https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:15:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880329 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 20:54:29 +0000 irene 2880329@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for this lively discussion lol and sorry I can't respond to everyone... It is great to see everyone's point of view. Thank you for the education @TemperanceBrennan: ! It did make me feel a bit better... in a sense pee is sweat, and in a way the point is this is kinda like coughing in air.... We share the air but someone coughs in it -- even in confined spaces like an airplane. So yes, I do feel better.</p> <p>@DesertDreams88: That totally makes sense -- And I'd understand your situation. Just thinking if it were a grown person who is capable of effectively managing their bladder they should go to the bathroom when they can... So it is not this idea of EVERYONE peeing in the pool, but only the ones who can not help it. You know what I mean?</p> <p>Personally I will "accept" it (of course, what am I going to do about it -- I am not going to lobby to start a law forbidding people peeing in pools lol) but I am still not OK with it. I am not saying I am right or wrong. It is just me and how I feel. It is the conceptual "I am swimming in / drinking in all these people's pee" that doesn't sit well with me. Yes I understand I am not in medical danger for doing that and it is only 0.00000005%, but it is the idea. And then... why is there a rule to rinse yourself before entering the pool when people pee in the pool? why do we need to wash our hands after we pee? Why can't we pee everywhere we want when we can pee in the pool? Why is there a law to forbid public urination and the police giving out tickets in the first place -- so it is ok in water but not ok when there is no water. I don't know. Not trying to start another argument, just stating where I am coming from.</p> <p>ETA: A while ago we had some potty regression issues where DS would pee in his pants in broad daylight and not tell anyone about it (we had to go to specialists and now it is resolved... in case you wonder). One day before we went to his swimming classes I repeatedly told him to use the bathroom which he said he did. We were getting ready to get out of the house and I said, did you pee your pants? You smell like pee. He denied. We got to the pool, he took off his pants (he had his trunks inside) and he went into the class. I folded his pants and realized it was wet with urine. I was mortified because that means he peed his swimming trunks and he just dashed into the pool. I felt so bad I didn't dare to tell anyone afterwards! OK. I will not feel bad about that incident anymore! :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880312 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 19:05:35 +0000 erinbaderin 2880312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One of those “not ok with it but I will do it” people was me, because I hit the wrong button - I meant to say I’m ok with it and I’ll do it. Not always, but usually when I’m swimming I’m with at least one kid, and getting both of us out, into the bathroom, pulling off and then putting back on a wet bathing suit....nope. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880287 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 17:09:01 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2880287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@TemperanceBrennan: Thank you for that! I was literally grossed out - I've never given it so much thought before. But all is well now :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880285 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 17:07:18 +0000 DesertDreams88 2880285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Real honesty: I swim every day, May - September, about an hour each day sometimes more sometimes less. Ever since having two vaginal births, my "control" down there is much smaller. I have the "sensation" that I need to go about every 10 minutes of being in the pool. The warm water basically triggers the sensation. I'm NOT getting out 6 times an hour. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880284 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 17:05:05 +0000 DesertDreams88 2880284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Exactly what @TemperanceBrennan: said. Another way of looking at it, from a personal pool point of view:<br /> - My pool is 10,000 gallons, which is 160,000 cups.<br /> - If there are 6 people in my pool and they each pee a cups worth, that is 6:160000 ratio, simplifies to a 3:80,000 ratio.<br /> - Let's keep in mind that most of the pee is water. FWIW @irene: and others, most of the time when I pee, it's not yellow, it's clear, because I stay very hydrated.<br /> - Why would it be ok to put gallons of acid and chlorine in my pool but not a couple of cups of pee? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880283 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 16:47:57 +0000 bees_knees 2880283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: amen 🙌🏼🤢 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880282 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 16:45:35 +0000 Foodnerd81 2880282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bees_knees: probably going to the public bathroom at the pool is way grosser than the pool water. