Swimming pool closing on us

[Gushpanka]

My Dd is 4 and has a swimming lesson 17.30-18.00 at our local pool. It's the last lesson of the day and public swimming ends quite a bit earlier.

They expect us out by 18.15 and staff will stand over us, hurrying us up if we go over. I find it quite stressful and, try as I might, I can't be be out within 15 minutes (unless we skip showering which I don't want to do).

First of all, lesson ends and then have to get kids out the pool. The complex is big so we have to go up a flight of stairs to the showers, along a long corridor and down two flights to the team changing room and then up a flight of stairs to the exit.

I have to shower DD and wash her hair (just a quick wash, no conditioning etc). Then down to changing room (wrapped in towel of course). Then quick moisturize (can't skip as she has dry skin but literally dry her and slather it on as quick as possible), then get her dressed. Obviously no time for hair drying so I bring a balaclava for her (we bike so I would much rather dry her hair). Then coats, boots, winter gear etc.

I never manage in 15 mins. Some of the others do but DD is the youngest in the class and, well, I guess we're just not as fast as others.

But AIBU to think 15 minutes to be out the door after a swimming lesson is too little time? I annoys me that they don't seem to leave enough time but maybe we're just too slow?

Why don't you want to skip the shower and have it at home?

Hey, at the risk of sounding like a hippy, life’s too short, no one one is going to die if you leave with rats tail hair and well wrapped up and shower at home.

I seriously couldn’t get my kaftan in a twist over this.

YANBU, 15 minutes clearly is enough to do what you’ve described. In fact I’m impressed you manage it as fast as you do!

*I'd change but it's the only class for DD's level.

I don't want to shower her at home as it's already late for her. I like to put her straight in her PJs. Also not so good for her skin.

I am thinking of complaining but if 15 minutes is considered enough time to get out of pool, up to showers, down to changing room, get a 4 year old dressed and ready and out then I'll suck it up.*

I, I, I! What about the people who work there, they may have children to collect, lives to live, but of course your wants trump theirs don't they?

YANBU at all, 15 minutes is clearly not enough. The use of the other facilities is factored into what you’re paying for the lesson and those facilities include the changing rooms, showers and the hairdryers AND adequate time in which to use them without having to rush or skimp on your routine. Every sympathy for staff being made to wait around but if they are not getting paid for that time, that’s not your fault, they need to take it up with their employers.

"I, I, I! What about the people who work there, they may have children to collect, lives to live, but of course your wants trump theirs don't they?"

Are you insane? WHich pronoun do you suggest I use?

Rinse your child off, go home, do everything else at home.

YANBU

I wouldn't even like to leave with the wet hair if not getting into a car in winter. You have every right to shower, dry moisturize and brush & dry DD hair before leaving. I 100% would complain and ask for later open g or discounted private lessons at a suitable time.

"Rinse your child off, go home, do everything else at home."

How much time will that save me? I've broken down the timing earlier.

I’m with you OP, I couldn’t do it within 15mins without serious hurrying.
I’d speak to the centre and ask them to stay open until 6:30.

Hopefully your time will change soon anyway and you will just avoid the problem. Encourage DD to get to the next level ASAP!

I, I, I! What about the people who work there, they may have children to collect, lives to live, but of course your wants trump theirs don't they?

Its not about her needs trumping theres, its about the service and time provision that they are offering is insufficient to complete the necessary tasks.

She can not change class as its the only one available, Even if she forwent the shower she still wouldn't be out in 15 minutes and the final 'I' was her asking the MN jury if they felt the 15 minutes sufficient before she complained.

From experience 15 minutes is not enough time to get a 4 year old out of a pool, changed and dressed and if he pool is providing a service they should provide sufficient time to allow for this. Also 4 year olds ALWAYS need the loo after swimming often more than once, this eats into the minutes allowed.

Dd has just finished swimming. She took 20 minutes to wash hair, dried and dressed. I have a towel turban for her hair. She wasn't faffing and was lucky to get a first go in the shower as it was busy. They walk down a short flight of stairs into the changing room.
I think you should complain.

