Woman Kicks Out Dad With A Daughter From Women’s Changing Room, Asks If She Was Right

As parents, people often have to navigate all sorts of tricky situations. What to do when the babysitter cancels at the last minute? How to handle work when your child is sick? What changing rooms to use when your little one is of the opposite sex?

The last situation was the pickle the dad in this story found himself in. A woman on Mumsnet recently told the community about how she noticed the father with his daughter at the pool and then saw them going towards the woman’s changing room, and the OP told them not to enter. Even though she was backed up by people at the pool, some believed that the woman was in the wrong to do so, which made her wonder if she was being unreasonable.

With children, even something as mundane as going to the pool can become an event

Women’s changing room with lockers, robes, and a sauna, featuring blue and wood accents.

Image credits: The Canebrake (not the actual photo)

After going to the pool, this dad was stopped from entering the woman’s changing room with his daughter

Text about a man arriving at a pool with his young daughter after aqua aerobics.

Text excerpt discussing disruptive behavior at a swimming pool with a child throwing objects in the water.

Text on a white background discussing a shrieking girl and people reacting, related to a women’s changing room situation.

Text from a discussion regarding daughter's presence in a women's changing room at a pool, with staff member interaction.

Text about a hotel guest with his daughter, contemplating using the women's changing room.

Text description about a dad and daughter heading to the women's changing room.

Text describing an open-plan women's changing room with cubicles and showers.

Text discussing a dad attempting to bring his daughter into a women's changing room; suggests alternatives.

Text screenshot discussing a dad's decision about using women's changing rooms with his daughter.

Woman in swim cap and goggles adjusts eyewear by pool, related to women’s changing room discussion.

Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)

Text excerpt on a woman questioning a dad about bringing his daughter into a women's changing room.

Text discussing a man's frustration over changing room access for his daughter.

Text discussing appropriateness of children in opposite sex changing rooms.

Text about a father wrapping his daughter in a towel, considering using the women's changing room.

Text expressing a woman's discomfort about a dad and daughter in a women's changing room.

Text discusses being told not to bring daughter to women's changing room during adult hours.

Text of a debate about a dad bringing his daughter into women's changing room.

Text discussing a woman arguing over bringing children into women's changing rooms.

Text discussing discomfort about daughters in women's changing rooms.

Text discussing lack of family changing rooms, emphasizing setup for member comfort and hotel guests with children.

Text expressing concern about a father taking his daughter into a women's changing room and seeking opinions on the matter.

Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)

Text of a message discussing women’s changing room and a dad bringing his daughter there.

Text discussing opinions on using a disabled changing room, saying it's wrong without having a disability.

Image source: Anotsolittlemermaid

Choosing the right changing room when you’re with kids can be tricky

Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)

For better or worse, life with children is never dull; nor is it easy. Even something as seemingly mundane as a walk in the park might be no walk in the park, especially if the little one is in a mood.

That goes for going elsewhere, too, including the pool or other establishments that might require changing garments. While seeing a mom with a toddler boy in a woman’s changing room, for example, might not be surprising to people around them, the same situation would arguably be viewed very differently if she brought with her a teenager. So what should parents do if their child is not old enough to go on their own, but old enough to make some people uncomfortable?

Ideally, they should choose the family changing room option. However, that is not something that every pool has to offer. In many places, though, there are rules and regulations regarding the age of children allowed in certain changing rooms; in the OP’s case, for example, the pool seemingly didn’t allow kids over the age of eight to enter the changing rooms of the opposite sex.

In some establishments, the age limit can be as high as 12 years, as it was (as of 2017, at least) in the City of London. According to CBC, there was an attempt to change the said age limit to four, meaning that little ones over the age of three would have to go change on their own if they were there with a parent of the opposite sex. However, it didn’t take long for moms and dads to express their discontent, so the City of London Parks and Recreation Department reportedly stuck to the bylaw that noted that children 12 and younger can go into an opposite-sex changing room if accompanied by a parent, guardian, caregiver, or caretaker.

Clearly, there is no ‘one age fits all’ solution when it comes to such situations. Unsurprisingly, there is no one unanimous opinion regarding them, either, which is why some netizens sided with the OP, while others suggested she was indeed being unreasonable.

The woman shared more details with fellow netizens

Text discusses discomfort with a dad bringing daughter to women's changing room, questioning appropriateness.

Some people sided with the OP, saying that she was right to stop the man from entering the woman’s changing room

Text screenshot discussing issues with a dad bringing his daughter to a women's changing room.

Comment discusses concern over a male entering a women's changing room in text form.

Text comment discussing a dad potentially misusing hotel changing rooms near a pool.

Text expressing frustration over men in women's changing rooms, emphasizing privacy for women.

Text discussing a situation about a dad and daughter in a women's changing room, considering feelings and hotel solutions.

Text conversation about changing room rules for children under 8 with parents of the same sex.

Comment on male entitlement in women's changing room debate.

Text from a leisure centre worker discussing opinions on men bringing daughters into women's changing rooms.

Text discussing opinions on adult men in women’s changing rooms, addressing rights in communal facilities.

Others, however, shared a different opinion

Text comment discussing comfort and safety of a girl in a women's changing room.

Text comment questioning gender norms in changing rooms, relating to a dad and daughter scenario.

Text from an online discussion about a dad taking daughter to women's changing room.

Comment on facility issues regarding men in women's changing rooms and the need for family rooms.

Text discussing gym's lack of appropriate changing rooms for opposite-sex children and their parents.

Text discussing conflict about men in women's changing rooms and child privacy concerns.

Text response about a woman questioning dad in women's changing room issue.

Text discussing an issue about bringing a child into a women's changing room, questioning etiquette and hotel policies.

Text discussion about a dad bringing his daughter into a women’s changing room, highlighting lack of family facilities.

Text expressing views on children in women's changing rooms and complaints received.

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