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.

She has no excuse then.

I don't think you're being unreasonable, and I agree whoever decided on the timetable probably doesn't have children under five; but I do think you're being inflexible. Unless you're planning a really long swimming session can you not go at 12:00 and give her lunch at 12:45 instead?

Well I'd beg to differ, the pool won't be empty in these sessions. Otherwise they wouldn't do them...

Yes exactly this!! It’s so annoying we haven’t been able to go swimming for ages because of this

God you’re all so horrible

Presumably though it won’t just be a one off as it would be daft to make a fuss about a one off event. OP is correct. In my area leisure centres have multiple pools and while the main pools are not available for family time 9-5, the hours are more accommodating. Most small children do have lunch at 12, so it does seem silly timing.

Yep! Great being retired. We have fun interfering with everyone else's time schedules....because we have nothing else to do with our lives! Some of us have busy schedules too!

Sadly, cuts mean that swimming slots are limited AND there are not enough pools. I agree that you should be able to take your child swimming at a more convenient time. However our local pool only offered one family swimming all week, on a weekend day - there were no weekday family slots at all. It really used to annoy me, they’re happy to take your money for swimming lessons, but gave no opportunity for using those skills, or for teaching your own child to swim.
Public services have been slashed and again. Swimming pools, along with libraries, are very low priority.

However our local pool only offered one family swimming all week, on a weekend day - there were no weekday family slots at all
Most pools have a general public swim time.
Theres no reason why people can't attend that with their babies and children. I usually go to general swimming sessions as I can't usually make the lane swimming and there's usually parents there with their children doing their thing.

OP’s pool confirmed that her 2 year old was only allowed during the one daily family session. The rest of the time it was lane swimming for adults or lessons.

OP’s pool confirmed that her 2 year old was only allowed during the one daily family session. The rest of the time it was lane swimming for adults or lessons.
ah, ok I missed that.
That seems to me pretty unusual for a swimming pool to me? I border three local authorities and all three councils have general public session times. Is this unusual to other people and most pools only offer adults only and lessons.

It depends how big the pool is. At our local pool the schedule is something like
Early morning... lane swimming
9am- aquaaerobics
10-11.00schools
11.30-1 General/family swim
1.30-3 schools
3-6 lessons
6-8 Club/canoeing/waterpolo (depending on day)
8-10 lanes

Its a small pool, its in use all day, there just isn't enough time.

The pool that is is shut this year wasn't used for lessons, so was available all day for general swimming
.

Because if you don't call the doctor at 8am you probably won't get an appointment. And older people need appointments just as much as children do.

And this is what happens when you force insanely rigid routines on children. It makes life hard for everyone.

Just go to normal public swim. The baby pool will be still open

And no, by 1 my daughter had dropped naps

Doesn’t that depend on the pool? The children’s pool and main pool are usually booked separately at ours and if the small pool is not available for booking it is usually closed for lessons. The main pool is usually set up as lanes and even for the free swim I find it too deep with a toddler.

She called and was told that the only time her 2 year old could come was during the designated family time slot.

Shit off

I don’t know if anyone else who has worked in a pool has responded but ‘family friendly’ usually means that the supervision ratio, one responsible adult (person over the age of 16) to every child under the age of 8, is relaxed to allow families to come swimming together.

I’ve never worked in a pool where they would object to someone bringing their toddler in outside of a family session. Some sessions, granted it would be inappropriate and downright insane to try and go in with a toddler, such as a lane session. In fact, I imagine you would be advised strongly to come back at a more suitable time.

The time slot that you mention sounds like the lunchtime ‘public swim’ in a couple of pools I have worked in. A couple of lane ropes are put in for the die hard lunchtime lap swimmers and the rest of the pool is open swimming.

It does sound a bit nuts for the management to only allow a parent with a toddler into the pool within such a fixed time slot. However, I have heard weirder. I have a qualification for teaching pre-school children and have never had any issues teaching in public sessions. However, family session, as I know them were sacrosanct. No swimming teachers allowed.

If the pool is council run you could try complaining to the council department in charge of leisure and sport. If it is a private facility, try going over the head of the management and further up the tree.

There is always the chance as well that scheduling will change in your favour after/during the school holidays.

Apologies if this has already been discussed but there were 14 pages of posts.