Yet another post about 5-6 year old boys in the women's changing/bathroom at the pool.

[Anonymous]

I have a 5 year old boy and we have been going to the pool every day. There is no family changing room there, just men's and women's rooms. I have him walk through the men's room to come and go to the pool, but when he has to go to the bathroom, he needs my help with his wet bathing suit. So I take him into the women's room. The pool has a policy that children over 6 must use the gender appropriate bathroom, so my child is technically OK going into the women's room. However, there are many unclothed women and girls in there and he gawks at them, as much as I tell him to look straight ahead, do your business, and let's get out.

I don't want to make the other women uncomfortable. I have no idea if they are uncomfortable or not. Most are Asian and Russian immigrants and have I have no idea if cultural norms are different or not.

Should I help him practice with his swim suit so he can go to the bathroom by himself in the men's room? Am I making too big a deal of this?

[Anonymous]

He can't pull his bathing suit down by himself when its wet?

[Anonymous]

I just stand outside the men's bathroom while my 6 year old uses it for #1. I know that if he is taking too long, there is a problem. Thankfully, he has not had to do #2 there yet. It is also difficult for me because I worry about the men using the bathroom, but I have no problem sticking my head in the door and calling his name to make sure he is ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He can't pull his bathing suit down by himself when its wet?

He can't pull it back up.

[Anonymous]

I have a six year old boy and I also bring him in with me to the lady's room when he has to go to the bathroom. He has never seemed to notice women changing though.

[Anonymous]

Question. Why do people change after they swim? My kids and I sit on our towels in the car, perhaps slipping a little light cover up over our suits. It's nice and cool that way and our car seats are perfectly dry 30 minutes later.

I just don't get this. It's 100 degrees out. Why not stay cool?

[Anonymous]

I use post-swim time as an easy time to get my kid showered (and I like to rinse the chlorine off right away, too, or I get itchy). That's why I change at the pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question. Why do people change after they swim? My kids and I sit on our towels in the car, perhaps slipping a little light cover up over our suits. It's nice and cool that way and our car seats are perfectly dry 30 minutes later.

I just don't get this. It's 100 degrees out. Why not stay cool?

OP here. Everyone at my pool takes full showers and puts on street clothing. I was feeling like an outcast because we don't even rinse after swimming. We just go home and change. Regular showers at night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question. Why do people change after they swim? My kids and I sit on our towels in the car, perhaps slipping a little light cover up over our suits. It's nice and cool that way and our car seats are perfectly dry 30 minutes later.

I just don't get this. It's 100 degrees out. Why not stay cool?

I tried that. My sensory sensitive kid went berzerk. So, we change. Not a big deal at all. Not everyone has to do something b/c you think it's the right way to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question. Why do people change after they swim? My kids and I sit on our towels in the car, perhaps slipping a little light cover up over our suits. It's nice and cool that way and our car seats are perfectly dry 30 minutes later.

I just don't get this. It's 100 degrees out. Why not stay cool?

I tried that. My sensory sensitive kid went berzerk. So, we change. Not a big deal at all. Not everyone has to do something b/c you think it's the right way to do it.

Jeezo pete!

[Anonymous]

My husband just experienced a similar issue except reverse genders. At our neighborhood pool, you HAVE to walk through either the women's locker room or the men's locker room to get to the pool. And to get to the pool from the locker room you have to practically walk through the open showers. He has taken our 5 year old daughter to the pool without me a few times and was really disturbed that he had to walk her through the men's shower with a bunch of naked men to get to the pool. She could have gone through the women's locker room by herself I suppose but it is quite a maze and the doors pretty heavy for a little one to open by themselves. When my DH complained to the pool the guy was sympathetic but said there wasn't really anything they could do. They wouldn't even allow them to walk through the employee entrance to the pool. I don't consider ourselves to be prudes or anything but it would be nice if my husband could take our daughter to the pool without walking her through a room of penises!

[Anonymous]

I have no problem with a boy being in the women's changing room. Whatever! If he still needs help, he's probably to young to look at my boobies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband just experienced a similar issue except reverse genders. At our neighborhood pool, you HAVE to walk through either the women's locker room or the men's locker room to get to the pool. And to get to the pool from the locker room you have to practically walk through the open showers. He has taken our 5 year old daughter to the pool without me a few times and was really disturbed that he had to walk her through the men's shower with a bunch of naked men to get to the pool. She could have gone through the women's locker room by herself I suppose but it is quite a maze and the doors pretty heavy for a little one to open by themselves. When my DH complained to the pool the guy was sympathetic but said there wasn't really anything they could do. They wouldn't even allow them to walk through the employee entrance to the pool. I don't consider ourselves to be prudes or anything but it would be nice if my husband could take our daughter to the pool without walking her through a room of penises!

Why not just send her through the womens - and coach her to ask for help if she needs it?

[Anonymous]

OP I have a feeling that if the naked women are already letting it all hang out and walking around...they wont mind a young boy walking through.

However, yes I think you should have him practice pulling the wet swimpsuit up.

[Anonymous]

I've noticed the same thing with our oldest (he'll be 5 in August). But, IMO he's too young to go off by himself in a changing room. So, he comes in with me and his siblings.

I just remind him not to stare. He's seen me naked before when he was younger, so its not like he's never seen it before.

He can dress/undress himself. Its more of a maturity and direction issue (he would definitely get lost) and I'm not quite comfortable with him going in a men's bathroom or changing room just yet.