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880281 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 16:42:53 +0000 bees_knees 2880281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@TemperanceBrennan: #science 😂 Thank you! That does make me feel a lot better, although I wasn’t actually that concerned about it to begin with. Urine is sterile. I’ve probably touched 100 worse things than a stranger’s pee today alone 🤣 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880280 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 16:36:51 +0000 Corduroy 2880280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I swam in an adult beginning class they told us to stay out of the pool when it smelled strongly of chlorine. They told us it was it was due to too many people peeing in the pool. I'm not sure about the actual health effects but here's an article. (I pretty much assume any pool with a swim up bar is 99% urine.)</p> <p><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/03/01/517785902/just-how-much-pee-is-in-that-pool" rel="nofollow">https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/03/01/517785902/just-how-much-pee-is-in-that-pool</a></p> <p>"Chlorine reacts with urine to form a host of potentially toxic compounds called disinfection byproducts. These can include anything from the chloramines that give well-used pools the [sharp odor of chlorine]" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880273 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 15:11:21 +0000 graceandjoy 2880273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@TemperanceBrennan: to the rescue!! :happy:</p> <p>ETA: I mean yeah between the sweat, dirt, sunscreen, make-up, hair products, etc etc etc etc etc that are in the water!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880271 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 15:00:52 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 2880271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I worked at a private pool for 12 years, gave swimming lessons, and coached swim team. I'm also a civil engineer and took several water quality classes in college. (The cheeky saying we all learned was "The solution to pollution is dilution.)<br /> Yes, people (all types people) pee in pools and yes, it's gross, but it's not something anyone should really care that much about. Here's some calculations to help ease people's concerns:<br /> - The average adult produces about 800-2000 milliliters per day. That is 0.07 ft^3, or 122 in^3.<br /> - The average half Olympic size swimming pool is 25 meters by 12.5 meters (82ft X 42ft = 3362 ft^2)<br /> - Lets assume most recreational pools slope from 3' in the shallow end to 6' in the deep end. (15129 ft^3)<br /> - If we assume there are 100 adults in this hypothetical swimming pool and they each pee the high end of the average amount of pee for the entire day into the pool, you have a total of 7 ft^3 of pee.<br /> - If all of my math is correct, that is 0.0005% of pee in the water. (Pee, which is sterile and made up of mostly water anyway). Way less than the amount of chlorine or other water treating chemicals that are in the pool. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880211 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 12:18:46 +0000 Petitduck 2880211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Autumnmama79: yeah, pools are gross. So many people in there. I just don’t think about it because then I’d probably never get in, even though there is the chlorine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880209 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 12:17:41 +0000 Petitduck 2880209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: you can’t stop other people doing it, but you can choose not to. It’s one thing if it’s your own small bath tub, but no, I would and do tell my kids (one is a baby so doesn’t count) not to pee in the pool and we would get out and go to the bathroom and have done so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880202 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 11:53:33 +0000 pachamama 2880202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>of all the things I worry about as a parent, pee in a pool is not one of them. I do not pee in public pools but I pee in my mom's pool! And I swim at the Y and I know those little toddlers piss up a storm. when we were in Florida, my two-year-old made me get out of the pool every time he had to pee and I was like, dude, just pee in the pool! I didn't say that but I thought it lol. (I may have told him the police say no peeing in the pool. He's not afraid of the police but he takes them very seriously 😂) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880198 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 11:49:25 +0000 Mommy Finger 2880198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: " Naive truly, I guess, but personally I would get out to use the restroom... and honestly I really thought that's how it supposed to be. I guess I have high expectations to the human race lol"</p> <p>Therein lies your problem. :) </p> <p>The thing is, it's been my experience that a lot of people will only do the right thing if someone is watching. I'm actually more disgusted by the people who don't wash their hands after using the bathroom. In my office, we all clue each other in on who the offenders are. