Gym is no place for babies and toddlers, warn UAE experts

Mothers anxious to lose weight after childbirth and parents who made gyms part of their keep-fit routines would be better No character style: leaving their children at a creche or a nursery, experts have said.

ABU DHABI // Mothers who take their babies and toddlers with them on gym visits are exposing their children to dangers, experts have warned.

Mothers anxious to lose weight after childbirth and parents who made gyms part of their keep-fit routines would be better leaving their children at a creche or a nursery, they said.

Carol Goodey, 51, a swimming coach from the UK, believed that parents were often so busy working out in the gym they did not watch their children.

“I have seen toddlers on the equipment where I live in Al Muneera,” she said.

“I do feel for people who want to use the gym and have young children, I have been there, but I used to go the gym when my husband was home.”

One safety adviser suggested proprietors provided childcare facilities at a gym.

“I wouldn’t want a creche right in the gym where I live but I can understand that it makes sense for a commercial or ladies-only gym to have a creche,” said Mrs Goodey.

A handful of gyms do have creche facilities, including Abu Dhabi Country Club.

“The creche was started to ensure that everyone would be able to use the facilities,” said Paula Teasdale, who is in charge of Group Fitness Exercise at the club.

“It allows the mums to come into the club to work out and still be close to their children.

“The staff will always contact the mum if there is a problem with their child.

“This allows mums to have some ‘me’ time after the birth, to meet up with friends, and also to get back into exercising.”

Anna, a 39-year-old Australian expatriate, took her newborn in a pram to the gym.

“I made sure she was sleeping in her pram and she never bothered anyone,” said the engineer, who has lived in Abu Dhabi for nine years. “I went when the ladies gym was empty to avoid putting anyone off their workouts.

“You shouldn’t take toddlers as it could be dangerous.”

Mihaela Floarea, 40, a Romanian mother of a four-year-old, said she would take her little one with her to the gym in her building. “My little girl is very quiet, but I do believe the gym is only for adults,” she said. “When I was in Dubai it was much easier because some places had a playing area, but I don’t know about these in Abu Dhabi.”

Khawla Saleh, adviser at Child Health and Safety, a non-profit initiative, said that gyms needed to have a policy in place that stated whether or not children were allowed and what they could or could not do.

“You don’t want to ban mums from going to the gym because you want to help with their well-being,” said Ms Saleh.

“They need their time out, too. The safety of their children is imperative. Gyms can create a creche or a nursery side.”

Body Tree Studio in Abu Dhabi started classes where mothers and babies and toddlers could do yoga together.

“We started this four years ago to enable women to continue their yoga once their babies arrived,” said Stephanie Levy, marketing worker at the studio.

“This is a way to strengthen the bond between mother and child and it help mums exercise without organising child care.

“Most of our clients are away from their homeland and families and these classes are a chance to meet people and form a support group, which is of paramount importance post birth.”