Swimming pool changing rooms

adr

This could have been discussed before but after a quick search I don't see anything.
A dad goes to a swimming pool with a 4 years old daughter (dad is not going to swim) and there is no family changing room. Do they go male or female changing room?

tuisginideach

Male I'd say and into cubicle if possible. I thought most modern swimming pools had family rooms?

Nekarsulm

Male in my case. There is a disabled changing /baby changing room in the mens section of our local pool, so we can use that if there isn't a quiet corner free.
Usually we have the girls changed into the costumes at home and ready to go, so only need to change once.

Tordelback

Has to be male. Have done it many, many times, and only once did my daughter mortify me by loudly declaring "I can see that man's willy!" before dissolving into laughter. Good practice, really.

seamus

Yeah, male definitely.

Your other option is to dress her in her gear with a tracksuit over it and then you can just pop the tracksuit off and she jumps in the pool. Afterwards, towel her off and put the tracksuit back on till you get home, stick the heat on in the car!

dub_skav

She's the one getting changed, I would absolutely bring her to the female changing rooms.

ted1

dub_skav wrote: »

She's the one getting changed, I would absolutely bring her to the female changing rooms.

So you think that it is acceptable for an adult make to go into the female changing room? Bearing in mind that there are other young girls and quite possible adult females getting changed too?

El_Duderino 09

dub_skav wrote:

She's the one getting changed, I would absolutely bring her to the female changing rooms.

It's a choice between a small girl in the men's changing room or a man in the women's changing room. It's a bit of a nightmare but I'd probably side with bringing the girl to the men's.

On a side note, men tend to walk around in the nip in there changing room. I work on the principal that 'you don't be looking at me and i won't be looking at you'. I wear glasses so I can't really see anything when I'm getting changed. I just tend to zone out and do my own thing. I haven't thought how it would change my behaviour if there was a small child there.

It's a good question OP.

dub_skav

ted1 wrote: »

So you think that it is acceptable for an adult make to go into the female changing room? Bearing in mind that there are other young girls and quite possible adult females getting changed too?

Yes, I do.
If the pool have provided no facilities for families, why should the young girl be changed in the male changing room?

tuisginideach

dub_skav wrote: »

She's the one getting changed, I would absolutely bring her to the female changing rooms.

I don't think the adult male would even be let inside the door of the female changing room!

El_Duderino 09

dub_skav wrote:

Yes, I do. If the pool have provided no facilities for families, why should the young girl be changed in the male changing room?

Of someone has to be out of place, it should probably be the small child rather than the adult.

Timberrrrrrrr

dub_skav wrote: »

She's the one getting changed, I would absolutely bring her to the female changing rooms.

What?

A man can't just walk into the female changing room because he has his daughter with him.

I used to bring my daughters into male changing room. Find a cubicle if possible and if not then a corner and stand in front of them while they quickly changed. Once home they could bath or shower there.

dub_skav

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Of someone has to be out of place, it should probably be the small child rather than the adult.

If the man was also getting changed I could see your point, but in the OP it was stated that the man would not be swimming.

I really don't see the problem. I am aware there would be tutting and "won't somebody think of the children", but I don't see the actual problem.

In I would assume the vast majority (if not all these days) cases there are cubicles, so everybody has their privacy.

I would add that I always bring my daughter into the ladies toilets, she is the one going to the toilet, not me. I know it is a slightly different scenario, but just for context to show that I am not just on a wind up

secondrowgal

dub_skav wrote: »

She's the one getting changed, I would absolutely bring her to the female changing rooms.

dub_skav wrote: »

Yes, I do.
If the pool have provided no facilities for families, why should the young girl be changed in the male changing room?

I do not agree at all. I go swimming everyday and there are often mother's/women in the female changing room with young children, girls and boys. No problem. The same is true of the male changing room from what I hear. Under no circumstances should an adult of either sex be in the opposite adult changing room. Women walk around in the nip too, during adult sessions. I do it myself.

I have no issue with young children being in the changing room (although we do have a family room and I would prefer if they went there, but hey ho).

tuisginideach

dub_skav wrote: »

I would add that I always bring my daughter into the ladies toilets, she is the one going to the toilet, not me. I know it is a slightly different scenario, but just for context to show that I am not just on a wind up

And would you - if necessary - stand in a queue in the ladies' toilets waiting to bring your daughter into a cubicle?

tuisginideach

dub_skav wrote: »

In I would assume the vast majority (if not all these days) cases there are cubicles, so everybody has their privacy.

