F/U to attire poll

naclh2otaffy

Since I didn't want to taint the data by sharing my story - here's what has me ticked off....

I went to my neighborhood pool today with Babytaffy.  It's a "public" pool with written rules.   One rule is that "children under three must wear appropriate swim clothes (no diapers!)" [exact quote from the rules at entrance]  There was a toddler in the grown-up pool who was wearing full leather sandals and a pampers swim diaper and nothing else. 

I think this was against the rules, as I don't think it met the "appropriate swimwear" clause.  I questioned the pool gate guard first, and he said that that attire didn't meet the guidelines and that a lifeguard should be notified.  So then I went and asked the lifeguard if just a diaper was appropriate clothing for the pool.  She immediately got defensive and said that she hadn't noticed the child in question.  She mentioned that maybe he was wearing an "invisible swimsuit" that I just couldn't see [huh?].  She said that she thought it was fine as long as it was a diaper.  I was polite and said that I disagreed, that the rules seemed to disagree, and that it was a difference in interpretation of the rules. That I understood her viewpoint but that I would bring it up with the pool management company as well as the HOA management company, since I saw a contradiction in the interpretation of the written rules.  That either the enforcement needed to be changed or the rule needed to be rewritten.  I said that it wasn't her fault and that I appreciated her input. 

She then questioned in an accusatory manner whether my child had a diaper on.  I said yes, and that I was a conscientious parent and that I even purchased the swim trunks that have the plastic liner as I like a second layer of protection.  She argued with me that not all suits have that.  She argued that it was okay to have pee going in to the pool. She just kept finding things to argue at me about as I kept trying to difuse the situation and assure her that it wasn't her issue, that it wasn't something to argue about, etc.  I finally had to pick up my child and leave the pool, saying "I don't want to beat a dead horse here" just to get away from her.  It just really ruined my relaxing pool trip.

btrrcupbride

I completely sympathize. There is a little boy in our swim class at the Kyle Pool who never wears anything but a disposable swim diaper.  Our pool rule is written exactly as yours is. 
I have never had the nerve to question it though.  The same family's child vomitted in the pool (ALOT) last week and they just kept right on going.  I just try to stay on the other side of the pool as them and will bring it up the next time I am there.

What irks me most about it is this is the place who would not allow a mother to nurse her child there... so I guess they enforce some rules and not others?  We won't take lessons here again next year. 

JezcaM

btrrcupbride:

I guess they enforce some rules and not others? 

i bet they're terrified to try to enforce a rule again after the last time brought them such grief. i'd certainly think twice.

and OMG vomit???? i wouldn't be able to handle that.

JezcaM

taffy - seems like your situation was all about the rule and not so much about the swimwear choice. you were absolutely right to expect them to enforce their own rules! i hope you got her name.

naclh2otaffy

You're right, it's much more a rule issue and a perception issue than anything else.  If I'd been treated with respect, it wouldn't be bugging me. 

Abrooks

I agree...they need to enforce their own rules.  And I had to laugh at the "invisible swimsuit" line.  Seriously?

clynn58

I thought there was a difference between a swim diaper (holds no water) and a regular diaper (absorbs water) am I confused?

AustinMimi

I am a stickler for rules, so I would have been mad as well, if for no other reason than that I would have gone out and spent $ on a bathing suit that may or may not have been needed.