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

Also how old is this baby? Mine could undo her own straps by 14 months.

I think there should be at least two responsible people there so one can swim and one can stay with baby/child if it's wild swimming.

There are plenty of acceptable and much safer alternatives.

Buddy up with another parent and take turns
Use a pool with a creche
Book a babysitter/have a grandparent or the other parent mind the baby
Swim after/before work and have baby in childcare longer
Reduce hobby amount if none of the above are possible, accepting that we have to change sometimes when kids come along.

How can people say it's safe? Are you telling me you know every single person that passes the "buggy" with the child in know the persons full history/ background?

Just the other day I saw a white van pull up asking a boy of 10 to come with him for a ride. The boy refused and ran home. I'm pretty sure leaving a defenceless baby in the buggy is even worse...

When my two were little they had back to back swimming lessons. Initially baby was in his car seat, then the play pen during DS1's lessons, and DS1 sat poolside during DS2's lessons, he was 2 and old enough to play with his toys and understand that he and baby took turns to swim (turns out he has ASD which was why he was pretty patient and complient). Critically there was a teacher/ lifeguard next to him and in a shallow teaching pool, I was never far away.

I "wild swim" solo. My children are much older now and can swim, but I still wouldn't mix the two. I wouldn't leave a baby in a pram as to be in deep enough water to be shoulder deep, and have gentle enough access in and out, you're not that close. It's not long before babies can wriggle out of straps and if they are young enough that's pretty bloody young to be left with minimal supervision.

Swimming in cold water is not free from the chance of unpredictable risk even if experienced with excellent local knowledge and it's a bad idea in case of a random incident involving mother or baby.

If there is someone consistently with baby aware that they are monitoring them, that's a different situation.

Depends on the age of the baby, how quickly mum can get out, the area…. A hundred things!

This debate comes up often where I live because of the beaches and rivers. I don’t think there’s one set answer.

Whenever I swim I tell someone where I am going, just in case. Some places are safer than others.

Wild swimming alone and leaving a child on the side unattended is beyond stupid.
Mum could drown, child could get tangled up in the buggy straps while mum is swimming, someone could take the buggy, the buggy could roll into the water, child could choke etc etc.

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.

This. I think some people are a bit deluded about how hard it is to prove neglect.

Making a risk judgement that some/many would disagree with isn't even close.

Tbh, I don't care whether the police would prosecute for neglect. I can't get my head around why anyone would think this is a good idea.

It may be unlikely that anything would go wrong but there are still lots of horrible scenarios that could play out and I don't see how anyone could think their child's safety is worth the gamble.

If someone can't forgo a swim until someone is able to take care of their baby, I really question their suitability for parenthood tbh.

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

Well that is fucking insane isn't it? Not an equivalent.

I think popping into a shop is different from going for a swim, there are many things that could go wrong when swimming or leaving a child in a buggy near water, and are not that remote risks.

I agree. Totally depends on where it was.

It doesn't sound safe. I know this is what if territory but I wouldn't be too worried about a random kidnapping. I'd me more worried about the baby getting herself out of the buggy. Or the break not being on properly and the buggy rolling into the water. It wouldn't be for me.

Yes, that's it. I would worry about an accident not kidnapping.

That would be my main worry too but it isn't impossible.

There are so many things that could go wrong- I don't know how anyone could feel comfortable doing it.

I don’t like the sound of that. So many different things could happen. Of course it does massively depend on the place… but it still gives me the chills.

You don’t know the person
You don’t know any of the context

but want people to comment if it’s unreasonable?

You’re unreasonable for asking.

No this doesn't sit right with me at all. Would she hear the baby if they cried? Were sick etc and needed attending to? Probably not. And the risk of kidnap like others have said... nope, no way. Not for me. If someone was watching baby while you swam, entirely different.

No, too risky for me. Not least because she could get in trouble in the water and then both her and baby are massively at risk.

That is a profoundly stupid thing to do

For me the main issue is that she’s wild swimming alone and bringing along the baby
if she was going with a group chances are someone would be around the baby and let’s face it nothing would happen
my concern it’s not someone kidnapping the baby… the real concern is something happening to her

Too many factors we don't know and that the post doesn't explain to pass comment or judgement.

You don't know how far away the mother is, you don't know how long she is away for, and you don't know if someone knows where she is and what her expected time of return is.

Mothers (and let's face it, it's always mothers who get told they are being neglectful in these situations) are at risk of accidents 24 hours a day - they simply cannot always predict what will happen even when they are at home.

It's a sad reality that accidents happen and yes, babies can be impacted when it happens to a mother - but should we really be stopping mothers from doing activities they enjoy? Particularly when those activities have proven positive benefits to mental and physical health?

We don't know the situation, we don't know what risk assessment or safety plan the mother has in place - we simply cannot say if it is right or wrong that it happens.

If the real concern is that something would happen to her than applying the same line of thinking we can say that mothers shouldn't be walking alone with their baby in quiet areas?

No, because wild swimming alone is a lot more dangerous than going for a walk.

And I don't care if she's male or female.

Less chance of drowning just going for a walk though

The risks are not even comparable