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.

My husband (from Ayr) doesn’t remember the mighty monsters. It made me consider divorce. And Friday night fun swim/skate! I miss having somewhere like that with my kids. The Portal sucks.

I would definitely look for another pool. The 12-2pm wouldn’t work for my 3 year old who still naps. She would be too tired for swimming by 12 even if we pushed lunch back. We go to a swim class at our Leisure Centre mostly because the time suits us (10am on the day I am off work). I could easily replicate what we do in the class my myself. The pool is closed all mornings for lessons and we wouldn’t have time to get there before it closes after her nap.

"family" doesn't just mean "toddler" (and your toddler specifically) though.

Extrapolating your child's nap time to everyone who might want to use a family swimming session is completely illogical.

The leisure centre was completely right, expecting them to plan their family session around when your child naps is as insane as asking them not to plan it around when little Timmy next door has his flute lesson.

My child went to nursery. (only 4 days a week) but we were still flexible on weekends. No way I was doing lunch at 11:30.or tea at 3:30.
You can move their routines around. Get them up later, feed them at different times. It doesn't have to be set in stone just because your child is at nursery. Will you feed your 4 year old later when they start school? Presumably they won't be eating lunch at 11:30 so someone's routine will have to change.

Do they have a lane to swim in? Any of the pools I've used have ropes set up with one or two lanes, a family/messing section in the shallow end and the same in the deep end.

If they have lanes set up for lengths then you are very unreasonable to allow your dc into the lanes or to mess with the ropes, both of which are pet hates of mine.

If they don't have lanes, then anyone attempting to swim lengths at a family session is clearly an idiot.

Jeez. People who schedule in activities may well appreciate some feedback that midday for babies/toddlers is not ideal as they often feed/sleep then.

I swim lengths at family sessions... usually following a zig zag pattern! It works fine for everyone as far as I am aware; don't see the issue with it. Each to their own surely?

Have I misunderstood? Your DC is normally at nursery 5 days a week but this week they are not.

So you rang the leisure centre to complain that the one day you wanted to use their facilities it was inconvenient?

YANBU. I always took mine in the morning at that age as exactly as you say, 12pm lunch followed by a lengthy nap. Then I had the afternoon school run, so morning was the dream!

YANBU. I always took mine in the morning at that age as exactly as you say, 12pm lunch followed by a lengthy nap. Then I had the afternoon school run, so morning was the dream!

Can't believe some of the responses on this thread.

Calling the OP 'rigid'? Surely what is rigid is a local leisure centre that only admits young children to the swimming pool for 2 measly hours a day?!

Meanwhile there are no doubt plenty of lane swimming sessions on offer that tend to be dominated by older adults and pensioners.
No wonder kids are ending up over weight

Is it really so insane to expect the kids' pool to actually be open to kids at any time other than lunchtime?

It's none of their business whether my child is usually at nursery or not. I pay my council tax like everyone else.

OP you are being very limited in your understanding of other peoples’ needs which is rather ironic given your post.

stretch your mind and consider why people who are retired and have ‘nothing else to do all day’ might wish to go out and use facilities at peak times …

1. perhaps they take diuretics which means they can’t leave the house for 3-4 hours after taking their morning meds because they need to be close to a loo
2. perjaps they sleep badly all night and then fall back asleep in the early morning ( say 6-9) and so have a late start
3. perhaps they are lonely and feel apart from life - so like to feel part of the busyness that peak times confer

im sure there are many other potential reasons but the fact is that you need to extend the same kindness and understanding that you are expecting for yourself.
one day - if you are lucky - you may be an older person and I hope that you remember your casual cruelty towards older people - or perhaps you will be very keen to just fit your whole life style around the needs of the younger generation.

Take her to be in the water at 12 do 30 mins then either lunch at leisure centre or home if short journey. Easy lunch sandwich etc. then down for nap.
our leisure centre does - lane swiming 730-830, adult 9-10 lessons 10.30-11.30 , free swim 12-1 Then lessons 1.30-2.30, Sen swim 3-4 and ladies swim 4.30-530
They space it as best they can.!

Is it really so insane to expect the kids' pool to actually be open to kids at any time other than lunchtime?

Well it must work for the leisure centre and they are getting enough people in to justify putting a lifeguard on duty. They wouldn't run it if they got consistently low numbers.

You can't swim properly if you're avoiding hazards. If you're not bothered about that then yeah, it's not a problem but it would drive me insane. I'll adjust my comment to say anyone attempting to swim proper lengths during family time is an idiot.

My local pool does this and it's absolutely maddening, especially given that it's a separate toddler pool so the other times it's actually closed off! Whoever does the scheduling is a moron, but no amount of telling them that 12-2 for a preschooler is an insane swimming time gets through.

Just wait until they don’t need to eat and nap? Maybe when they’re 12 or 13?

We need the laugh emoji back.

Can people seriously not read? The OP didn’t phone up to ask or demand they changed the times of the family swim. She phoned I to ask if this was the only time (a query) and when they said ‘yes’ she just gave them some feedback.

I am absolutely with you OP in terms of your child’s routine. Some kids thrive with routine and it can mean less stress for parents if routine helps you. My mates used to take the piss out of me with my DS’s routine, but I had a child who slept though the night from 4 months and I was a better parent for it. Less tired and less stressed. Ignore any snarky comments about your child’s routine - it works for you.

How dare they ever leave the house?
🫣🫣🫣

I completely see your point here. Although not all toddlers will be on the same schedule, a majority would be, and I think it is very inflexible of them not to offer any other times.
On another note, we have always found it better in a deeper pool with armbands on rather than the kids pool. Some hotels have sessions for kids. The one near us is only 20p more expensive than the cold leisure centre pool.

Whoever does the scheduling is a moron, but no amount of telling them that 12-2 for a preschooler is insanely

That's not necessarily true though.
It will work for some people but not for others. If it doesn't work for you, its one of those things, maybe in a few months, next year, whenever, things may have switched round and its perfect timing.

But you are in favour of schedules, no?