Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bring a buggy to the swimming pool?

22 replies

Janedoe95 · 07/09/2022 21:58

I have DS first swimming lessons soon I was wondering how other mums do it as I’m not sure how I’ll get myself changed and sorted with a young baby he can just about sit but not well enough to be put down as he often falls back

is it normal to bring a buggy in to the changing rooms or maybe a car seat and would you feel safe leaving buggy or car seat in the changing rooms obviously it could also be stolen

any advice would be great

thank you

OP posts:
User79853257976 · 07/09/2022 22:02

We took the car seat but it was a little pool so I could see where it was.

londonrach · 07/09/2022 22:02

No buggy allowed at our pool. Outdoor shoes not allowed either. Can you use a sling?

EdithGrantham · 07/09/2022 22:03

There likely won't be room for a buggy but at the pool I went to lots of people took car seats and just shoved them under the bench when in the lesson. Some changing rooms also have play pens where you can put the baby once they're dressed.

Findahouse21 · 07/09/2022 22:04

I'd lay him on the floor on a dry towel - should only need to be for 2 mins as you will dry off mostly while sorting him and then slip leggings and a top on

NoYouSirName · 07/09/2022 22:04

I used to take a buggy as I went on the bus. They have bigger cubicles for family changing at our local pool. My buggy never got stolen but we are fairly quiet and rural.

SproutsAtChristmas · 07/09/2022 22:05

At leisure centre pools this is quite common and many of the ones I've seen have buggy parking but it's not really feasible to put baby in it when you are getting changed as the pushchair wouldn't fit in the changing room itself.

I like to put baby on the baby change table or on the bench seating, get them dressed and warm, give them a toy (baby is laid down) and I watch them while I get myself dry and dressed so they can't roll off the changing table/bench. You just have to rush yourself to get ready a bit more is all.

EdithGrantham · 07/09/2022 22:06

Also, think about what is going to be easiest to get dressed into after, a zip-up baby grow is ideal and for you tracksuit bottoms and t-shirt and hoody, basically whatever you can shove on quickly.

KaroH · 07/09/2022 22:08

I had one of these little chairs that I'd take in.

direct.asda.com/george/baby/baby-feeding/highchairs-booster-seats/harmony-pop-up-feeding-chair/050847268,default,pd.html?cgid=D5M16G1C4

I would get him ready first then sit him in there with a little biscuit and drink while I got myself ready.

Other mam's took car seats in but we moved on from the infant carrier quite early so it wasn't an option.

Before 6 month he was fairly immobile so I would just roll up a cheap changing mat and use that on the floor and lie him on there while I got ready.

DuggeeHugPlease · 07/09/2022 22:08

Depends on the layout of the changing rooms but typically you can't put baby in buggy while you get changed. Ideally they'd have changing table/seat with harness/playpen but I've been to loads of different pools and they really vary. If no suitable facilities you'll have to lay baby on towel on the floor while you get dressed.

99redballoonsgobyy · 07/09/2022 22:10

I used to take the buggy in our local pool they have an area in the changing rooms specifically for them. could you phone or email your pool and ask if OK for buggy?

MsChatterbox · 07/09/2022 22:11

Call your pool and see what facilities they have for babies in the changing room. Mine had seats with straps provided.

mummyh2016 · 07/09/2022 22:12

I take the pram and use a family changing room. During the lesson the pram is just inside the area where the changing rooms are, I can see it from the pool.

Our lessons are on a weekday morning when the centre is pretty quiet though.

dizzydizzydizzy · 07/09/2022 22:42

I work at a swimming pool. At ours you are supposed to leave the buggies by the changing room door but none of
The customers do this and we don't enforce it.

We have a playpen in the changing room.

The reason buggies and outdoor shoes are not allowed in changing rooms is because they can trail small sharp objects, like tiny splinters of glass or grit. The people walking
Around barefoot hurt tbeir feet in them.

allboysherebutme · 07/09/2022 23:30

Sling or car seat, put sling in the locker, car seat at the side of the pool on a chair. X

Johnnysgirl · 07/09/2022 23:41

dizzydizzydizzy · 07/09/2022 22:42

I work at a swimming pool. At ours you are supposed to leave the buggies by the changing room door but none of
The customers do this and we don't enforce it.

We have a playpen in the changing room.

The reason buggies and outdoor shoes are not allowed in changing rooms is because they can trail small sharp objects, like tiny splinters of glass or grit. The people walking
Around barefoot hurt tbeir feet in them.

So why isn't it enforced if it's a safety issue?

RedHerring24 · 07/09/2022 23:54

I guess it depends on how old your baby is, are they mobile? Can they roll easily?
Also depends on your pools changing facilities.

I take DD swimming weekly. The changing rooms are all individual cubicles which include family rooms with pull down change tables and one room has a play pen in it.
Other parents do take pushchairs in but leave them within the changing area near to the door.
Normally i carry DD to the leisure centre and wear my swimming costume under my clothes. I change her into her swim stuff first and plonk her on the floor while i quickly get undressed.
I always take my swim bag to the side of the pool rather than mess about with a locker which makes it easier once the lesson is over.
Now DD is crawling at full speed and climbing everything I will take the pushchair in as she will be determined to hurt herself, or stick her fingers down the drains on the floor again.
Basically once she is dry she will need strapping in to something!

Best tip i can offer is get all the wet clothing off of baby, wrap in a hooded towel, put a 2nd towel on top and lay on a change table (if present). Dry yourself first quickly as then you wont drip all over baby and then they can be warming up nicely in the towels. Take warm clothes for them afterwards and expect some tears from them.
I was so stressed the first time i took DD on my own but now its just routine.
She LOVES swimming!

YorkshireTeaCup · 08/09/2022 00:01

If you have are doing proper lessons (like water babies etc), at mine when the babies were small, all the mums just watched each other's babies whilst we quickly got dressed. Then there is a small playpen to one side of the changing room that they can be contained in if needed. Now that she is bigger, i usually go for the cubicle nearest the playpen, get DD changed, then plonk her in and i change with the door slightly open so i can keep an eye on her.

YorkshireTeaCup · 08/09/2022 00:02

This reply has been hidden

This reply has been hidden until the MNHQ team can have a look at it.

alsonotmyname · 08/09/2022 00:02

If you have one use a towelling dressing gown for you- put that on, dry and dress baby first then everyone stays warm

YorkshireTeaCup · 08/09/2022 00:03

This reply has been hidden

This reply has been hidden until the MNHQ team can have a look at it.

YorkshireTeaCup · 08/09/2022 00:04

Ok, weird how my posts aren't working. I was trying to post a link to a Tuppence and Crumble towel wrap - google them. They are amazing!

Original poster
Janedoe95 · 10/09/2022 12:52

Thank you all for your help! We had a great first lesson and luckily there were these little bowl like baby changes so babies couldn’t roll or jump out

no need to bring the buggy or car seat thankfully

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread