Our pool created a rule this summer that no kid (aged 4 and under) can be in the main swimming pool, period. This includes with a parent and regardless of whether or not they are wearing swim diapers. They are only allowed to swim in the baby pool, full stop. You can imagine the controversy this has caused.
I find this to be a ridiculous rule and plan to fight it, but was wondering whether it is more pervasive than I thought. The rationale seems to be related to keeping poop/vomit out of the pool but traditionally, this has not been a problem for this pool and when it has been, it's not exclusively a 4 and under problem! Seems like a sledgehammer to an ant, IMHO.
My pool has a sign up that says:
"Discharge of fecal material is strictly prohibited"
Maybe if they put up a sign like that there wouldn't be any problems.
Our summer pool allows my 3yo in the big pool, but has similar restrictions regarding the baby pool (no kids over 5). Next year it would be a problem if that rule was enacted here, since my oldest would be 6 and the kids would have to be split up.
I may be jinxing myself here, but we haven't had many code browns at this particular pool, even with the leniency. If the local diet consisted of krispy kremes, cracklins, and pulled pork, we might have a different story.
Code browns are out of control. I don't know why parents can't put their kids in rubber pants but apparently it is problem. I also don't understand why pools even allow non-toilet trained kids in the main pool. I have had way more than a few family outings come to an abrupt halt by some kid dropping the kids off at the lake in the pool. It has gotten to the point where some pools that are close-by we avoid simply because it happens all the time. Y's seem especially incapable of enforcing any sort of rule.
I think this is a fantastic rule. While I agree that 4/unders aren't the sole source of the problem I bet they are the vast majority.
I can't recall a single day growing up where we had this issue. Maybe rules were a bit looser back in the day. Or, maybe, parents didn't think their kids were constitutionally guaranteed the right to unleash the brown furry in a swimming pool full of other people.
I just want to recognize that this excellent post has used two terms for bowel movement with which I was unfamiliar -- Thanks for that it has signficantly improved my afternoon.
I honestly haven't seen this as a big problem and our pool hosts a day camp with a lot of 3s and 4s. When my kids were in that age range, I always had them in swim diapers but swim diapers are basically a big placebo -- they are kind of like that thin chain lock on a motel door-- and wont stop a determined intruder (or extruder in this case).
I just want to recognize that this excellent post has used two terms for bowel movement with which I was unfamiliar -- Thanks for that it has signficantly improved my afternoon.
I honestly haven't seen this as a big problem and our pool hosts a day camp with a lot of 3s and 4s. When my kids were in that age range, I always had them in swim diapers but swim diapers are basically a big placebo -- they are kind of like that thin chain lock on a motel door-- and wont stop a determined intruder (or extruder in this case).
The brown furry was exceptionally funny.
My pool rules:
only 4 & under in baby pool
4-9 in the small training pool
no one under 4 in main pool
These seem exceedingly reasonable. And I agree with Geek that 4 & Us are the usual culprits, or possibly their parents for not being more attentive to bathroom issues.
Why do you think it's a bad decision? In general it depends on what the main pool is designed for. If it's a sports pool for trainings I would say it's dangerous for so small children to be there. If the pool is just for fun then I would agree with you.
There are age restrictions in the city pool - 6 and under must be accompanied by a parent. Under 16s need to be supervised in the lap pool (yea - like that ever happens at weekends).
For our outdoor summer HOA pools it is a bit of a free-for-all - under 12s need supervision, but that's about as far as it goes. However when it gets busy they have a mandatory 10 min "adult only" swim where kids are encouraged to used the bathroom and re-apply sunscreen, which I think helps minimise code browns, and seems a reasonable compromise.
Code browns are out of control. I don't know why parents can't put their kids in rubber pants but apparently it is problem. I also don't understand why pools even allow non-toilet trained kids in the main pool. I have had way more than a few family outings come to an abrupt halt by some kid dropping the kids off at the lake in the pool. It has gotten to the point where some pools that are close-by we avoid simply because it happens all the time. Y's seem especially incapable of enforcing any sort of rule.
I think this is a fantastic rule. While I agree that 4/unders aren't the sole source of the problem I bet they are the vast majority.
I can't recall a single day growing up where we had this issue. Maybe rules were a bit looser back in the day. Or, maybe, parents didn't think their kids were constitutionally guaranteed the right to unleash the brown furry in a swimming pool full of other people.
I train at a school at a private school. My favorite rule on the posted list of rules is that "no children shall swim in the pool". I'm pretty certain someone wrote that in as a joke, but I think it's hysterical!
