Hellobee Boards Topic: Swing Etiquette at the Park

Hellobee Boards Topic: Swing Etiquette at the Park https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:32:16 +0000 sarac on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-753690 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:26:28 +0000 sarac 753690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think you're perfectly within your rights to ask for a turn. They're not required to give it, but it would be awfully rude not to. IcebergMom on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-753415 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:13:06 +0000 IcebergMom 753415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I would have asked for a turn and I hope if i were in the orher scenerio i would have noticed you waiting! Who knows though! They were rude, but unintentionally. :) HLK208 on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-753233 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:26:38 +0000 HLK208 753233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I would have asked for LO to have a turn in a polite way. I try not be passive (even though I usually am lol) because I end up getting more frustrated. I hate when people public places are not considerate of others! Bao on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-753157 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:51:44 +0000 Bao 753157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think I am an observant person, and would have noticed if someone were waiting to use the swing. If I had been using it 10-15 minutes, and it looked like someone else wanted to use it I would offer up the swing. Of course, if I came there to use the swing and only got 5 minutes, I would probably use it a little longer. lemondrop on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-753152 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:50:59 +0000 lemondrop 753152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I can see the justification both ways, but you are perfectly warranted to ask for a turn. It's a good lesson in sharing for both kiddos. I just know that either me or my son would get tired of swinging well before the 35 minutes they were on it! Mrsbells on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-753042 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:17:20 +0000 Mrsbells 753042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @MungBean: thats true pinkcupcake on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-753029 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:13:37 +0000 pinkcupcake 753029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mrsbells: true, I think it's nice to get off the swing earlier but I don't think the person should be under any obligation to do so. Mrsbells on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752786 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:49:30 +0000 Mrsbells 752786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @MungBean: I agree with you in theory but at the same time its a good way to teach kids about sharing by getting off the swing a little early for someone else who wants a turn pinkcupcake on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752781 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:45:36 +0000 pinkcupcake 752781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think I'm odd one out here- I don't see a problem with the first person getting there using it as long as s/he wishes. Modern Daisy on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752719 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:25:58 +0000 Modern Daisy 752719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think in these situations you need to say something. I probably would have asked the mothers to let me know once they were done since LO was waiting for her turn. Then I'd leave them alone - at that point it's up to them to be polite and not take too long. What you did by standing near them and asking LO loudly if she was excited to go on the swings was the best possible passive aggressive way to let them know you wanted a turn, but some people need to be confronted. NovBaby1112 on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752698 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:16:44 +0000 NovBaby1112 752698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Weagle: yea, they both could walk/run. @LemonLong: i agree that i dont want LO to expect something immediately if she wants it, however, i think 20+ minutes is excessive on the swings since they are public property for everyone to use. i think it is rude to use it for as long as you/your LO likes and not share with others who want to as well. the bubbles is a good idea though, I will have to try that Mrs. Lemon-Lime on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752690 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:13:01 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 752690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I definitely agree with PPs to be direct if you want someone to stop using the swing. Hinting at it would irritate me if I am trying to enjoy myself with my LO at the park. I would be more obliged to accommodate a direct request that's gives off the impression of sharing. Weagle on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752660 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:01:55 +0000 Weagle 752660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I try to break up LO's swinging time to make sure other people can use it if they would like. However, I don't do it if all of the other kids are at the age that they can run around. LO isn't walking, so swinging is pretty much the only thing she can do. If she were older, I would have definitely gotten her out so a younger baby could swing. Plus, I feel like a lot of moms in my neighborhood with older kids aren't welcoming to new moms because our kids aren't the same ages. I don't want to be like that. LemonLong on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752659 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:01:46 +0000 LemonLong 752659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I don't know, I feel like if the other Moms got there first, then the swing is theirs to use until they are done with it. I would ask the moms whether we could take a turn, but if they said no then I would find something to divert my LO until the swing opened up. I don't want my LO to expect that everytime they want something, people should try to accomondate her. I always bring a bottle of bubbles to the park with us to play with until it really is her turn! NovBaby1112 on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752655 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:00:25 +0000 NovBaby1112 752655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @DigAPony: haha! maybe that;s what they were doing then...i just thought it would be more akward to ask, and i am totally non confrontational NovBaby1112 on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752648 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:58:17 +0000 NovBaby1112 752648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ they had to have been totally oblivious to obvious human behavior to not know i was waiting, it was like uncomfortable how long i was standing there right by them waiting