Difficult enough to manage 1 child in a cubicle with a parent - many parents might have 2 or more children going swimming!

Westernyelp

It's not appropriate for an adult male to be in a female change room. If it was communal. No bother. Everyone is aware of the situation. Otherwise bring the girl to the male. No one will take any heed. Including the child

Orion

In my local one girls are allowed in to the male changing room up to the age of 8.

dub_skav

tuisginideach wrote: »

And would you - if necessary - stand in a queue in the ladies' toilets waiting to bring your daughter into a cubicle?

To be honest I've never had to, but yes I would.

Jimbob1977

At my son's swimming lessons, young girls accompanied by their fathers would attend the male dressing room.

There was a mother with her son in the male dressing room also.

I don't expect it works the other way (father walking into female dressing room with his daughter). That would raise eyebrows and uncomfortable for everyone.

More and more swimming pools are becoming communal.... so the issue doesn't crop up.

eviltwin

There is an expectation that a female changing room will be female only so highly inappropriate for an adult male to enter. Women would be in various states of undress and it would cause a lot of upset and hassle. Children are a different matter,young boys in the ladies are okay so I'd assume same goes for girls in the men's. I'd imagine any man going into the ladies unannounced would find himself barred pretty quickly.

dub_skav

eviltwin wrote: »

There is an expectation that a female changing room will be female only so highly inappropriate for an adult male to enter. Women would be in various states of undress and it would cause a lot of upset and hassle. Children are a different matter,young boys in the ladies are okay so I'd assume same goes for girls in the men's. I'd imagine any man going into the ladies unannounced would find himself barred pretty quickly.

Would that barring apply to the mother in Jimbob1977 son's class who brought her son to the male dressing rooms too?

Genuinely interested if there is a perceived difference

Jimbob1977

eviltwin wrote: »

There is an expectation that a female changing room will be female only so highly inappropriate for an adult male to enter. Women would be in various states of undress and it would cause a lot of upset and hassle. Children are a different matter,young boys in the ladies are okay so I'd assume same goes for girls in the men's. I'd imagine any man going into the ladies unannounced would find himself barred pretty quickly.

Wouldn't men be in a state of undress in the male changing room?

BoatMad

oh the hangups around nudity, I dont look fetching naked in either the mens or the womens !!

ladyella

My husband would bring any daughter we had to the male changing room. We dont have any, we have 2 boys age 6 and 2 and they both change in the ladies when they are with me. I have never seen any different and I have never seen a man come in to help his daughter change. I would be of the opinion if she was young enough to need help changing then she is young enough to be changed where is suitable to whoever is bringing her

XrayGolf

dub_skav wrote: »

Would that barring apply to the mother in Jimbob1977 son's class who brought her son to the male dressing rooms too?

Genuinely interested if there is a perceived difference

It would depend if there was adult males getting changed at the same time. If so, then the mother should of gone to the female dressing room, but if it was just children & no adults getting changed then I don't see a problem.

eviltwin

dub_skav wrote: »

Would that barring apply to the mother in Jimbob1977 son's class who brought her son to the male dressing rooms too?

Genuinely interested if there is a perceived difference

If men are getting changed and a woman walks in unannounced then any man feeling uncomfortable should expect action from management.

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

Wouldn't men be in a state of undress in the male changing room?

Yes but there is a difference between a young child walking in and seeing you naked and an adult of the opposite sex.

adr

I am actually quite surprised by majority (so far) opting for a male changing room. So basically you are saying it’s better for a little girl to be surrounded by dangling junk than a dad minding his business , looking at the floor and helping his daughter to get changed being in female changing room? My point is an adult can look away, 4 years old girl cannot.

Next question then. A dad needs to bring his 4 years old daughter to a toilet. Do they go to men’s or women’s toilet? Is it different to changing rooms and why?

matc66

I find the hang ups here around nudity extraordinary. Since when did seeing someone naked cause harm.

ThisRegard

dub_skav wrote: »

She's the one getting changed, I would absolutely bring her to the female changing rooms.

You can't.

