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Original poster

Shower after swimming

73 replies

thewomaninme · 11/05/2023 21:48

DD who is 4yrs old has recently started her swimming classes. It's been a month since she joined the classes. As soon as she is out of the pool she's literally shivering. I take her to the changing room and just dry her with a towel and she puts on her dress. I see other moms there giving their kids a nice wash with shampoo and soap. Some even use hair dryer. Am I doing it wrong but not cleaning her with fresh water?. But I don't think DD can handle the shower in the changing room as she's already shivering. But I do get her home straight and give her a wash top to toe. For those who ask don't you know the basics of swimming and after care? I'm completely new to this and I don't know how to swim. Sorry for sounding daft.

OP posts:
MithrilCostsMore · 11/05/2023 21:49

The shower is usually hot and warms them up!

YouWonJayne · 11/05/2023 21:50

I do think kids should be showered after swimming, so much chlorine staying on their bodies otherwise! Also it warms them up. But mine have eczema that gets irritated if I don’t shower them quickly after a swim

Lifesagamethentheytaketheboardaway · 11/05/2023 21:50

Yeah; you shower when you get out of the pool. You don’t just dry off and go home. The showers are warm. If she is shivering that much, then is her circulation ok?

Hariboislife · 11/05/2023 21:50

I never shower my 2 boys (age 3 & 5) after their lessons. Quick dry, dress and out. Changing area is always busy with so many classes that I find it best to just get out quick! I shower them as usual after their dinner.

DustyLee123 · 11/05/2023 21:51

Yep, nice hot shower after swimming. Most I see put a onesie on, so nice and snug.

PinkFluffyUnicornsDancingOnRainbows · 11/05/2023 21:51

I only shower mine at the pool if we aren't going straight home after. It seems too much faff as both kids hate having their hair washed and I end up soaked too.

On the other hand with the cost of energy at the moment it makes sense to use the swimming pool's hot water.

Vegalam · 11/05/2023 21:52

I don't think it matters if you shower there or at home, whatever works best!

When I was younger and used to swim, I'd go under the showers to swill off (no shampoo/shower gel) then go home and have a proper shower. Never felt I could get properly clean in those showers.

SockQueen · 11/05/2023 21:52

I don't tend to shower DS after his lessons as there's one crappy shower and a queue to use it. I get him dry and dressed and wash him later on at home.

If we go for a family fun swim somewhere with more showers then we usually have a quick rinse off after, but I hardly ever remember to bring shampoo etc so mostly do that at home.

CreeperBoom · 11/05/2023 21:53

You are doing it right.

At my kids pool there are 8 showers, 25+kids leaving the pool and 25+ waiting to go in. People conditioning their kids hair while queues of other children stand wet and freezing are selfish, imo.

TheOriginalEmu · 11/05/2023 21:54

I used to do as you do and take them home for a bath. It was just what they preferred to do. As long as you are getting the chlorine off as it can aggravate skin and dry out hair then I don’t think it matters which way you do it. The showers are warm though if that’s your worry.

Stichintime · 11/05/2023 21:54

Lived 5 minutes from the pool, so never showered there, no. Always bathed at home afterwards though.

Pearl97 · 11/05/2023 21:55

I think people like to use someone else’s hot water!

44PumpLane · 11/05/2023 21:55

As an aside OP...see if you can get a cheap second hand wet suit off Facebook marketplace.....one of mine is basically a bag of bones so gets freezing in the swimming pool so she wears a wetsuit to her swimming lessons.

rainyskylight · 11/05/2023 21:56

The warm water immediately warms them up. also, hair really needs washing after swimming because of the chlorine, and post-swimming hair becomes very difficult to brush if it hasn't been washed properly.

Warm water from the shower also dries off more quickly. And a quick blast with a hairdryer means avoiding going out with wet hair (don't need to dry it all, just give it a head start make sure it's not horribly wet on the back of the neck).

I say all the above but I don't shower my 2 yr old because she's not used to showers yet and just cries at them.

rainyskylight · 11/05/2023 21:58

sorry I didn't think about the numbers thing. if there's lots of people waiting then I agree with PP, you're doing the right thing - get dry quick and get out of there!

Tacocatgoatcheesepizza · 11/05/2023 21:58

There’s only 3 showers at our pool and about 30 kids finishing at the same time. DS just dries off and gets dressed, and has a shower at home.

adriftabroad · 11/05/2023 21:59

Do what you are doing.

Communal pool showers? Not for me. Verucca heaven!

greenacrylicpaint · 11/05/2023 22:00

yabu not to wash chlorine and piss off your dc skin after getting out of the water.

Original poster
thewomaninme · 11/05/2023 22:02

@CreeperBoom yeah I need to queue up to get into one of the showers. People get shampoos and body wash. Also there's a woman who gets a big mug and she keeps filling it with tap water from the washbasin and supplies it to her DD.Hmm

OP posts:
adriftabroad · 11/05/2023 22:03

greenacrylicpaint · 11/05/2023 22:00

yabu not to wash chlorine and piss off your dc skin after getting out of the water.

She does, at home.

BHRK · 11/05/2023 22:04

we always take our kids home and shower them then

wildfirewonder · 11/05/2023 22:04

Personally I would want to get her into the warm shower there.

Shivering is not really a massive problem, IMO, so long as it is a short period. Wrap a towel round her while you wait for the shower.

Ginger1982 · 11/05/2023 22:04

DS has swimming lessons in a private house. Showers are at the poolside, which we're not allowed to enter. They're told to shower before and after but obviously don't take costumes off and it's never a 'good' wash. The changing area is tiny and we're told to leave quickly so I just give him a bath at night.

TakeMyStrongHand · 11/05/2023 22:05

Do what works for you. I can never be arsed with showering in their facilities and just get home. It's even worse doing all that with a kid.

Righthandman · 11/05/2023 22:06

I think you're doing it the right way if there is a queue and you would have to stand and wait, shivering, for your turn in the shower. If you can quickly dunk her under a communal shower that is definitely warm on your way to get dry then worth it for 30 seconds warming up and still do the proper wash at home. Beware though, at the "Better" pool near us the showers were at least as cold as the water in the pool...