Children at gym pool

[Brieandcamembert]

I am a member at a gym/ health club. It's not a David Lloyd type place that encourages families. It's very much an adult members place with gym, classes and a pool and spa area. If it's relevant it's moderately expensive. Not high end but not one of the budget places.

Ona Sunday I attend way morning yoga, then go down to the spa for a swim and to use the steam room and jacuzzi.

I didn't know children were even allowed in but the last few weeks a woman has been coming with her two children, around 5&7. They jump in the pool, shriek and swim all over the ace so you have to have your wits about you.

It's not terribly relaxing to play dodge the child and then sit in a jacuzzi with shrieking. Am I a miserable old bat or if you want to do fun swimming (i.e. not lengths,) that you go to a leisure centre and done shriek and jump in an adults spa?

Well children must be allowed if they’re there

I would be annoyed, maybe have a quiet word with reception about their behaviour. Mind you you are wrong about david lloyd their spas are adult only so you might be better off there.

My gym has half for swimming with lane ropes and half for playing, it works well. Why don't you suggest it at your gym.

I've voted YABU but only because if children are allowed into the place then they're allowed to use the pool and there isn't much anybody can do about it. I joined a gym that doesn't allow under 18s because this would drive me insane too.

Are there limited hours when they can come in which you could avoid? Or could you mention it at the desk - most gym/spa places have rules about disturbing other users enjoyment of the facilities, regardless of someone's age?

If I had a gym membership with a pool I'd take my kids. Leisure centre pools are expensive, busy and you usually only get a 40 minute slot and have to get out. Of I was already paying monthly and had unlimited use of a nice pool why shouldn't we be able to use it as a family?

That doesn't mean the shrieking and bombing is ok though, and I would ask my own kids not to do that!

Well, clearly they do encourage families if there are small children there.

Most gyms have family memberships and it's often cheaper to pay for one family membership at a moderately expensive gym than it is to pay for weekly/regular swim sessions at the leisure centre.

Have you checked to see if there’s a pool timetable? Children are allowed in our gym pool at certain times. If you choose to swim then, you accept that there will be children splashing about.

I would check with management what the actual rules are. They may have adults only sessions so it’s worth asking. If they’re happy with kids coming in and shrieking and dive bombing then I’d be looking for another gym and explaining why.

Have a word ask for a couple of lanes to be put in .
Our gym have a notice with expectation of conduct a very polite way of telling people to watch there kids .

No ones being a kill joy but pools can be dangerous places .If kids getting a bit loud or bostrous they tell them.

It’s really annoying when people let their kids ruin everyone else’s enjoyment

Have you checked with reception? Is it definitely supposed to be adult only?

I'd be furious. I pay a shitload of money for a very expensive, high end gym club. I want to relax and chill out, not deal with shrieking kids.

Is there nowhere adults are allowed to go now without being bothered by annoying children?

They could do with some adult only slots as I can imagine that’s quite annoying, however children laughing and having fun is pretty normal but it should be a choice to go in when the kids slot is. I wouldn’t go to a gym with kids allowed as I ho to get away from mine for a bit. My sister uses David Lloyd and they use the pool a lot but kids aren’t allowed in sauna spa area etc
not that I’ve been as not one nearby

@pixie5121 are you saying you pay a shit load of money to attend a gym that allows kids or are you saying you pay a shit load of money to attend a gym and you'd hate for there to be kids there too????

They need lanes.
Even at David Lloyd during DCs swim school times on Saturday mornings it's still possible to either swim in a lane or outside ( if I had DCs that were members I'd be annoyed that they were allowed so little in the glorious outdoor pool, as I don't I'm delighted ).

Is there nowhere adults are allowed to go now without being bothered by annoying children

Samantha Jones, is that you? 😃

(Although tbf I do agree. I have a child but he is noisy and annoying at times, so I love the adult only swim sessions)

OP I’d definitely check the timetable as surely she hasn’t smuggled the kids in her rucksack and they are allowed to be there? Id third or fourth the suggestion of asking for lanes - I asked for this at a council swimming pool and they agreed to do it, so surely somewhere you pay a lot for will

Mine has limited hours for children (attached to a hotel) but then allows some private lessons outside of these times which seems to defeat having child times. Very annoying.

The private gym I go to allows children in between 2pm and 7pm - so if you want to avoid children you avoid those hours.

I have to say though that all the kids are super behaved and well supervised by their parents.

Interesting points. I live rurally and the nearest town is a little way away and there isn't a vast choice of places to have a membership. There is a leisure centre though so there is an alternative for families.

It wasn't so much that I though she had smuggled the children in, I suspect there is some rule permitting certain rugrats but I do think if you are bringing them into a spa then they shouldn't shriek and jump in.

The pool isn't really big enough for lanes. It's smallish.

I will have a word though and work out when is spa time and when is "shriek so loud you can be heard from the changing room " time.

Same- I’ve taken my daughter to practice her swimming. To be honest i find the young guys who chat loudly to one another way more annoying than the old child.

If they are allowed in, YABU. If not then you are not. At my gym you pay a nominal fee for kids to be members, and there are 2 sessions of family swimming each weekend- between about 2 and 4pm, other times it is adult only (we still sometimes get the side eye from people who are unable to read the timetable mind you!). I’d check with reception. If they are shouting etc I’d doubt they were smuggled in.

Ehhh...what?

My post is perfectly clear.

I don't mind children in the pool if they are well behaved.

But- our pool doesn't have lifeguards and I am baffled by the parents who let their young children swim alone and thinks it's ok to supervise by just staring at their phones.

And our pool is only 4ft deep and there are clear signs saying no jumping or diving - yet a parent got annoyed today when I saw their child diving and suggested it wasn't safe. People thinking pool safety rules can be ignored totally baffle me!

LOL it's true though.

You can't even go to the pub these days without having to watch your mouth because there are children at the next table, or have to dodge badly behaved kids running around when carrying pints.

People seem to have no respect for adults who want and need quiet time to relax in peace. My gym is my safe haven, the one place I can go and properly chill out. I would be devastated if someone turned up with kids in tow. It really is incredibly selfish...kids have loads of options to swim. They can do formal lessons at a swimming baths, go to the leisure centre...intruding on an adults space is really entitled and shitty.

I understand why you'd want a calm and adult only environment, but it sounds like you have joined a gym that allows kids and are then complaining that kids are there, which is a bit unreasonable.