To NOT include 9 year old DD in Boxing Day swim?

[TaylorSwiftsWeddingPlanner]

Our family and another will be heading to the beach about 30 mins away for a walk and a quick dip. It’ll be seconds in and out.
DD wants to join in the fun. Her similar aged friends won’t do it but DD is very gung ho.

For context: There’s not an ounce of meat on her, she’s tiny. No cough or cold. We do own a wet suit for her which she can use. Weather here will be 0 - 3 degrees on Friday.

I don’t think she should. Grown ups yes, and she can have fun on the beach with her mates. She’s tiny and at best will wine about the cold afterwards, and worst - well.

DH thinks I am being the fun police and lighten up.

I don’t know either way.

YABU - of course she can, YOLO!
YANBU - hypothermia in a 9 year old on Boxing Day is a rational fear.

What’s the point in going ‘swimming’ for a few seconds dip ?
is it just to say you do it ?
Regarding your child … if you have chosen a Christmas family activity to do - then that should include your child- else choose a different activity . But cruel and weird to pick something just for yourself and she has to sit and watch !! Not very family is it !

This is what I was thinking too.

If she doesn’t want to go in will your dh be happy to wait on the beach with her? If he’s ok with being responsible for her then I would let her come

For a child who isn't used to it just going in and out will probably be all they can handle. Though if I were to go in I'd go for a proper swim - if you dip in then come out then it doesn't feel cold when you go back in the 2nd time and feels rather lovely actually. Bloody love cold water!

Where on their SM are they saying you shouldn't go?

This is a post saying how to swim safely.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CmXogKLBU/

For a quick dip, she's probably better without the wetsuit to superficially register the cold quicker and be able to strip and dry ASAP.
Booties, gloves and hats are the first port of call for warmer layers before wetsuit anyway as they protect the extremities.

The important bit is being prepared to warm up with a hot drink/ soup and shelter from the wind/ cold air.

At 9, she's old enough to register discomfort pretty quickly, before her core temperature drops too low. Realistically she's most likely to have a quick splash and change her mind.

I'm all for kids being gung ho, but if she's not used to cold water swimming, she really should wear neoprene gloves and socks and some sort of hat as well as a 5mm wetsuit.

What's the plan for after the dip? She won't be able to play with her mates on the beach as she'll need to get out of the wind and into warm clothes very quickly. Getting out of head to toe neoprene is a PITA at the best of times, especially if there's nowhere sheltered to do it.

At the very minimum, she will need an adult 100% focused on helping her get warm and dry after her 30 seconds in, which means hot drink, layers, gloves, hat, out of the wind, making sure she moves around to generate heat.

I would say no this year but from late spring onwards start going cold water swimming and build up tolerance. Worrying about hypothermia in Boxing Day doesn't sound very relaxing tbh.