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880196 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 11:45:06 +0000 PinkElephant 2880196@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: This!!! As much as I'm annoyed because swim lessons cost like a dollar a minute, I'm glad they're not just peeing in the pool!</p> <p>I accept that others pee in the pool, and try not to think about it. I've told my kids that it's not okay.</p> <p>@MamaG: Yes - we're planning a backyard makeover and a bathroom with outdoor access is an absolute must for me.</p> <p>@SweetiePie: Yeah I swear my kids ingest half the pool water whenever we swim. I just don't get it. But I'm still glad they're getting out to pee. My eldest needs to pee like THREE TIMES before we exit the facility after a swim session.</p> <p>@irene: re: poop and vomit in the pool - our pool shocks the pool when this happens, but often will close for the remainder of the day if it's "bad" enough. I'm also in the camp of not allowing my kids back in after a shock. If it happens, we leave. Too much grossness between the actual waste and the fresh chemicals. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880193 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 11:32:51 +0000 Autumnmama79 2880193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me its one of those things that I accept but try to block out when I'm at the pool. There are so many gross things about a swimming pool (people basically in their underwear, poor hygiene, other bodily fluids, etc, etc) and the older I get the less and less I enjoy time there. I go for soley for LO's benefit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880190 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 11:26:57 +0000 catgirl 2880190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Any pool that has young children certainly has a fair amount of pee since swim diapers don't contain it. As far as adults and older kids doing it - I wouldn't say I am okay with it but I am definitely aware that it happens and I still swim in pools, so... I guess I just accept it. DD always tells us that she needs to pee and we take her to the bathroom. </p> <p>I managed my high school swim team and at least 75% of the swimmers would pee in the pool. They just found it easier than interrupting practice, rinsing again before getting in, etc. And again, I wouldn't say I like it but I get that it was the norm for most of them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880185 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 10:47:28 +0000 MamaG 2880185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a pool, our kids have certainly peed in our pool. I'm not okay with it. I'm also a bit redneck in this area, as I let my girls pee in the grass when we are swimming. Our bathroom is across the house (first a tile floor, then carpet, and tile in the bathroom). And it's significantly cooler in the house than inside. If I were to design my own home, we'd have a bathroom that has access from outside.</p> <p>They drink too much pool water, so inevitably they have to go more than normal when we swim. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880180 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 10:32:40 +0000 irene 2880180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: And very good point about the beach having no bathroom access usually. I never really consciously think about it but true, like the whole Miami beach the looonnng stretch and filled with people. Usually say a public event with this many people they would have lines and lines of portaJohns. Didn't consciously think about it until now. Eeek lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880179 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 10:29:55 +0000 irene 2880179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: @SweetiePie: @graceandjoy: @Foodnerd81: @josina: OK, I am more relieved that there are people (you guys) that is like me - I always pull DS out if he needs to use the bathroom. It doesn't even come across me that peeing in the pool is an option, so we never even talk about "don't pee in the pool"... because you just don't! lol. And DS also always asked to go pee if he needed to when he's in the pool. And he gets out on his own.</p> <p>Can someone explain how do they vote "not OK with it + I will do it myself" ? You are not OK with people pee in the pool yet you will do it yourself...? :grin: </p> <p>@Mommy Finger: Ehhhh..... hmm.... just like, when I walk into a bar full of people, I didn't expect they just pee their pants and the floor is wet with urine...? Sure the bathroom in a bar is always disgusting, but obviously I don't imagine them bring that disgust into high end pool right next to the bar in a fancy hotel? I don't know. Naive truly, I guess, but personally I would get out to use the restroom... and honestly I really thought that's how it supposed to be. I guess I have high expectations to the human race lol</p> <p>50% of urine in the water? Are you exaggerating? Why is the pool not in yellow color? 😂</p> <p>Imagine the bartender working the poolside bar, seeing all these people sat there drinking for HOURS and they never left. Hopefully they get a good sunburn 😂 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880160 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 09:08:46 +0000 Mommy Finger 2880160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I mean, if you go to a pool that has a swim up bar (like at an all inclusive resort), it's naive to think that the pool water isn't 50% pee. Doesn't mean it's not gross. