To be fuming with lifeguard/safe guarding officer at gym

[Dinoswearunderpants]

I'm beyond livid and just wondering if I should see things from a different point of view.

My DS is 2 and has been taking swimming lessons since 8 weeks old at our local gym.

I take him swimming 2-3 times a week as he loves the water. It's a great activity for him.

He swims without arm bands for a short distance 3-5 meters then holds onto me or the side of the pool.

He loves swimming, extremely confident and understands the safety in the water i.e never goes to the water without an adult, holds onto the side or adult when in the water.

I took him today and was approached by a lifeguard (who also said she's the safe guarding officer) I've never seen before who said she was 'deeply concerned' about him swimming and him drinking too much water.

I explained we take lessons here and he is holding his breath for the 3-5 meters he's swimming. He wasn't coughing or in any distress.

He would jump in from the side, swim to me, I'd hold him an explain he needs to wait a moment (so he can catch his breath) then he'd swim to the side and jump back in. All this done on his own accord and a big smile on his face.

I asked the lady to speak with his swim instructor, who was there at the time. She said she'd spoken to another lifeguard who had concerns.

Both lifeguards don't have kids and are in their early 20s.

I explained what happened to the swim instructor and her words were 'I'm disgusted they said something, I'm so sorry'.

I appreciate not many 2 years can swim however he can as I've always wanted to ensure he's safe in the water.

I think I'm going to raise a complaint as they say no evidence of distress. My son wasn't coughing or anything. He was having a great time as he usually does.

It makes me not want to take him there any more but I'm still tied into a contract with them.

I thought this was going to be about a lifeguard being so lax in their attention, they almost let someone drown. Now that I'd be livid about. But this....😂
If you've no real problems to worry about, you could always take a share of mine. 🙃

Was she polite?

Yes - no need to complain. She raised a concern. You discussed it and resolved it.

No - then you should complain.

What would a complaint achieve? If they have concerns they shouldn’t go and have a word? Or do you want them to be disciplined for talking to you?

There are baby swim classes the length and breadth of the country at this age and below.

Thats not uncommon. Mine started at 12 weeks. You’re in with them. It is about being in the water, and essentially learning to hold on.

Totally with you OP, you should complain.

Make sure you mention how a trained professional approached you calmly to voice concerns about your child’s safety. You absolutely should tell them that this was the consensus of both lifeguards. I would also make sure to tell them that the swim instructor who wasn’t actively observing your child was disgusted at this overreaching heavy handed swim shaming.

I get that it is frustrating and irritating, but I don't think they should get into trouble/be deterred from voicing concerns. One day, a kid might be in distress and saying something could make the difference between a kid being made safe and drowning.

Good to hear that life guards are being vigilant. From what you've described they were correct to raise a safeguarding concern

Lessons is very much over playing it. It’s basically nursery rhymes in the pool.

And I suppose he drove himself home after as well?!

A baby bobbing around in a pool is not a swimming lesson is it, though?

I'd rather they "needlessly" interfered many times over than missed a child in difficulty.

The swim teacher was in the wrong.

YABVU. I suspect the lifeguard ethic is to err on the side of caution. They checked in with you, you explained the position and the person who knows your child apologised for any mix up. What possible reason do you have to complain??

@OhSmitty I never said it was.

It's mostly about giving parents a bit of confidence the water with their pfb.

Those lifeguards sound fabulous tbh! If BOTH of them were concerned then perhaps it did appear that your little one was struggling.

Agreed. Let it go op. They were just checking on your child.

OK so you're all OK with this. How I see it the hundreds of times before that we've swam, and they've never had a concerned. But now some newbie has received their half day training course in safe guarding, they're now an expert?

There was no evidence of him swallowing any water. That's my issue.

I’d be annoyed too.

Without knowing exactly what was said it's difficult to comment but it sounds like they've both noticed your young toddler 'swimming' and one of them has come over to make you aware of dangers. They've not asked you to leave or anything and when you've pointed out that you are aware of the dangers but your child is being adequately supervised and is safe....you've filled them in on child's background and highlighted his swimming coach...and gheyve left you to it.
All sounds a bit of a non event really. What would you like to happen now?

My DS could swim like that at 2 and grew up to be a life guard.Unfortunately parents who over estimated their child's swimming abililty were his biggest problem as a lifeguard

They do learn to swim though. Not the front crawl or the breast stroke, but they do learn to hold their breath underwater and paddle. My DD never really took to it but other babies in her classes really did learn to swim.

OP, I would just forget about the incident with the lifeguards and get on with your life.

Yes if water was swallowed but none was. That's the issue!

Drowning can be very easy & very quick, especially with a child. It can also be hard to spot. They were only doing their job and making sure everything was under control.

I sense a bit of age snobbery here.

Under 3's classes are about water confidence so swimming. The earliest they start swimming lessons here is 3

“AIBU?”

”Yes!”

“No I’m not”

🙄