Taking 18mo to soft play. What to expect?

[Devilsmommy]

As title says I'm taking my 18mo to soft play tomorrow and I've got absolutely no idea what to expect. Kind of nervous as I'm so bloody clueless. I'm not worried about him mobile wise as he's been independently walking since 10mo so he's good on his feet but how worried should I be about the other kids? Or is it parents I need to watch😳 🤣 but seriously please give me any indication of how you've found it with a little toddler please. TIA

If it's raining don't go.

I HATED soft play. I know it serves a purpose but god it's hellish. I particularly objected to having to pay for entrance for me on top of the kids. A couple of £ would be fine, but it was something like £8.

@Trying81 like I need to be any more shattered 🤣 though I'd love the decent sleeping for sure😁

😳 mine says on website £4.75 for child, adult free unless more than 2. Hope I got that right😬

@YouPutTheScrewInTheTuna that made me 😆 I don't even have a garage, I'm In a first floor flat 🤣🤣🤣

I've always quite liked it and ours is never that busy so its not too loud or anything. But we always went during the school day so even as toddlers they had the run of the big area. Mine loved climbing and were mad for the big slides and it was a fun way to get their energy out.

I'd just remember to put them in long trousers and a light long sleeved top. Slides and things are more fun if their skin doesn't stick to them and they reduce the very slight possibility of friction burns.
Remember extra drinks and don't wear clothes that don't hold up to crawling around in. I wore a loose top once and became less dressed when pulling my daughter through one of the foamy roller things.

Why don't you take him
To toddler groups ? Or any other toddler clubs rather than soft play if you want him to
Make friends . Easter hold is the worst time to go .. go when the other kids go back to school !

@SpaceJamtart my little one loves climbing so I'll see how he goes. Nice one for the clothing info, not that I wear loads of loose stuff, but it'd be my luck to mess that up. Hope not too many people saw you undressing in the foam rollers😂

Bargain! May as well give it a go. If the toddler area is shit, don’t need to go again. I paid £35 for my 2 yesterday, another £6 for parking! But now the youngest is 3 I can just let them go free and actually sit there with a coffee (another £3). So very pricey but it’s the most peace I’ve had so far this holiday so I don’t begrudge it 🤣

It's not holidays here and as I said there isn't anything close enough to me to take him to

I love all the hate for soft plays 😂 so OTT
Mine have been going to soft plays forever and we still go at least once a week.
You go in, play, have a snack and leave. It's really not that big of a deal and no, they don't get ill every time! The more immunity your child builds, the better so these places are fab. My kids haven't been ill in a loooong time.

Definitely long sleeves and full length trousers in as light fabrics as possible. Saves friction burns etc but not too warm for when they’re hooning about. I expect you’ll have to go around with him, my boy still wants me to drag about with him and he’s a year older 😂 MN as a rule seems to have a strong dislike for soft play but I’ve always loved it, we go at least once a week generally as it’s free after my sons swimming lesson.

@InTheRainOnATrain how much?😳 Good job mines a bargain cause I really couldn't afford that kind of price. Glad you got a break though☺️

Why? I used to go with them all around the big stuff

I always absolutely detested soft play.
Germ ridden hell holes! Always an unsupervised terror whacking other kids, always sick or piss somewhere in the jungle gym, always an older child trampling through the baby section while the parent is oblivious or smiles on as their treasure causes a trail of destruction.
Half joking obviously. I did rejoice when my two aged out of all that though.

@Jokl @IHateLegDay thanks for that, feel better hearing positive stories 😁

Older ones are mostly back at school.

I've always taken toddlers from walking

@ToxicChristmas 😭😭😭 🤣😆

I know right!! In fairness it’s massive with a carousel and dodgems, and it’s in Chelsea so go figure. But yeah we certainly don’t go often, once per big school holiday usually.

Jesus, where do you live?

Praying it's not where my soft play is 😬

It's ok, it's in Exaggoland

@thecomingbrave 🤣🤣🤣🤣 thanks 😊

The worse soft play experience we had (which I can look back on now and laugh) what when a toddler took their full nappy off in a busy ball pit. Shit everywhere -on the balls, on the kids, on the floors where kids escaped screaming, on the parents. It was carnage.
Honestly though, it will be fine. My two are 16 and 18 so I'd imagine places have come on leaps and bounds since I've used them. Despite my hatred, the kids always had a blast which is what matters most.

We take our 18month almost weekly to a soft play.
We are lucky the one we go to on a Sunday morning has a dedicated hour to under 5s so it's never too busy.

He absolutely loves it, although we do have to help him climb up a few bits

What terrible answers, I was taking mine from crawling at 6months and then 11 months walking. She's almost 2 and I still get down with her. She loves it, it's great bonding time and we really play well and it's good exercise. We do have run ins with other kids now and again, it happens. But we just either get there parent or deal with it. Most the time if you go to a decent one the parents are with the kids. Avoid term time