The worst part about swimming lessons

[bruzogiri]

is getting the kids dressed in the changing room when it’s over. They are wet, the floor is wet, everything is wet. My kids are 5 and 7 so they can get themselves dressed but the clothes stick to them, they are wore out and tired after the lesson.

Any tips to help with the process? We do sandals and no socks, loose fitting clothes but I’ll take any other suggestions!

I don’t mean to sound like a prig, but I don’t see the problem - my ds age 7 has a nice long shower with loads of bubbles, he has a huge hooded towel and he dries himself inside that. Then back in the changing cubicle, we really take our time - what’s the rush? - so he will do some pull-ups on the bars above the changing cubicles, and then we might practice his foreign language or his times tables and then once he’s mostly dry, he pops his clothes on.

Why is that any harder than getting dressed after a shower at home or in a hotel? I truly don’t get it.

Oh wow, I didn't know it was like this across the board!

At DC's lesson, one child has his mum, dad, nan and grandad, and younger sibling toddling around the place. To make it even worse, the whole family act like holiday goers commandeering sun loungers. The nan hobbles in with a walking frame and hovers around to ensure the whole of their family get front seats by the window to watch the one child swim. Grandad will often need to stretch his leg 10 mins through, so blocks part of the viewing window toing and froing, and the whole group have a very loud conversation, while their toddler crawls/toddles around on the manky floor.

The hot as hell viewing area doesn't help as it just makes you feel stifled and irratible.

Hooded towels put on after a quick shower. Dry hair and top part of body. Lower towel to bottom half (child holding it around their waist) while putting clothes on dry top half. Dry bottom half, then towel dropped to floor to stand on. Put on bottom half of clothing. Sit on bench while drying feet and putting on socks and shoes/ crocs.

Only took a couple of minutes for each child. Even easier when they are old enough to mostly dry themselves.

Crocs and a dry robe! No messing about in changing rooms or showering!

I now do the same when I go swimming. Drive home in my dry robe and sandals. Shower wash hair at home.

I love that on MN you are never quite sure if posts like this are satire or not

Absolutely. They are just hell. Nothing I’ve found makes it better. Add to that you’re paying a fucking fortune for it just makes it even more unbearable

Yeah, just don't. Dry robe and crocs all the way.

Poncho towel as soon as they are out.

Pat dry

Baby powder on the pants area, back and front.

Pants, shorts/joggers, tshirt, crocs/slip on boots, jacket or coat.

I can get mine out in 5 minutes, including using the toilet.

Don’t they learn at school these days ? We used to go on Tuesdays.
Just had to learn to dry yourself off with a towel. And put your school uniform back on. The days of metal clothes hanger and rubber bands.

YABU. The worst part about swimming lessons is the cheeky fuckers who think they can reserve a changing room! I always use them, and chuck them their stuff under the door on wet floor if they complain and refer them to the sign that says not to leave stuff in the changing rooms.

But the 7 year old is more than capable of getting themselves dry and dressed. Just being lazy as you let them!! Letting them figure it out will be much better in long run. The 5 year old may need some help depending on if a new 5 or almost 6…. Onesies are great for after swimming.

I second the onesie/ crocs combo and showering them at home!

Totally agree, worst hour of my week!! Onesie and crocs here too, then get out of there asap.

The rugby scrum of parents, buggies and bags once the lesson is over. Children in the communal showers having the full spa Badedas treatment whilst your child stand shivering trying to get past to the cubicles.

Dry robe , crocs, bath & sort them out once home

The getting changed after is hell. As soon as I step inside a leisure centre I’m sweating like a pig

How do you strap them into a car seat wearing a dry robe though?

As it’s summer mine leave in either the towelling shorts and top sets (from Next) I'm thinking of buying this from Next

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su767109/w45711
or a zip up long towelling jacket (asda).
https://direct.asda.com/george/kids/swimwear/disney-stitch-pink-towelling-poncho/GEM1371128,default,pd.html?cgid=D25M2G1C10
Boys and girls ones available at both. I always buy them at least a size up. Boden do some lovely ones too!
Then they are usually dry by the time we get home.
In winter we go for onesies which isn’t as easy.
Usually crocs too.

Another vote for changing hoodie and get home!

😋

I’ll leave you guessing!

It gets better once your opposite sex child is old enough to use the other changing room. Yes, I had a slight wobble about his safety at first, but given it's mostly dads and their kids who are also doing swimming lessons in there, several of whom are in my son's group, I've become more relaxed about it. DC changes into pyjamas for going home.

I bloody hate swimming lessons but dds are excellent swimmers now. Dd1 has asked to stop as she doesn't want to do the rookie lifeguard sessions which are next and I did the whole, "If you're sure it is a good thing to keep up, great exercise..." while really thinking YESSSSSS!

Their lessons are 45 mins now and I stand in the viewing area hot, bored, drowning out the shit radio station with my earbuds, can't even eat a chocolate bar as they melt everywhere. And yes, why do some children have their entire family there? It's he'll, I'd love to no have to be there!

Oodie (just slip past head and done) and flip flops

I used to take 3 swimming and it was hell! It was always such a stressful process and hot!!
Glad I’m down to my last one swimming and he’ll be done by the end of term 🎉
Onsie and sliders for us - changed as quickly as possible and in the car.

I'd forgotten about this. My oldest is nearly 8 and hyper independent, she's been taking herself off to have a quick shower, get dressed and then meet me in the cafe (where I can see her lesson from a distance and it's not hotter than Hades) for about a year. She's in stage 6 so her lessons are later in the evening which means DS (3) could usually stay home with DH so it was just me enjoying my coffee, watching her swim, maybe even having a cheeky little read of my book. Then her little brother started lessons and I'm right back in the trenches of swimming lesson hell. My feet are wet, I'm boiling, jostling for space close enough so he can see me and doesn't think I've abandoned him etc etc.