So if your lessons now cost more to pay for staff for your extra 10 mins would you be happy with that?

What if you or your DD had hidden disabilities? They shouldn’t be standing over you and hurrying you, it’s not fair. I have a disability and I’d have stern words for anyone who tried this with me. The staff need to be paid to stay on an extra 15 minutes, not allowed to harass people to be out.

I’d get the child changed poolside into onsie or fluffy trousers/jumper combo.

Straight home and into a hot, clean shower and moisturise at your leisure.

Dd is 15 and swims every day. Sometimes she will shower at the pool but often she prefers to get home quickly for a proper shower or bath, with hair conditioner and bath oil for her skin.

She can be out in 4 mins and we can be home quicker than if she stayed for a shower.

Use the other changing rooms. They can't have it both ways,and apparently they don't as you're the only one that uses the team changing rooms. Out of curiosity are you the last one out at the door or do other parents struggle as well?

‘I prefer’ says it all - you are being unreasonable.

I can't imagine these Mumsnetters saying don't bother showering after swimming for a child who has dry skin and NEEDS moisturising (both my DDs do and would be itchy whingy by the time we got home) if the lesson was any other time of day. The pool schedule is too tight to be reasonable for the age of children in that lesson.

Ask management if your class can use the public ones so you can be out quicker and they can clean the team ones earlier. Especially if it's only 6 in the class. I imagine the rule is due to members of the public whinging that hoards of class children swarm in after their lesson and take over the public changing rooms. Not so the case for your class if there's so few and public swimming has ended.

To be out in 20 minutes in that scenario is actually pretty good going. I wouldn't want to have to undress and shower and redress at home either, they should allow time for this at the pool.
Every pool I know offers at least 30 minutes changing time after pool closing, 15 minutes is not enough.

I’d find 15 minutes isn’t long enough. We don’t shower at the pool as there often isn’t a disabled shower working but we do as soon as we get home. Chlorine won’t make her hair fall out but it will make it impossible to brush the next day.

I think the problem is that the lesson is too close to bedtime which I what’s actually causing the pressure. I would be looking for another lesson.

I don't think 15 minutes is long enough. I need 10 minutes after a swim to shower, get dried and get changed and out of the building and I'm not a 4 year old.
I know a lot of people have suggested you rinse the chlorine off and shower thoroughly at home but that is such a faff isn't it? Quick shower to rinse the chlorine and then get dried, clothes on, cycle home, clothes off, in the shower again, wash hair, get dried, clothes on. I'd hate that - pain in the neck.

I think the pool is at fault for poor management. The last lesson shouldn't be planned for little ones who probably need more time to get ready afterwards than teenagers or adults. Also the last lesson should be scheduled to finish earlier or the pool should close later.
I do feel sorry for the staff - they want/need to get home to their own families - and are probably only paid to 18.15.

Can you not mention this problem to pool management? Maybe they haven't even considered that this could be a problem.
And definitely use the showers nearer the pool like the others.

Oh FFS, that's the problem of the swimming pool if they have to leave 15 minutes after the last lesson. You pay for the lessons and you have a right to shower and dry yourself properly. How selfish of some of you to expect OP's child to cycle in this weather with her hair wet. Also, why should she shower at home? You pay for the bloody lessons and it's inclusive.

Are you cycling though choice or because you don't drive?

If through choice I would suggest taking the car. After swimming strip child, throw on onesie, crocs and a dryrobe and jump in the car. Shower etc at leisure at home.

You seem fairly fixed in your position OP, so not sure why you're posting.

Look at it this way, all you people saying she should shower at home etc, presumably OP is paying the same price as all the people who have lessons earlier so why should she get shortchanged in terms of adequate time to make use of the showers etc because she has the last time slot? Again, the centre’s policy not to allow at least 30 minutes for end of day closure is at fault here not OP.