Family swimming times - AIBU?

[FamilySwimming]

Just looking for a sense check on this one.

The two local leisure centres only have certain very limited times for family swimming, meaning in the kids' pool. So if I want to take my 2 year old swimming, the only times we can book are between 12 and 2pm.

My 2 year old eats lunch at 12 and then has a nap every day. Surely this is pretty standard for any child who has one nap per day?

AIBU or is this an absolutely insane time to schedule family swimming? I feel like I just won't be able to take her swimming until she's stopped napping completely.

I spoke to them on the phone and they basically said that my toddler's meal and nap schedule isn't their problem, but I was under the impression that this is most toddlers' meal and nap schedule, hence the AIBU.

Give her a snack at 11 then be at the pool for 12, just means a bit later for lunch and nap. An hour or so isn't t that much of a difference, I don't think she will be clock watching 🤔

Honestly, I think you’re right. The timing is bonkers. 12-2pm is standard fare for lunch for lots of children and nap time for some younger children. I don’t think you were entitled or wrong to give them feedback that the timing isn’t great for younger children. I would not have taken my child either as it’s not worth it for the disruption to their routine and how grumpy they get. I’d personally be casting my net wider and look for other pools where you may have to go further out but which have more flexibility.

So, what will happen if you should ever decide to have a second child? Will your routine be as rigid then? Just go with the flow. Give her a small snack before swimming, then her lunch after, then naptime.
It's only an hours difference. The swimming will make her tired ready for her nap.

Adult and lane swimming is the priority 😊

That's how I knew it was her pfb. No-one with more than one child could be so rigid.

Most of the working world also gears up lunch between 12 and 2. I’ve never heard of swimming leisure centres with such rigid timings for family time. Near where I live they have either a late morning or later afternoon session or both. I’m sure it puts off a lot of people and not just OP.

It is one thing occasionally adjusting a child’s routine if you are meeting friends etc but inconvenient if it’s every week when it could make them stroppy and difficult for the rest of the day when you’re already tired. In theory it sounds fine to just adjust routines and delay, but that doesn’t work with all children.

Find out who the political lead /portfolio holder is for sport and leisure at your council then email them to explain the problem. Say you tried to speak to the leisure centre but don’t feel you’ve been heard. If any policies are changed, it’ll be this person who instigates it or at the very least asks questions.

Could be staffing related for the pool. Our local pool has reduced hours for the smaller pool as it requires a whole new rotation of lifeguards, plus swimming lessons in the afternoon and evening. Not ideal for us but it makes sense in a business perspective as lessons spaces are often full and hard to get in to, so there is a noticeable demand. We use the large pool as there is plenty of open swim times, with cost cutting as well in this day there isn’t actually a massive difference in pool temperatures as well.

Exactly nearly as bad as a man telling me because I’m disabled I should only go to the shop in the week and leave weekends free for “those that need it”🤨😳

It depends, some leisure centres are more focused on adults using it during the week as kids are at school most of the time. My local leisure centre is more for people exercising and isn't really that child friendly and have lanes. Theres another one 20 minutes drive in the opposite direction that is more built for children. They have a warm pool and also a shallow area for children to play. Then there's a separate pool for adults exercising so they don't have to watch out for children being in the way.

I swim lengths and only like the side lanes, one of which is the family lane, and the other, the slow lane. Trouble is the slow lane is invariably occupied by aquarobic classes. If there is one family in the family lane, I ask if they mind me, carefully, swimming lengths; no one has ever objected. If there are a lot of children in this lane, I get out and call it a day. The kid’s pool is almost never open. I pay a hefty monthly fee, as does everyone else. I also take my grandchildren there on occasion.

if I’m at the GP at 0800 it’s because that’s the time I’ve been given by the system. I’m rarely at the bank as I do online banking. Stop with the ageist shite, accept that at every point in your life there will be compromises to be made, and reflect on your insufferable entitlement.

I don’t see why people think you’re unreasonable. Most of the toddlers I know sleep during that time slot including my own. Lunchtime is always awkward for babies and toddlers from my experience.

Trying having an ASN Child, we get all the absolute rubbish times that no one else wants. Either first thing in mornings, last thing in the day. Or offer "relaxed" sessions that everyone takes advantage of.

It’s also really annoying because I swim on my lunch break so I’d be annoyed if the whole of lunch time was family swim with toddlers…

Clearly it’s not that “every other toddler” naps and eats at that time, or they’d have no kids in their pool 🤷‍♀️

Wow you are absolutely insane OP. This thread is hilariously out of touch.

It’s a daft time and very restrictive to only allow the same 2 hours. Take your customers elsewhere.

She says she has a 4 year old apparently

At my pool, stage 1 swimmers learn to swim in 60cm depth. Stage 2 in 60cm too. So yes, that’s mostly the 3-5 years age group.

At my dd primary school the obligatory Ks2 swim lessons were also in the 60cm pool. Even if your kid was basically a competitive swimmer!

Stage 3 onwards 90cm and in the main pool.

It's not every week though for the OP. She just happens to be free this week if I have understood correctly.

She should have relaxed a bit then.

My daughter's nursery had naptime after lunch but on the days she wasn't there we ran to my timetable.

Yanbu, my 2yo was the exact same as you. In fact she attended nursery which ends at 12 and every single child there had the same routine 12-2 was lunch and nap.

Can’t believe you told the leisure centre about your 2 year olds nap 😆

thwy wont be two forever 😆

Doesn't mean that the pool should change it schedule...

Expect she has said she has an older child who is 4.