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.

Apparently only comments the OP likes are ‘valid’. So no. She’s not going to want to hear that it’s not swimming nor necessarily going to lead to Olympic glory at age 6.

People like you mean that others think twice about raising safeguarding concerns.
You should be grateful they care enough to talk to you and hope they remain as confident to raise concerns with others if they have them.

😂😂😂

You do know that water babies type classes aren't swimming lessons?
They weren't doing front crawl and tumble turns before they were teething
They are water confidence classes and more about fleecing yummy mummies than producing the next Adam Peaty

I pity your son’s future teachers. You’re going to be one ‘those parents’ aren’t you. Damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

I came on to say exactly this. Unless the little lad learns to breathe or swim his ability to be safe in the water will be limited to a pool the distance he is able to hold his breath, i.e. slightly less than 5 metres.

I’d got my mile badge by age 6, and was - of course - a lifeguard for my first job whilst at college and university. My council run swimming baths took safeguarding VERY seriously and we were frequently reminded of the legal consequences of negligence. Young lifeguards are often very good swimmers - and not underestimating your child’s ability as they were THAT child themselves.

😂😂

Don’t be a twat.

Fuming and beyond livid ?

I think your post probably somewhat backfired as you wanted everyone to respond in awe as to how amazing your DS is for being able to swim a few metres unaided.

You're in for a rocky road.

with best wishes

https://www.swimming.org/sport/5-steps-becoming-an-elite-swimmer/

I have a real issue with this "water safety" thing- not in this context in particular but in general. Being able to swim a little in a warm swimming pool is very little help in most dangerous situations when the water is cold and you have clothes on and you fall in unexpectedly. People thinking swimming a little will help here are very wrong and might even take more risks that they would
with a complete non swimmer.

My daughter used to when she went with her support worker. She could swim and they knew that. The staff knew her SW as she has worked as a lifeguard and teaching children to swim. But because she has a disability has to stay in the shallow end. Which she found boring so she would jump in the deep end so she could tread water and laughed when a lifeguard jumped in to get her out. 😂😂😂

Complain about someone doing their job? Are you seriously asking?

Like bollocks did the swimming teacher say that 🤣

Our local David Lloyd had a terrible tragedy about four years ago where a small boy drowned as staff took their eye off the ball. I’d far rather have overly concerned life guards any day of the week.

They weren’t to know your child is exceptionally talented are they?

This. He doesn’t look competent to them - thus looking like he could be drinking too much water. They did the right thing.

Lessons here don’t encourage distance at the expense of technique, they learn good technique first.

Hold his breath and going along under water isn’t swimming.

Thanks OP, the responses on this thread have given me a good laugh.

I think what your son can do at his age is very impressive. I was a lifeguard in a previous life and grew up in a seaside community so very familiar with the water.

They raised a concern you explained all fine. I think YABU to complain. They are doing their job and as I said it is objectively unusual and potentially dangerous if your son didn’t have advanced abilities at swimming for his age.

I think you just need to realise they had his best interests at heart and be glad you go to a pool with vigilant lifeguards!

It sounds like they were doing their job. I think you feel your parenting choice are being judged and that's why you want to complain. If you are confident in the choices you have made then just be happy that they are conscientious about doing their jobs.

Blimey, over reaction much? How was she to know he had swimming lessons and you were doing something he could handle? Maybe with kids that age they’re ok for a bit and then sink like a stone after getting tired and she wanted to make sure everyone was safe and knew what they were doing. It probably takes courage to approach parents and check so please don’t complain. Because next time it might cause her to not check and there might be a bad outcome

id much rather that they raised things when they were concerned rather than just ignored them. I think they’ve done a good job

I’d much rather they are over cautious and annoy parents by checking on non-emergencies than be negligent and let a child drown. Let it go.

This is what I assumed they are concerned about .. they are safeguarding - many reports will be made if you have a clumsy child .

my D’s did water babies so did learn to swim under the water but I would never have been offended someone questions this

Are you a qualified life guard OP? The woman was doing her job. Agree with commenters re ageism

And for what its worth I do not believe for one second the woman said she was disgusted in her colleague. Nope. Not a chance.

Going by your conduct on here I imagine the two of them were very much in support of one another and pleased to see you leave.