There's absolutely no harm in bringing her to the male dressing room, I do it myself all the time and there's usually plenty of other children, male and female, in there too.

harr

Such hang ups about nudity still in this country, the father should bring his daughter into the male changing room ... Definitely not acceptable for the male to enter a female changing area.....
Find a quiet corner have her in her swimming costume before hand and afterwards she can be changed discreetly with the help of a large towel. Its really not a big deal I see dads with their daughters the whole time in my gym and my wife would have no issues changing our lad (6) in the ladies changing area if I was not with her... Just don't make a big deal of it in front of the child.

BoatMad

adr wrote: »

I am actually quite surprised by majority (so far) opting for a male changing room. So basically you are saying it’s better for a little girl to be surrounded by dangling junk than a dad minding his business , looking at the floor and helping his daughter to get changed being in female changing room? My point is an adult can look away, 4 years old girl cannot.

Next question then. A dad needs to bring his 4 years old daughter to a toilet. Do they go to men’s or women’s toilet? Is it different to changing rooms and why?

Im sorry , but the sensitivities are adult and not a kid typically under the age of 10.

Hence the adult is abiding by the adults sensitivities and that appropriate ( even if rather sad).

the mere sight of genitalia of either sex, is of little interest to small kids and even if it is, so what

KERSPLAT!

If I had a daughter I would bring her to the men's changing room, same would go for the toilet if she wasn't old enough to go in by herself

harr

adr wrote: »

I am actually quite surprised by majority (so far) opting for a male changing room. So basically you are saying it’s better for a little girl to be surrounded by dangling junk than a dad minding his business , looking at the floor and helping his daughter to get changed being in female changing room? My point is an adult can look away, 4 years old girl cannot.

Next question then. A dad needs to bring his 4 years old daughter to a toilet. Do they go to men’s or women’s toilet? Is it different to changing rooms and why?

So you think it's ok for a grown man to enter a female changing room where there would be teen and pre teen females changing... A little girl has no hang ups over in your words dangling junk ...it would not make a blind bit of difference to the child...it sounds like you would have the issues with the dangling junk not the child ...

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

adr wrote: »

This could have been discussed before but after a quick search I don't see anything.
A dad goes to a swimming pool with a 4 years old daughter (dad is not going to swim) and there is no family changing room. Do they go male or female changing room?

Male

daheff

Westernyelp wrote: »

It's not appropriate for an adult male to be in a female change room.

its no more appropriate for an adult female to be in a male changing room

eviltwin wrote: »

There is an expectation that a female changing room will be female only so highly inappropriate for an adult male to enter. Women would be in various states of undress and it would cause a lot of upset and hassle. .

there is the same expectation of a male changing room and equally males would be in various states of undress. In terms of upset and hassle, do you think that males would not have these feelings if a female turns up 'unannounced'?

adr wrote: »

Next question then. A dad needs to bring his 4 years old daughter to a toilet. Do they go to men’s or women’s toilet? Is it different to changing rooms and why?

I absolutely bring my daughter to the female toilets. Never have had any tutting or complaining.

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

If I had a daughter I would bring her to the men's changing room, same would go for the toilet if she wasn't old enough to go in by herself

Wouldnt bring my daughter to the mens toilets. Generally the toilets themselves are in a worse state than the womens.

duffman3833

Its an interesting question as when i was last in swimming pool changing room, a man and his daughter, probably about 4 or 5 were getting changed and didn't really bother me or them. I just got changed the same way and off i went home. To answer the question, bring the child into the changing room you go to normally (if you a male and child is female, go to male dressing room). No harm done

BoatMad

The issue of toilet is somewhat different, female and male toilets have "private" cubicles , swimming pool changing rooms often do not , nor are people in a total state of undress in a toilet etc . There is no comparison

eviltwin

daheff wrote: »

there is the same expectation of a male changing room and equally males would be in various states of undress. In terms of upset and hassle, do you think that males would not have these feelings if a female turns up 'unannounced'?.

The female in this case is a little kid, totally different from a sexually aware teenager or adult woman entering a male changing room.

ThisRegard

For toilets, I'll usually bring my daughter to the toilet that's wheelchair accessible, unless she's about to burst then it'll be the mens.

Can't believe there is even a debate happening on this. A man should bring his daughter to the male changing rooms or a woman should bring her son to the female changing rooms. I have regularly seen small girls in male changing rooms with their dad's and it wouldn't appear out of the ordinary at all, I can even remember my own sisters changing in male changing rooms when my dad would bring them swimming.

