to let my 2 yeaar old go in the jaccuzi at the pool?

[JeanPoole]

she loves it, we had a swim this am then we went in the jaccuzzi, we start off by letting her sit on the legde with her feet in, then she gets in and stands on the seating area.

someone told me that i shouldn't let her go in it today, but we have gone in there loads of times before.
never harmed her in anyway
she dosn't swallow the water or anything and i don't think its too hot.

what do you think?

As well as all of the other health risks mentioned, poorly maintained spas can be a hot bed for breeding legionella (cause of Legionnaires Disease = nasty = causes death) Therefore YABU to ignore advice.

The one we use (hotel pool) has a sign saying no under 12's. The pool staff are quick to act on it if younger kids do go in. ANother hotel pool we used it was no under 8's. Personally, if the sign states a minimum age then I think you should keep to it!

am sure the other spa users would like some peace and quiet

why snigger?

they go there to relax - hence the steam room etc

I never use a jacuzzi where I don't know the person maintaining it. The major danger is legionella (which causes legionnaires disease). From my background there are several important features which must exist for anyone to get legionnaires disease.

1. The bacteria has to be present (it's surprisingly common actually as it's one of the causes of pneumonia)
2. It has to be at the right temperature to multiply
3. is has to be available in aerosol form (like in the fine mist from a showerhead etc.)
4. A person has to breathe it in.
5. That person has to be susceptible (the old, the young and the immonosuppressed)

All these exist in the use of a jacuzzi and only really good maintenance can reduce them (and keeping the susceptible away from the danger).

As others have said too, there are loads of other bugs which breed quite happily in this sort of environment.

friend of mine who is public health dr at consultant level says they are full of germs and chemicals - would not go in herself let alone let her children in. could easily lead to UTIs and similar as water is swooshing around and likely up those bits of the body plus skin problems

I take mine in all the time

Their evening bath is hot but I don't worry about "brain damage" - what nonsense!

YABU and irresponsible taking your child in one of those!

My friend works in the local liesure centre and told me under no circumstances should a child be in a jaccuzzi for several reasons!

They are more dangerous to the elderly and young children because their immune systems tend to be lower so they can catch whatever nasties are lurking in their and believe me if you've ever seen an empty jaccuzzi you will know the amount of crap that ends up on the bottom of them before they are cleaned out properly!

Also the heat and pressure of the jets can cause the blood pressure to rise (?) significantly which is very, very dangerous to children especially if there is an underlying heart condition etc.

Please pay attention to the signs they are there for a reason not just to stop your child pissing in the water!

I hate people who think "that rule doesn't apply to me". It's arrogant and selfish.

So there is actually a sign that says no children/under 16s/whatever? But you choose to ignore it because it doesn't suit you to?

How very public spirited of you.

Even if there is no health risk per se I think it's a question of courtesy and respect for other users of the health club.

It would help if the signs say why you can't go in. I need to have a reason why, not to just be told no.

I know why lo's should be kept out of spa/hot tubs, it's because their bloody noisey, jumping and spalshing and even laughing, I blame the stupid person who decided to put bubbles in , it just encourages them

I think it's NONSENSE

I want some evidence please that 10 minutes in a jacuzzi is bad for your health if you are a young child

And the jacuzzi mine go in is private but I've taken them in public ones when there is no one else around (because I really believe that this is like the no-mobiles-in-hospitals-rule) i.e. the REAL reason is that they are just pissed off with people who don't have any courtesy

I have also taken my grandmother in - she is dead now though, do you think that was the problem???

I'm with SoupDragon. How arrogant to simply snigger and carry on when a rule was pointed out to you.

(I was on a heart ward the other day and was asked to make sure my mobile was turned off on the way in - when I got there, one of the old ladies was on her mobile in bed! I said: Do they let you do that?! She said: God, we've all got them, Patientline's a rip off! )

I have no idea if there is a medical reason but I do think that if a club says No Kids then it means No Kids. I like to relax and daydream in the jacuzzi without a twittering child giving me earache. I get enough of that at home thanks.

oh perhaps i should point out the elderly should not go in there then!

bet that would go down well!.

lol

also ive never seen anyone submerge their head fully in a jaccuzzi.

Yes it is more about people being pissed off with children being in there

Public ones ARE hot-beds of jizz and sludge though, I agree

It's up to each individual at the end of the day but if there is a very real risk and there are signs then personally I'd rather protect my child than give him 5 minutes of 'fun' in a breeding ground of shit jacuzzi.

I would'nt go near one after seeing it being emptied never mind put my child in one!!!

the funny thing was the pool overlooks the countryside, you have a nice view from pool.

dd has just learnt the word rabbit.

and for some reason there was 2 rabbits out in the day, hopping about and dd was, pointing and saying rabbit rabbit rabbit!
she was doing this in the pool.

For those wanting to know what the HSE says about spas and legionnella

www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/

and this

www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/whatis.htm

Nuff evidence?

Jeanpoole you clearly think that you are NOT being unreadonable so I'm not sure why you asked the question ? You say that perhaps that you should tell elderly people that they shouldn't go into the Spa. Interestingly, the HSE guilance requires operators of Spas to review their risk assessments for legionnaires IF their client group become predominently elderly. What does that tell you ?

OK. Seeing as we're talking about infectious diseases and incubation, I have two words for you.

Swine

flu.

Bet those bubbles don't look so enticing now.

Also, the reason there is a notice saying no under 16s or whatever is that it is a LEGAL REQUIREMENT to have copious notices up at public pools.

These include, but are not limited to:
NO RUNNING
NO JUMPING
NO DIVEBOMBING
NO MOBILE PHONES IN CHANGING ROOMS
DO NOT USE POOL IF UNDER INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL
IF YOU CANNOT SWIM TELL A MEMBER OF STAFF

It is also a LEGAL REQUIREMENT at pools to have a GRUMPY pool man in workman overalls and overshoes SHAKING HIS HEAD at kids who dare to SCREECH in the pool or SPLASH or generally look like they are having A GOOD TIME.

Tis true.

Merrylegs you forgot NO PETTING.

Surely the most important rule in a hot tub

I don't think it's up to the individual. The rules at that particular place state that you're not supposed to take children in there. End of.

Whether it's for their own safety or for the safety/convenience of other patrons doesn't really matter.

Why should you get to break the rules when you feel like it? I don't get this "my children are so special that rules don't apply to them" attitude.

Fair enough, if there's no rules to the contrary then take your own view on the safety or whatever. But if there is a rule and someone (nicely) points it out to you, then YABVU to ignore the fact.

jacuzzis need more chlorine. It's about 5ppm instead of 1. Hot water is a fecund environment.