daycare in the gym

:unsure: This is really bothering me and not sure how I want to handle it.......... I recently joined the gym and they offer free daycare while you workout. I have taken the girls a few times, and soon after Lanie started having trouble sleeping. I don't think it's just the gym but a combination of changes. When I dropped them off last, the staffer grabbed/squeezed another little girl by the shoulder and said" Don't take that toy, no...... " It just bothers me that she put her hand on her and I want to take the girls to the gym while I work out because it is good for them to socialize, but they just start to cry when I mention it. I've never seen any other incidents, but wonder what goes on sometimes. Am I being paranoid? I also don't want anyone else putting a hand on my child. So, I am debating whether to say anything to the owner or just keep an eye on things. .................... One thing that really irks me is , when I was touring the gym and thinking of joining , I asked the owner about the daycare room and who would be taking care of them.........He looked at me like I had 3 heads and said "well, they're not ax murderers." Then went on to tell me that they were mostly moms that watched the kids not teenagers. Since I've been there, I've yet to see a mom , only 17 yearolds. But I know, I know..........it's free daycare.

 

At that age it could just be them not wanting to be away from mommy, Iknow my girls went throught that hard core around 3. As for her grabbing the other childs shoulder, I would have brought that to someones attention. It may have been her own child, I know our Y lets the people who work in the child care there bring their kids in with them. That brings me to my next suggestion, have do you have a YMCA close by? Mine has 2 hours of free daycare a day when you are working out and the family membership is about that of a one person membership to other gyms.

 

thanks! I checked the Y and it was about $1000 for a year. I got a great deal at another gym for $15 per month/no contract.

 

I bring my kids to the gym all the time. I would DEF question or bring it to their attention about the grabbing...thats just not right. Of course we don't know if that was her son (although you did say you haven't seen any moms there yet...). Mine are all moms who get free gym membership for working there. I love it and think they are the greatest. They know my kids by name when we enter the gym. It should be comfortable...I would have a hard time leaving my kids if I wasn't comfortable with it as well. Maybe ask about it or ask other moms in the gym what their thoughts are on it?

 

I owuld definately say something. that is not okay. I also may try again for a half hour and slowly increase the time. I know that age can be hard for them to get used to mom leaving them.

 

Go with what feels right for you and your kids. Every place is different, every kid is different. Our boys LOVE going to "momma's gym" but they're pretty outgoing playing around other kids in general. Even between the different gyms here in town my wife gets a different "vibe" from the regular staff who work the kiddie room.

If you feel uncomfortable about it, maybe you could come down sometime (with or without the kids) and not go into the gym, or at least drop by an observe the kiddie room from time to time. A "snapshot" of what's going on isn't necessarily enough to know what's going on. Maybe the staffer frequently manhandles the kids, maybe not. Maybe the child was resisting several attempts at nonphysical intervention and was him/herself getting physical with another child. Getting a better feel for what's going on may help you either feel better about leaving your kids there or lead you to consider alternative care (or another gym).

Hope that helps, good luck!

--> Andy