naked toddlers showering at the public swimming pool

[Danthe4th]

At our local swimming pool it is glass sided and the showers are in full few of the veiwing area, and the car park at a push.

I take my 4 year old for his swimming lessons on a wednesday morning, they also have the mums and tots class. I sit watching my sons class and the previous class are using the showers.

Why do mums strip their children off so they shower naked. I'm at the point when i'm going to say something, but do I say it to mum or management.Several children do this.

There are often workmen, strangers, dads whoever wondering about. I just don't think its necessary to strip children naked, why can mums not leave their costumes on.

I find myself scanning the area to see if anyone is looking, it just worries me.Am I being unreasonable.

There are some really interesting comments and I do agree with most, I can see from all points of view and different situations obviously create different ideas.
It was the fact my friend was followed from the swimming pool car park that made me think, and yes I shouldn't have said workmen etc as thats an unfair comment as they are quite innocently carrying out their job.
I still say though that these showers should not be used for stripping off young children in full view of anyone when there are a few private cubicles. Yes I agree its sad to think that way but I can't help the way I feel.
I have since found out that a man has been reported locally for also hanging around outside schools in the same area and the car was the same as the one that followed my friend, hopefully a coincidence but has put her off going to swimming lessons on her own with her children.
I may sound barking mad but i'm not its just my point of view and we are all entitled to that thank goodness.

YABU, They are todlers.

I find all this really sad. I recently took DS2 (17 months) to a council playgroup that 2 older DCs went to quite a few years ago.DS2 was playing really nicely with this little girl and they kept hugging and kissing each other. I asked this girl's mum if it was Ok if I took a photo of them together which she said was fine.I took a couple of pics on my mobile when this playworker came running towards me screaming "NOOOOO!! GIVE ME THE PHONE, GIVE ME THE PHONE!!!!" She then launched into this stuff about para x clause y of the Children Act and taking photos in public settings. I showed her the pics and said they were of my own child and another whose mum had given permission. She said that, if I didn't delete them, she would call the Police. I live in quite a deprived area of inner London and am sure the Police have better things to do than investigating complaints about people taking photos of their own kids. I was tempted to stand my ground and let her call the cops and see what they'd do but I then thought that it would have to be logged and my name would be against a complaint of child abuse so I just left.I work in mental health and I reckon about 25% of people I see have been sexually abused but virtually always by a family member or friend of the family. I think we really need to get things back in proportion here - we all know there are some horrible people out there and we want to protect our kids but there seems to be a gradual trend towards total paranoia. Children have a very short time to run around naked before they become self conscious, let's not make that time even shorter. The next thing will be burkhas for babies.

YABU how utterly ridiculous

YABU get a grip!

YABU. I was told by a member of staff in my local pool that I could not take my DD's swim nappy off in the shower because of paedophiles. WTF!! My child needed to have chlorine washed off her skin, she was 15 months old at the time - a baby. My friend and I were absolutely astonished. I ignored him anyway and continued washing my naked baby in the shower . I abhor this completely paranoid society - get a bit of perspective for heaven's sake.

YABU - even my 5 and 6 year olds take their swimming costumes off in the communal shower before they get their towels and dry off. And I always shower naked in the ladies (communal) changing rooms, which admittedly are not in view of any men.

"Shortly afterwards my (just) 7yr old ds was not allowed to swim with me bcs it was a women-only session. And that annoyed me as much, because it sexualized him by ascribing to him adult sexual feelings. "

Do they grill the women on their sexuality then, just in case ? I find this all so irritating. What woman in the world is going to feel uncomfortable with a 7 year old boy in the pool ?

"She then launched into this stuff about para x clause y of the Children Act and taking photos in public settings."

Upsylazy, I think that she has completely misinterpreted the Children Act as there is no legislation preventing anybody taking photos of children in public or private settings. It's up to individual establishments to interpret the spirit of the law how they like.
If it was illegal to take photos of children in public places then school photographs in the paper and all other sorts of things would be illegal - which they aren't.

You shouldn' worry. If every one is doing it it is normal and safe. Also it teches kids to not be ashamed or their bodies and boosts their confidence.

@Anonomus

Why bump a ten year old post?

"i've been on some recent safeguarding children courses"

Some of these courses have a lot to answer for, in my view. I think I've just had my worst fears confirmed.

YABVU

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