Tips for getting 3 kids changed after swimming?

[sallyanne]

We had our first swimming lessons of the season tonight for ds1 who is 4, ds2+dd who are 8 months. Getting changed to go in was fine, the lessons went fine, but getting everyone including my mom and I changed leaving was a nightmare! Ds1 would not stop whining and get himself changed and there wasn't really room for the babies to get changed and stay sitting.

Looking for tips to make this go smoother. It is after school and right before dinner which works against us. And we are going into the cold weather which means more layer and boots etc. Thanks

[sallyanne]

Just wanted to add what we thought of during our family discussion tonight.
- pack after swimming snacks for ds1. If he is eating he won't be as hungry and will whine less
- divide the kids between my mom and I so we each have a baby and one of us has ds1. Then we can focus more and get everyone changed quicker hopefully.
- bring the stroller in (if it will fit) to put the babies in after they are changed to keep them secure and dry.

[Deleted]

I'm sorry, I don't have any tips. We take all 3 kids to a private lesson on Saturday mornings. (3yo and two 18mo olds) It takes us a good half hour after the lesson to get everyone changed afterwards. It's one of the worst parts of my week lol.

[Deleted]

Sept 29, 2015 17:43:37 GMT -5 sallyanne said:

Just wanted to add what we thought of during our family discussion tonight.
- pack after swimming snacks for ds1. If he is eating he won't be as hungry and will whine less
- divide the kids between my mom and I so we each have a baby and one of us has ds1. Then we can focus more and get everyone changed quicker hopefully.
- bring the stroller in (if it will fit) to put the babies in after they are changed to keep them secure and dry.

Snacks are a good idea. It will stop any hunger whining and provide a distraction.

[vtdiamond]

@awinter does this with 3 kids.

We do it with twins and it's definitely a challenge. We try to move as quickly as possible and will have one sit on a towel on the ground while we change the other one. I've given the sitting one keys and my cell phone to try to amuse them while they wait.

[scribellesam]

I only have to change two at once but it's still a shit show at least half the time. Handing DS1 a snack definitely helps (he's 3), and I like being able to strap the baby into a stroller to immobilize him.

[sallyanne]

This makes me feel so much better! Thank you for letting me know it is rough for everyone.

[smm5623]

Get the oldest dressed first (and bribe with snacks) then each you and your mom can take a baby to change.

[spankswife]

Bring a cover up and change at home.

Maybe do the babies there bc if the diaper. Can your 4yo do it alone while you and your mom each take a baby?

[barefootcontessa]

I would probably just let them go home in their suits and a jacket, assuming it is still warm.

[undecidedowl]

Changing after swimming is the worst. DS1 likes to stand in a warm shower while I get myself dressed, so that helps. Our locker room also has one of those seats that is mounted on the wall that you can stick a baby in. Stroller is a good idea. I hated doing it, but sometimes a towel on the floor and block the baby in was the best I could do.

Good luck!

[krystee]

This is why we stopped going to swimming for awhile and I only had one kid! They only had two rooms with changing station and eight babies in the class, and the pool was so warm and the air so cold, and he would cry and cry until I could get him changed. Most of the times I left still in my suit and sat on a towel because I was so stressed.

[wildfloweragain]

We threw sweats or cover ups on over out suits and changed at home. At some point I was changing all 3 and something that helped was a pack n play the ymca has in the family changing room.

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[Deleted]

I only have 2 kids pretty far apart and it's still a disaster.

If it's a good night, I give DD a shower while holding DS then have her get her pjs on as quick as possible, so I don't have to go through another disaster at home. I've also asked other moms with older kids to help me wrangle DS. Or a "I'll hold your kid while you do the shower if you hold mine." People are usually great about it.

If it's a bad night, I throw a sleeper on over her swimsuit and deal with it at home. If it's cold, I make sure she's well dried and have her run her hair under the dryer while I hold the other kid.

DS also likes to crawl in the empty lockers and shut himself in. Fine by me kid. Fine by me.  

[karinothing]

Change 4 year old. Give him snack after. Use snack as bribe for getting changed without fuss.

Are there no benches? That is where I change baby. If not how about stroller? You and your mom each take baby while 4 yr old eats snack. If not cold outside you can change babies in car.

Bring cover ups for adults and change at home

[Deleted]

I'll be reading every reply when I have time

DS1 and DS2 have first private lesson Friday. I will have DS3 with me...

[jena]

I've only ever had 2 in swim lessons when they were 6 and 3yo, but I had the 6mo baby with me.

The 4yo should be changing himself, with you nearby nagging him to keep moving. I use food as a bribe - snacks are for the car so the faster we get there the faster you get your lollipop/squeezey applesauce.

[Deleted]

Hats off to you. One of my friends used to feel sorry for me because I was solo parenting ONE baby during lessons. With 3 you are my hero.

[elocrates]

Blah. This is one of my least favorite parts of the week. My kids are 7.5, 5, and 2.5yo. Here are a few things that have made it easier for me (it's still a work in progress):
- Small snack before swimming (apple slices or cheese stick, usually).
- Shower all the kids at the same time (did this even before DS3 was in swimming lessions, if he was along he'd get a shower too). Just stick them all in and go for it. Yeah, sometimes they sit on the floor of the shower. I've had to let go of that battle a bit.
- Whisper a story to them (usually made up) while giving them showers and getting them dressed. This keeps them the quietest (because they have to be quiet to hear it), which also saves my sanity.
- Small snack after swimming (pretzels, fruit leather, etc.) for both them and me. Ha.
- Put them in PJs after the shower so I don't have to change them again later.
- Bring an extra towel with for the dry kids to sit on while I finish up with the others.

Since your mom is also there, could you shower your older kid first and have your mom help him dry off while you wash the babies? Then you and your mom can each get a baby dressed while the big kid gets dressed/ eats snack and you wouldn't have to worry about the babies being on the floor. The adults can shower at home??

Oy. Good luck!

[mmmomof2]

Not super helpful coming from SoCal, but the mom with 3 kids at our swim lessons throws bathrobes on over their bathing suits and they go home to change.