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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Behaviour in swimming pools

38 replies

ClaudoftheRings · 03/10/2021 13:36

I take DCs to the local public swimming pool most weekends.

Last weekend there was a woman in the pool taking endless photos with a waterproof camera. The lifeguard didn’t challenge her until his boss walked past and told the woman to stop (she proceeded to argue with him) and reminded the lifeguard of the no cameras policy.

This morning, a woman standing chest deep in the pool breastfeeding a baby aged around 8 months. I have no problem with breastfeeding in public but get out of the pool. There are 50 empty seats right next to it. And I know there are worse things than breast milk in a pool but I wouldn’t carry on swimming with a baby if it had just had a feed.

AIBU to think it’s common sense not to do these things in a public pool?

OP posts:
UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 03/10/2021 13:59

I honestly wouldn't care about the breastfeeding, it's not doing anyone any harm.

The photography absolutely should have been stopped immediately.

Bettyboop3 · 03/10/2021 14:11

I totally agree, no need for somebody's bodily fluids in a public pool, even it is breast milk. Get out and feed your baby, nobody else stays in there to eat their lunch.

Rosesareyellow · 03/10/2021 14:15

I don’t understand feeding a baby in the pool either - makes about as much sense as feeding in the bath, but who knows, maybe that’s a thing for them at home too so they think nothing of it. I don’t think I could get worked up over it though.

Photography definitely not ok.

MrsWhites · 03/10/2021 14:15

@Bettyboop3

I totally agree, no need for somebody's bodily fluids in a public pool, even it is breast milk. Get out and feed your baby, nobody else stays in there to eat their lunch.
Absolutely agree with this. I’m all for breastfeeding and have absolutely no problem with it in public but just because you can feed at any time or place doesn’t mean you should.
Footprintsonthemoon1 · 03/10/2021 14:18

I mean, if I fed my baby then swam with them they'd definitely have vomited it all back up but if hers doesn't then each to their own

Camera lady though...totally unreasonable. I'd have spoken up

Melassa · 03/10/2021 14:20

There are a lot worse bodily fluids in a public pool than breastmilk. I really can’t see the problem. Rather a drop of breastmilk than urine. Photography definitely a no no.

Bordernotboarder · 03/10/2021 14:21

Breast feeding baby - I would also have an issue with this due to potential vomit/post feed pop.

smallybells · 03/10/2021 14:25

Camera - definitely no!! Could be taking all sorts of photos underwater, families and children in the background etc

Breastfeeding in the pool - also definitely no!! Post feed poop / sick (They'd have to get everyone out of the pool if the baby was sick in it) But also it's not the safest at all, obviously concentrating on her baby feeding, not what's going on around her / other people in the pool. Just not safe in general!

rwalker · 03/10/2021 14:28

BF in the pool theres no need it not really about the feeding it more than she's just stood there.
If your not swimming get out .

SummerHouse · 03/10/2021 14:30

Breastfeeding or bottle feeding in a pool is a special level of craziness.

Original poster
ClaudoftheRings · 03/10/2021 14:30

There are a lot worse bodily fluids in a public pool than breastmilk

This is true. It’s more the baby vomiting after as the pool has to close if someone vomits.

OP posts:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 03/10/2021 14:38

What about the risk to the baby, if they ingest chlorine or any of the nasties in the pool water?

bellabasset · 03/10/2021 14:55

I can't understand why the pool attendant didn't stop the photography. As for the mum standing breastfeeding wasn't there a risk she might slip if people are swimming round her?

Heruka · 03/10/2021 15:02

I think bf is fine, why should she and her baby be cold sitting wet at side of pool? Assuming her baby isn’t a puker, but doubt she’d do it if they were. Agree camera not cool.

Holskey · 03/10/2021 15:04

Bf in the pool: I imagine her baby was fussing a little and she was trying to settle him/her rather than planning to feed the child lunch. Wouldn't bother me. 8-month-olds aren't usually sick after milk anyway, and it could just as easily happen if she got out to feed before getting back in.

3scape · 03/10/2021 15:04

I wouldn't breastfeed in the pool as I wouldn't expect anyone to be snacking or drinking in the water. I have breastfed three children and would keep a feed for afterwards as a way to warm up and queue a nap!
I get they might have older children who want to be in the water etc, but it's about planning around things, it is part of parenting multiple children. Yes breastfeeding is on demand but you don't generally snack and swim!

goawayalcg · 03/10/2021 15:06

Breast feeding in the pool is ridiculous. People don't eat or drink in a pool. Would you give a baby a bottle in a pool? Just get out and back in when done.

DysmalRadius · 03/10/2021 15:07

The first one is an issue because it's intrusive and impacts on others.

The second one isn't because the only concerns people have are theoretical, and the baby obviously didn't throw up or poo in the pool, as I'm sure you'd have mentioned it.

Summerfun54321 · 03/10/2021 15:31

Babies poo and wee in swim nappies, I couldn’t get worked up over a drop of milk sloshing around in a huge volume of chlorinated water.

BreadmanAndCake · 03/10/2021 16:23

I sat on the steps of my local pool and fed my then 8 month old for a minute as he wanted to (probably more for comfort than anything as it was his first time swimming, thanks covid). Didn't really think anything of it. Whoops Grin My thought process was that he would have been cold had I taken him to the bench and fed him whilst we were both wet.

FangsForTheMemory · 03/10/2021 16:28

Would also be worried about risk to the baby.

lindjam · 03/10/2021 16:30

Christ if you are worried about breast milk in a public pool you are probably being a bit naive about the usual bodily fluids in there.

Woman with camera is BVU

hotmess19 · 03/10/2021 16:35

@BreadmanAndCake

I sat on the steps of my local pool and fed my then 8 month old for a minute as he wanted to (probably more for comfort than anything as it was his first time swimming, thanks covid). Didn't really think anything of it. Whoops Grin My thought process was that he would have been cold had I taken him to the bench and fed him whilst we were both wet.
hahaha same here. Mine never threw up after a feed and still has never had a shit in a swim nappy and he's nearly 3 now.

Although to the PP saying they wee in swim nappies... swim nappies don''t hold the wee in. It just goes through and into the pool.

Simonjt · 03/10/2021 16:38

The life guard ignored a perv taking pictures in a pool?

gogohm · 03/10/2021 16:39

Kind of in two minds about the breastfeeding one, but if the baby is 8 months they can wait 30 minutes until swimming was over or she could have sat on the side