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880159 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 09:04:08 +0000 josina 2880159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not okay with it, don't do it, tell my kids to get out to pee... but I'm sure I DID do it when I was younger, and I'm aware that that are 'some' people who do it. </p> <p>@Anagram: We float the river all the time, and definitely pee in the water... it's safer than accidentally squatting on poison ivy or itch weed, lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880157 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 08:52:01 +0000 graceandjoy 2880157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Hahaha that's how you know! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880154 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 08:46:24 +0000 Foodnerd81 2880154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: my kids definitely don’t pee in the pool since we always have to get out and pee 8 times every time we swim. 🙄 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880152 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 08:30:51 +0000 graceandjoy 2880152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just replied to the other thread about this too. I voted not okay with it + I won't do it myself + I teach my kids never to do it. But who knows if they do it anyway... Also I understand that there will always be people who do it, and I'm not that worried b/c of chlorine and the fact that pee is mostly sterile anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880146 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 07:42:14 +0000 SweetiePie 2880146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like @foodnerd81 said, I’m not “ok” with it, but I know it happens and what can I do besides teach my own kids that it’s not ok.<br /> 4.5yo always asks to get out and pee. Several times. I swear he ends up with more pee than usual by osmosis. It’s annoying but I know it’s the right thing so we do it.<br /> We’ve never even really said “don’t pee in the pool”, I think it doesn’t even occur to him as an option. He always pees before the bath at home and gets out to pee if he has to again. We’ve always said “do you want us to wash your hair and your face with pee?” So I think that just automatically translated to the pool for him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880144 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 07:29:03 +0000 Anagram 2880144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There have been threads about this before and a *lot* of people pee in the pool. I don't. I tell my kids to exit the pool and pee. I mean, we all only pee about once every few hours---I've never literally been inside a pool for more than a couple of hours before exiting to sit on a lounge chair or whatever, at which point I would pee if I need to. Same with the kids.</p> <p>Now---the beach, when there aren't restrooms nearby? I don't know if they could, since they've been trained not to, but I wouldn't care if my kids peed in the water. It's the ocean, it's huge. I wouldn't let them do it right next to another crowd of people though, lol.</p> <p>As an aside, when I lived in Texas, where tubing + drinking is a thing, I once went on this tubing trip with a group of friends, and we had a cooler and urn/dispenser thing floating along with us in a tube, and we were drinking all day. I had to pee SO BAD and we were in a river and I just couldn't go in the river. Like, I had the worst time. All my friends were like, "Just go!!" but it was so hard, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880142 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 07:15:11 +0000 Foodnerd81 2880142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: oh- also to your point in the other thread about why do they close the pool for poop or vomit then? Those two can carry diseases. At my pool the mostly just “shock” the water for half an hour, just load up even more chemicals and let them sit there for a while then everyone can go back in. That’s when i feel really icky going in, both because of the recent floating poop and the fact that they just doubled up on the chemicals. Blergh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pee-in-the-swimming-pool#post-2880141 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 07:11:48 +0000 irene 2880141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Yes -- ocean to me is strangely OK, because it is a gigantic amount of water that MOVES all around the world ! If you don't pee in it other animals do... You get out it is sticky and yucky and you expected it. So strangely it is OK. I still won't pee in the ocean though myself-- to me I can't stand there and pee myself even though I am wrapped around with a big pool of water haha. But for a swimming pool, yes I know they go through the filtration system and chorine and what not but, it is a tub of water shared with a lot of people :meh: </p> <p>We don't have a pool membership, and the times we would go in a pool is really when we are on vacation at a nice resort. I am naively hoping people there don't pee in the pool as much... but when we do, I hang out in the kid pool a lot because of DS :meh: Pee from kids who are supposed to be in swimming diapers I am more being able to tolerate, but from another thread it sounds like older kids and GROWN UPS do that also. </p> <p>Now that I know, I will NEVER EVER go into a pool on a cruise ship LOL </p>