Leaving baby in buggy when going for swim

[Popsicle72]

I’m on a forum for outdoor swimmers and spotted this argument a few days ago. A mum was looking for advice about dryrobe to use. She mentioned she leaves her baby in buggy when she goes for a swim. Lots of people gave dryrobe recommendations and then someone pointed out how irresponsible it is to consider going off for swim and leaving baby in buggy. Such an argument/debate followed. I am in agreement that’s it’s very irresponsible but just wondered what others think? Sometimes I think I worry too much about child safety

I think it lacks any context to make a decision. Broadly, I believe noone cares more about their child than its parents and that this country is absolutely hysterical about child safety. But without knowing more, who knows?

I doubt somehow the child is in any danger. Most wild swimmers go in groups for safety. They're not actually in the water very long.
If Mum is swimming solo I would say it's very irresponsible.

I think this depends. I sometimes go for a "dip" rather than a swim - in my depth, within 10 metres of my bag etc, eyes on the shore at all times. I wouldn't view it as a problem in that instance.

If I go for an actual swim then yes, definitely an issue.

Leaving a baby unattended in a buggy whilst you go for a swim even if child is in sight (they won't always be) is it-responsible and if anything happened to baby or someone spotted this, police would be called and consider child neglect. This happens also of someone reports a baby being left in car whilst parents goes into petrol station shop. Even though many parents do that and say they children are in sight at all times.

U.K. laws are vague enough that people don't realise how easily police can prosecute for child neglect

Leaving a baby unattended whilst going for a swim is a very unusual and potentially very unsafe decision. No one needs an outdoor swim that much they can't arrange childcare for it.

Depends where she’s swimming and who with. I’ve been outdoor swimming a few times with a friend, and a lot of the places we go to have some sort of cafe/changing area attached where there are lots of regulars hanging around who all know each other. If she’s leaving the baby in the buggy for 15 mins and asking some fellow swimmers that she knows to keep an eye on baby, then I think that’s ok.

If she’s swimming somewhere remote, alone, and she’s disappearing off into the distance leaving the buggy on the shore of a lake then obviously that’s insanely irresponsible. But I somehow doubt that’s what she’d be doing.

Is it at a gated pay entry location where the buggy is set to the side of the main pool? Or is it just on the edge of a lake in an open area?

As long as you can

see them
get to them quickly

It's absolutely fine

I'd expect there to be an adult on shore supervising generally whilst babies or children are left on the side

If this parent is doing solo swim or group not leaving anyone supervising then it is not a decision children services nor police would be happy with if they were called

police would be called and consider child neglect. This happens also of someone reports a baby being left in car whilst parents goes into petrol station shop

I'm willing to bet the number of successful prosecutions for child neglect on account of a baby left in a car whilst parents go into petrol station shop, with the car in eyesight, is zero.

I wonder where she goes outdoor swimming. I go to a place which would definitely not allow this.

Leaving a baby/child in a thing with wheels near water is the dumbest thing I've heard for a while.

Unless she literally swims up and down in tiny little lengths right next to where the buggy is parked (which is doubtful), then she would struggle to keep an eye on her baby or get back in time if anything did happen: buggy somehow went in water, someone ran off with baby etc.

Anything could happen.

I remember my local swimming pool as a child had a built in play pen to put babies in at the side of the pool so presumably parents could swim without them.

Sorry...just re read and saw it's outdoor swimming. If that's 'wild swimming' then no definitely not a good idea. If it's a public Lido then maybe...?

If you are just swimming up and down within a pool sized area whilst you baby is in sight I don’t see a problem. I used to leave baby dc in their car seat on the side of the pool occasionally whilst I had a quick dip either before or after taking them.

What if she goes with friends who take it in turns to look after the babies? What if it’s a specific mum and baby swim session and there is supervision. There aren’t really enough details here.

I would be very very surprised if the police prosecuted for neglect in any of these circumstances.

Police don't even prosecute for neglect when a family court judge rules neglect is so severe that children should be placed for adoption.

Sorry I should have added it is remote swimming, she said she swims alone. The other poster said it was neglectful and there was uproar. It just shocked me at how many people were trying to say it was acceptable to go for a swim and leave the baby in buggy.

If it's remote and she's alone, that's very risky. What if she got cramp or cold water shock? She could drown and then what would happen? That's more likely I would have thought than child abduction.

That type of swimming yes irresponsible. In a pool where you can always see the pushchair and child is asleep i don't see the problem. No different to leaving them in the car at petrol stations.

I think important things are being able to see them, and get to them relatively quickly once they have woken up

I wouldn't necessarily have a problem with it if she was swimming with other people, and not because I think the baby is in any great danger of kidnappers but because something can happen to the mother out there in the water. Then the baby is on its own for god knows how long.

Assuming that you mean this post?

Sounds like she is wild swimming rather than just outdoor swimming. I can't see any negative comments on the forum, but personally I think it's a pretty stupid. Something could happen to her, cold water shock, get her feet tangled in weeds, get cramp, fast currents, struggle to get out etc, and then what happens to the baby?

Odd that I can't see any negative comments on the post though, must have all been deleted.

Well it is really as the baby would be in a locked car for a very short time unattended whilst paying for petrol. It’s an essential activity and there’s a risk involved in taking them out across the forecourt. Not really the same as leaving them on the side because you fancy a swim.

shes leaving her child unattended to pursue a leisure activity. And a risky one at that.

A lot of context missing. If you are properly swimming then I really don’t think it’s possible to pay enough attention, or that you’d be close enough to baby to be of any use of something happened. A quick dunk and a bit of head up breaststroke and it’s probably be fine. Also Is it a swim in a pond/river on private land, or a busy beach? Loads of other stuff to consider too.

Wild swimming alone and leaving baby in the buggy unattended - hell no!

what the actual fuck?

99% of the time it’s going to be absolutely fine isn’t it. It’s very very unlikely that anyone is going to come along and take or hurt baby. Like super unlikely.
But it’s not impossible. Because it happens, babies are snatched, kids are taken.

On the basis that I do not even want to take a 1% chance that something could happen to my child then no I absolutely would not and could not ever do this.

Some people are ok taking that small chance aren’t they.

Perhaps those people do not listen to true crime podcasts and do not understand that all it takes is to be in the wrong place and the wrong time.