Swimming changing rooms

[ncw1234]

Hi, I have 2 children (girl 4 and boy 8). They have swimming lessons at the same time. As it is only children's swimming lessons happening at the time, and so only children getting undressed, I have been using the male changing rooms. One of my sons friends (girl) is in his lesson and so it felt a bit awkward making them get naked in the same changing room. As my daughter is only 4 she is more than happy to use the male changing room. A father approached me yesterday though - and said I should be using the female changing rooms. Not sure what's right? I can't leave my son alone as the changing rooms have exits on opposite sides of the building and it's dark when we come out. What are your views??

Could just as easily be the 8 year old is the oldest of some 6-8 year olds, we're just imagining it to be like what we've experienced ourselves.

Could be but highly unlikely that all the children are 8 or under. And they have no children older than 8 learning still to swim, especially when swim lessons were stopped for a period of time with the pandemic.

But whatever its already been pointed out to Op by a Dad it's not appropriate for Op to be in the boys. If all the boys were really small I doubt the Dad would have bothered.

OP Mumsnet is not the place to ask this question, it's not the real world.
A couple of weeks ago there was a 1k post thread on this topic where people raved that because an 8 year old girl accompanied girl might be uncomfortable with an 8 year old accompanied boy in the same room, that the answer was to make the boy get changed on poolside, on full view of all the world. As I said, it's not the real world.

Blimey when I was at primary school the whole class got changed for swimming in the classroom, all together in one room!

That's fucking nuts to suggest anybody should be getting changed on a poolside.

But I really do get the issues of male / female changing and boys having to go into men's alone. Just 8 seems young but at the same time 9 seems too late.

Truthfully I kept taking DS into the ladies until he was just over 8 then he started using the mens and me shouting in the door etc.

MN always seem to suggest Dad should step up, aye right, no consideration that Dad is working when lessons are happening or just isn't on the scene, dead / donor sperm.

@stretchypants

Blimey when I was at primary school the whole class got changed for swimming in the classroom, all together in one room!

What primary school has a pool? And surely you don't have a class of dripping wet kids dripping all through the school.

Our school has them getting themselves changed for swimming themselves from reception. He can change on his own in the men's

He’s old enough to get changed by himself. Hover outside if you must. Take onesies so the hovering child doesn’t get cold.