and talking to LO about how fun she would have on the swings ahah. @tysonja: thats a good way of wording it, thanks! i def dont want to come off as rude or what not, and that sounds perfect, i will remember that for next time! @hellobeeboston: hahah, i should have thrown more glares! DigAPony on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752646 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:57:03 +0000 DigAPony 752646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I would say something directly like tysonja mentioned. This is terrible, but if I were the other mom, my initial (totally immature) reaction to your within-earshot comments would have been to stay on the swing! I would have interpreted what you said as passive-aggressive. I wouldn't have stayed on it, but the immature bitchy part of me would have wanted to. mrskc on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752634 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:53:23 +0000 mrskc 752634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ They had to have seen you standing there waiting. Unless they are just totally clueless. I probably would have done the same as you and inch closer and closer. Probably give them some dirty looks and hope they wrap it up. If I was one of those ladies, I probably would have asked you if you were waiting for a swing and then let you have it or just move on to free up a swing. banana on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752604 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:42:36 +0000 banana 752604@https://boards.hellobee.com/ There's definitely some sort of park etiquette that people should follow. It's public property so it has to be shared! I definitely would have said something similar to what @tysonja suggested. Just friendly and casual. :) hellobeeboston on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752600 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:41:14 +0000 hellobeeboston 752600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ oh man - i think that is totally rude! i'm sure they were aware of you sitting/standing there waiting for the swing. or they were just completely oblivious! especially with the 10 more minute comment. i probably wouldn't say anything but would want to... I think I would have done exactly what you did - inch closer, maybe throw in a glare here & there... haha. SAHM0811 on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752584 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:36:46 +0000 SAHM0811 752584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ 20 mins on the swings is way too long, i think!!! if i were one of those moms and i saw you waiting on the bench i think i would've wrapped it up in a minute or two if we were swinging for a while... if we had just got there, maybe i'd keep swinging for 5 mins more max... my DD loves the swing, but also not for much longer than that anyway. i didn't realize people keep their kids on the swing for that long! wow. MamaMoose on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752580 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:35:46 +0000 MamaMoose 752580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Hmhhh I also probably would have been oblivious and kept pushing my kid as long as she was happy or until it was time for us to go. I'm sure she didn't mean to be rude, she was just having fun with her baby. winniebee on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752576 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:34:53 +0000 winniebee 752576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I try to be mindful if I think someone is waiting for the swing, but I would ask if I were waiting for more than 10 minutes! mrbee on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752570 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:33:33 +0000 mrbee 752570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yah you have to say something... I like @tysonja's wording! MamaG on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752569 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:33:20 +0000 MamaG 752569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I tend to be fairly observant at the park and would have noticed you and explained to my LO that we needed to give someone else a turn. LO would have pitched a fit, but life is about compromise, right? I also tend to be non-confrontational, so I probably would have done the same things you did hoping that the other person might have my same sense of teaching their child to share. On me being observant, we live in a metro area and I'm always a little too paranoid and want to stay aware of who might be around. I have an unusual paranoia about crimes against children. tysonja on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752566 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:32:17 +0000 tysonja 752566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ i think there should be some kind of ettiquette :) .... i'm not tooooo familiar with it, but hopefully the mom actually just didn't realize that you guys were waiting for the swing? if she did realize, then that's not cool :( i think next time i'd just casually and friendly-ly ask, "can we take a turn on the swing after you?" and then stay close-ish :) 2PeasinaPod on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752560 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:29:12 +0000 2PeasinaPod 752560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Hmm...I probably would have been that mom. I didn't realize there was such a thing as swing etiquette! And unless someone comes up to me and actually asks me to have a turn on the swing, I'm not going to be able to read their mind! I certainly wouldn't be offended if you had asked, but I would have kept pushing my 7 month old as well until it was time for us to go or you had mentioned wanting your LO to have a turn. NovBaby1112 on "Swing Etiquette at the Park" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/swing-etiquette-at-the-park#post-752545 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:21:02 +0000 NovBaby1112 752545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ LO and I were at the park today, where there are only 2 of the infant type swings. When we got there, there was 2 girls on them with their moms pushing them. LO is only 6ish months, so the only thing at the park we can go on is the swing. So we sat down on a bench and waited patiently for one to open up. 20ish minutes had passed and I was getting a little impatient, so we got up and walked towards the swings and I sweetly said to LO, "you want to go on the swing honey" "aww look at the little girls swinging" blah blah blah, within earshot of the moms, hoping they would get the hint. Well, they didnt, and we stood there for another 15 minutes or so. I was THIS CLOSE to going up to them asking if they would mind if DD could get on the swing for a bit. But then the mom said to her daughter "Do you want to stay on the swing for 10 more minutes or go on the slide, we have to go soon". I was about to flip my S*hit if the girl said swing, so thankfully she said slide. I was just wondering if there is swing etiquette at the park and what would you have done? would it have been rude to ask them if my LO could have a turn? or is there a general time limit for stuff like that, that most parent know the limits on?