A grown man entering a female changing room or vice versa would be frowned upon to the level of getting thrown out of the pool I would imagine.

Same goes for the toilet if a girl is too small to go to the toilet alone she should be brought to the male toilets by her father, again its a thing you will see regularly where a dad brings his daughter to the toilet in a male toilet.

Yardleys Lavender

If a man came into the women's changing room and I was in there with my bits out, you wouldn't be worrying about the child seeing nudity, but the child would witness me thumping the bejaysus out of the father.

Children under 7 or 8 can enter the opposite sex changing rooms as they need a little help with drying, dressing etc but older than that they are on their own - in the leisure centre that I use anyway.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

When I was a child out with my dad he would bring me to the men's toilets.
I wouldn't mind a father bringing his daughter into the ladies toilets tbh. They're all cubicles, infact I'd rather that than him bringing her past a urinal with a couple of men at it.

But swimming changing areas, no way. I'd have a heart attack if a man walked in to the changing area unannounced with people, (myself) with no clothes on.

BoatMad

Same goes for the toilet if a girl is too small to go to the toilet alone she should be brought to the male toilets by her father, again its a thing you will see regularly where a dad brings his daughter to the toilet in a male toilet.

I would have sympathy and see no issue with a man bringing a small girl into a female toilet, the situation is entirely different to a swimming pool changing room .

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

And the same goes for dads out with babies. He should absolutely use the ladies bathroom for baby changing facilities if there is none available that's communal or in the male toilets.

dub_skav

LexieOnRale wrote: »

infact I'd rather that than him bringing her past a urinal with a couple of men at it.

BoatMad wrote: »

I would have sympathy and see no issue with a man bringing a small girl into a female toilet, the situation is entirely different to a swimming pool changing room .

Now I really don't get this. You both think it would be OK for a man to avoid bringing his young daughter to a toilet with urinals, but think it fine to bring her to a male changing room?
Can you expand on your thinking there?

dub_skav

LexieOnRale wrote: »

And the same goes for dads out with babies. He should absolutely use the ladies bathroom for baby changing facilities if there is none available that's communal or in the male toilets.

You'll find that is surprisingly common actually, that the baby changing facilities are in the ladies.
That would in fact drive men to bring children into the ladies and I believe sets the precedent for acceptability.

KERSPLAT!

I'm a bit confused myself now. Its OK to use mens changing rooms but not mens toilets, even though its more likely to have a cubicle in the mens toilets that can be used than a cubicle in mens changing room...?

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

dub_skav wrote: »

Now I really don't get this. You both think it would be OK for a man to avoid bringing his young daughter to a toilet with urinals, but think it fine to bring her to a male changing room?
Can you expand on your thinking there?

Because without putting too fine a point on it, in a changing room nobody is standing with their penis in their hands.
I don't know about changing rooms for males but I'm sure if there's a little girl present, men will make an effort to be discreet in changing. Like I would if there was a little boy changing in the ladies.

It is inappropriate and unacceptable for a fully grown male to feel like he has the right to walk into a female changing area where there's a lot of naked women and children. When I use changing rooms I'm taking my clothes off with the understanding men aren't free to waltz in.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

I'm a bit confused myself now. Its OK to use mens changing rooms but not mens toilets, even though its more likely to have a cubicle in the mens toilets that can be used than a cubicle in mens changing room...?

It is fine to use men's toilets. But if the dad and daughter are more comfortable using the female toilets, then that's ok too because it's all cubicles so it's not like the dad is making anyone uncomfortable. I wouldn't be bothered at all seeing a male que with his daughter in a female bathroom

KERSPLAT!

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Because without putting too fine a point on it, in a changing room nobody is standing with their penis in their hands.
I don't know about changing rooms for males but I'm sure if there's a little girl present, men will make an effort to be discreet in changing. Like I would if there was a little boy changing in the ladies.

It is inappropriate and unacceptable for a fully grown male to feel like he has the right to walk into a female changing area where there's a lot of naked women and children. When I use changing rooms I'm taking my clothes off with the understanding men aren't free to waltz in.

We don't generally stand there waving our bits about either. I've been in hundreds of mens rooms and can, thankfully, say that I have rarely seen another mans bits while in them