They also thrive in contaminated food, water, and soil. They can survive outside a host for long periods of time. Accidentally consuming these parasites can lead to an infection.
The most common way to get giardiasis is to drink water that contains giardia. Contaminated water can be in swimming pools, spas, and bodies of water, such as lakes. Sources of contamination include animal feces, diapers, and agricultural runoff.
Contracting giardiasis from food is less common because heat kills the parasites. Handling food with poor hygiene or eating produce rinsed in contaminated water can allow the parasite to spread.
Giardiasis also spreads through personal contact. Unprotected anal sex is one way that this infection passes from one person to another.

Changing a child’s diaper or picking up the parasite while working in a child care center are also common methods of infection. Children are at high risk for giardiasis because they’re likely to encounter feces when wearing diapers or potty training.

topcat2014 · 04/08/2017 21:01

I enjoy the shower after the pool - as it feels hotter. Just the 'open plan' one though, with kit still on.

As an adult, I dry myself, then put the towel on the floor to stand on, so I get to keep my feet clean from the floor. The towel is getting washed at home anyway.

Wouldn't bother to wash again once home (assuming swimming was in the latter part of the day)

EvilDoctorBallerinaDuck · 04/08/2017 21:05

YANBU. I don't, mostly because DS2 is phobic about showers, but also because they don't need it. I wash their hair on the normal days in the bath. Hmm

MsHarry · 04/08/2017 22:07

Always shower at the pool, if busy then do it at home. Mainly to get the chlorine smell off and wash hair which if you have long hair, goes very dry.

BeccaAnn · 04/08/2017 22:20

100% shower after the swimming pool. not only because all of our hair feels horrible afterwards but just to wash off the chemicals and 'other people'. I hate baths anyway so swimming about in everything despite the chemicals just leaves me feeling awful!

Beebee7 · 04/08/2017 22:23

Well I always showered my kids in the communal showers (with their cossies on,) and myself too. But I wouldn't judge anyone who didn't...

Crumbs1 · 04/08/2017 22:25

Mine never showered after swimming at public leisure centre at primary or after swimming lessons and they seem to have survived. More importantly they did shower before swimming.
They used to go to bed without bathing after swimming in the sea sometimes too.
Not sure how they ever made it to adulthood.

PuppyMonkey · 04/08/2017 22:32

Lordy the smell of chlorine makes me heave. Just imagining a houseful of kids stinking the bedrooms out all night. Aaaaaaaaaaaaargh.

Flyingovertheocean · 04/08/2017 22:37

I'm going to be berated for this!!! but a bit too much wine so not currently afraid of the forthcoming abuse! .... mine don't shower after ... or ... before (aaahhhhg bad mum alert!) their swims!!! (well, maybe sometimes before if it's an afternoon swim and they r a bit muddy/sweaty etc!!) Hmm Hadn't given it too much thought before!

Hotheadwheresthecoldbath · 04/08/2017 22:47

When my dd used to go swimming it was all part of the fun all the girls showering(communal and in cosies),that was their socialising time.These were girls that all went to different schools so only met at swimming.

PrincessPlod · 04/08/2017 22:53

Ds has a quick rinse before entering the pool and a shower afterwards. I hate the smell of chlorine and I know my skin feels tight after swimming so wouldn't want ds to be uncomfortable. He does suffer from sensitive skin but even if he didn't I want him to shower

ThinkOfTheHorses · 04/08/2017 22:55

It will ruin their hair ...

WorknameJimEllis · 04/08/2017 23:03

You do know that chlorine dissolved in water doesn't smell.

It's the by products of chlorine reacting with the ammonia in piss that smells.

IJustLostTheGame · 04/08/2017 23:04

Yabu.
They have been swimming in chemicals... and pee.

Beachbaby2017 · 04/08/2017 23:59

I'm not fussy about showering habits in general but I definitely think it's better to wash the chlorine off than to leave it. It itches too!

BackforGood · 05/08/2017 00:16

It's not about being 'grim' not to, but it just makes sense, at the point when they are already wet to get rid of the smell of chlorine and to wash it out of hair - otherwise it feels horrible once dry.

exWifebeginsat40 · 05/08/2017 00:35

regarding swimming pool floors and feet - here's how it goes:

flip flops. dry, dress, dry feet on other towel, socks and shoes. flip flops into their own carrier bag, to be flung from the car on the way home. then simply burn towels, swimming costumes and the bag they have been in, quick bob through the decon shower, uranium cream then bed.

i don't know why anyone would struggle to work it out, really.

melj1213 · 05/08/2017 01:11

I always make DD( shower after her swimming lessons to get her to rinse the chlorinated pool water from her skin and she has really thick hair so it needs washing or it goes really straw-like if it isn't rinsed out. Also she grew up in Spain where it's just second nature to rinse off before going into the pool and shower afterwards.

Once she's had her shower, she comes out, gets out of her swim things, straight into her PJs or onesie & flipflops, home, homework while I make tea then straight to bed (as she's usually exhausted after swimming). Showering her at the pool means I don't have to do it when she gets home and means she's more or less clean when I put her into her PJs

Olympiathequeen · 05/08/2017 08:40

Chlorine is a bleach even in the mild form found in swimming pools. Leaving it to dry on the skin can damage even the healthiest skin.

What on earth is difficult about getting a child to stand under a shower at the swimming pool for a few minutes post swim?

Swipe left for the next trending thread