To feel quite annoyed when I see bare footed people in an indoor play area where it clearly says - WEAR SOCKS

[elizaregina]

I am not a big foot fan, and thankfully I dont have to delve into the depths of the indoor play centers to retreive my child anymore, but when I see adults go in or children with bare feet it makes me cringe and feel sick! All the foot germs etc!

Socks slip when you are (illegally) climbing up the slides

Foot germs!?

Actually, I'm not a foot fan, but given the poo and wee in your average ball pit, I'm not too bothered

When they are tiny and crawling... what exactly is the difference between foot and hand germs?

Maybe they didn't know about the wearing socks rule or forgot to bring any? Should they have to go away despite being paying customers?

It does irk me, yeah. Not necessarily from a germ point of view, but just because it's bloody signposted everywhere, so why not bloody do it?!?!

YABU, wearing socks is for the wearer's benefit.

Really? Wow you would hate me, I am barefoot where possible spreading my stinky foot germs everywhere.

It's mildly annoying. But I'm not too worried about foot germs.

However I've seen other parents changing their baby's nappy in soft play areas before, and that's bothered me far more. Nappies were wet in all cases I've seen, but it's still unhygenic, and especially given that baby changing facilities were provided about 5 metres away, it really annoyed me.

Althlets foot, fungus problems, veruccas etc, general smell and horridness of un washed bare feet!!!

They do ask for people to wear socks in these places as a barrier agaisnt passing on these foot problems. Thats why people catch things like veruccas more commonly in places like swimming pools.

I dont really mean babies in the baby section, but the older childrens section.

When I have had to crawl through, I have taken a small comfort from knowing my hands arnt pushing into years of foot slime.....expect for the few who transgress the rules and go in bare foot!

YANBU. It really bugs me too. Why ensure your child wears socks then blatantly disregard the large signs stating 'socks must be worn' yourself. However I know I am a bit of a stickler for rules and am perhaps just envious of their carefree ignoring of them. I would never dare for fear of being told off.

DD is always bare foot as she just won't wear socks and shoes or even just socks inside. She has autism and it is kind of part and parcel of all her sensory and behavioural problems. If I was forced to put her in socks we would just have to go home and it would be another place we couldn't go to. I don't think she is endangering anyone by not wearing socks tbh.

I'm with you on this one OP. It annoys me big time too. Rules are rules and if you don't like them or can't abide by them then go somewhere else.

My brother had Downs Syndrome and I completely understand how you cant sometimes resaon or argue with some one to keep socks on.

I am sure people and the staff at these places make allowances for disabled children and I dont think if the majority of people wear socks as requested that one odd child not wearing - will spread verukka, athletes foot etc...

I only meant this post in a light hearted jokey way really.....

Its just when I see an adult like today - in there barefoot with his three bare foot children, its like them licking it all with thier tongues! Socks are just a small barrier.

I found socks used to fall off usually in the ball pit, so I used to take ballet shoes for the girls to soft play.

Mind you last year ds was on one which was strictly no parents allowed. I had to ask the attendants to search for him when I realised I could see his socks, with another two pairs abandoned and no sign of him. Turned out him and two other little ones had discovered that with their socks off they could climb up and down inside the enclosed wriggly slide and not be noticed.

Ended up with an attendant at the top and an attendant at the bottom to catch them. Both the attendants ended up in hysterical laughter-they weren't allowed down the slide just to make it really difficult for them.

Kids with no socks is one thing - it happens. Adults without socks? Bleugh! Horrid, I dont want to SEE your dirty corned and calloused trotters never mind watch my children crawl in your steps. Go and put some socks on!

I quite like feet. Not in a sexual way, mind, but they are perfectly OK things, feet. I have no problem with socklessness. And am probably frequently guilty of it.

ours sell socks! feet sweat and soft play is more fun when you can slide about a bit with socked feet

adults and children should wear them

YABU. They feel as much through their feet as their hands when they're small, sensory learning? Also if my DS is anything to go by they will put the balls from the ballpit (see how careful I was there...) in their mouths, hands in mouths that have been on slides and railings.

OK i just hope everyone who has admitted to deliberalty transgressing the wear sock rule, does have clean - diesease free feet!

Soft play places always smell of poo and feet.

debeez,, but its a rule to make sure they all stay foot diese free.....they can do sensory learning without socks - at home?

for the very very fact that the younger ones put things in mouth - isnt that even MORE of a reason to make sure you - and older ones keep socks on?

debeez op refers to adults specifically

I thought I was pfb with my DS but even I never worried about foot disease. Sensory learning at home, here's some carpet, here's some more wooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Seriously though, climbing barefoot is amazing, better grip and most foot disease is a case of a topical cream or powder, fun outweighs the risks. DS wore socks as he has my giant piano playing toes but other children without never worried me.