AIBU to not let my 18 month old DD go to the zoo

[helsabels]

My DD's nursery are planning a trip to the zoo. AIBU to not let my 18 month old go? My concerns are:

1. the zoo has an escaped Lynx cat that they haven't managed to catch yet
   
   
2. it's a 40 min drive in a mini bus, I don't know who's driving it or what kind of car seat she will have (I could get reassured on this point)
   
   
3. my DD is hard work when out in public as she runs off all the time. I am forever chasing after her and would worry that her key worker would struggle to keep track of her especially with other children to watch ... Which in a zoo environment I think could be dangerous.
   
   Other trips are fine, it's just this one I'm not sure about...

[Sleeperandthespindle]

Dartmoor zoo is tiny and a really good place for little ones. Nursery will surely have planned for runners. I take my class of children with very severe special needs there quite often and feel it is an easy place for a trip.
If the Lynx isn't there, it can't hurt them, can it?

[NapQueen]

If she is 18mo won't she be in her buggy for most of it? Can't you just send reins too with the instruction that if she is walking she is on those.

The lynx thing is odd. How long has it been escaped? I'd wager it not being on the zoos land otherwise it would have been dealt with so I'd imagine it doesn't pose any risk.

18mo is imo far too young to be in a bus/mini bus/car without a suitable car seat but you really need to ask them directly what their plan ks for that.

[NattyTile]

Yes.
She will have fun. The minibus will be driven by someone qualified and competent. I would imagine you could send your own car seat if you were particularly worried, but you could definitely ask to see what they use.
Ask them what their ratios will be. They know your daughter, they will keep her safe.

Lynx extremely unlikely to be any risk at all, especially during the day.

[CMOTDibbler]

When my ds went on trips with nursery they all went in their own car seats. And when I see our local nursery out and about the children are either in buggies, on reins, or holding onto their crocodile rope thing.

So, YABU. Talk to nuersery.

[Artandco]

I would send her

1. the Lynx isn't in the zoo, it's escaped, otherwise it would be found
   
   
2. they will have a car seat for a 1 year old, or will ask you to bring in. You can confirm
   
   
3. at 18 months she will be in a pram also for the trip. Most take a supply of double buggies for all under 2 1/2 of those type of trips. They will be in pram from coach until all safely inside zoo. Then each pram pusher will just have those two small children to watch. So can let both out and have them holding onto either side, or can get one out at a time and swap.
   
   It will be fun for her. And at 18 months I guess she will nap in pram at some point anyway. And it's a change of scenery if anything.
   
   They would have done this trip many times before

[NataliaOsipova]

Remember as well that children behave differently in a school type environment from how they do at home. I'd say that she'd be fine - if you're worried about her running off,you could mention to the key worker that she may need to keep a special eye out for her.

The bus is a non issue - it will have to be someone insured and competent, so she's at no more risk than she would be in the car with anyone else.

[helsabels]

Thanks all. DD's been walking since 9 months and hates being in a buggy but will probably be happy to wear reins for at least some of the time.

The Lynx escaped a few weeks ago so I agree it is unlikely to be on the zoo grounds.

[lucyjordon]

Yabu. Part of the point of nursery is this kind of thing. It's for your daughters benefit. The trip will have been risk assessed to the nth degree. The staff are trained to deal with 18mo kids that run off, because that's what small children do. the escaped Lynx is not running around the zoo. Don't turn into one of those parents whose kids miss out on things because they can't trust anyone else.

[WaitrosePigeon]

I think she's far too young for a trip out that's 40 mins away. I wouldn't let her go personally.

[Missgraeme]

You must trust the nursery and the teachers if she attends there so trust they can manage her outside of the nursery environment also.

[Grassgreendashhabi]

Personally no I wouldn't unless I can also go.

But then that's just my opinion

[LynetteScavo]

My gut feeling would be to not let her go.

[peggyundercrackers]

Yabu - she will enjoy the day outt in a different environment.

Nursery can handle children who are runners and know how to take children out in a minibus etc. That's what they do all the time, it'd part of their job.

[Acorncat]

I'm over protective so I wouldn't let mine go, mostly because I'd rather take him myself where we can go at our own pace and he can have a good look at what he wants rather than just being stuck in a buggy the whole way round. Also the mini bus drive would be an issue for me, mine rear faces and I bet they won't have resurfacing seats in the bus. I know I'd be being unreasonable though!