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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Aibu to hate soft play

108 replies

EmmaandJacob · 20/05/2012 20:55

I hate soft play, don't know why just can't stand the germ filled horrid places!!!
I am not a germaphope in any way, and I don't mind lots of kids running around, I would just rather go to the park, play in the garden or play games inside if rainy. I have a 2.5 ds and a 3 month old ds, my mum friends make comments implying I ama being selfish and need to get over it, not in so may words just comments like but those places are for the children and 2.5 can run around enjoying himself while you concentrate on ds2 have been a few times now and just can't learn to love the place!
X

OP posts:

ladymuckbeth · 21/05/2012 11:37

Dirty and unsafe? Hmm, maybe - although if you're in London try the one at the National Army Museum - I love it! Always very civilised, nice cafe attached, restricted numbers, clean children and parents, and for the germaphobes amongst you every child has to use sanitising hand gel upon entry. What's not to love? Apart from the occasional precocious Chelsea brat

badtasteflump · 21/05/2012 11:42

I took DC1 to a party at one years ago - the birthday boy told his mum he'd lost his badge in the ballpit somewhere - and it had a long sharp pin stuck on the back of it. She reported it, and was told 'not to worry, it'll turn up; that kind of thing is always happening!'.

TheWalkingDead · 21/05/2012 11:45

YANBU - I hate them. I know the DS1 loves them, and DS2 loves any opportunity to climb and at least at soft play there are softer surfaces than my living room floor, but I bloody hate them with such a passion. The ones near us smell of old chip fat, they are very visibly dirty and (although I expect some wear and tear) the equipment is nearly/totally falling apart.

There is one at a shopping mall that DH takes DS1 and DS2 into whilst I nip into shops quickly - it's quite expensive, but it's clean, bright, the staff are attentive and actually speak and smile to the children rather than lurk in the background just taking money and adults can go on it as well.

Also, has no-one invented a machine that can clean the balls quickly yet? And as the surfaces seem to be wipe clean, surely owners could employ cleaners to do something radical like....wipe the surfaces clean?!

threetequilafloor · 21/05/2012 11:47

They are better when the kids are older and can run off whilst you drink coffee :D

misssilverwings · 21/05/2012 12:35

The local soft play here is spotless, has talc and soap in the ( clean ) loos.. everybody has to wear plastic shoe covers and there is a cloakroom for all and a shoe cleaning area. its a barn, on an indstrial estate, in Northern Italy, .. It rains alot, and its an ideal place to wear out the 2 toddlers on a riany sunday. Thumbs up!

switchtvoffdosomelessboring · 21/05/2012 12:41

I hate the ones that 'encourage' the adults to go in and play too. Surely the idea is that you ignore your kids and get a cup of coffee and a trashy magazine.

All you 'players' and ruining it for us :)

OhdearNigel · 21/05/2012 12:52

I hate them. Not because they're germy but because they just ghastly and overpriced and full of other people's ghastly children

NoraHelmer · 21/05/2012 13:18

Our local soft play centre is spotlessly clean. The staff are always wandering around with a cloth and cleaning spray, mopping up :) They are quite strict about not taking any food or drink onto the carpeted area, so that stays clean and everyone must wear socks.

The down side is that it is quite small and so gets very busy and noisy at weekends/school holidays. The last time we were there, there was a party for 30 children. I think they should have closed it to anyone not involved in the party that morning - it was awful (we didn't stay long).

lou2321 · 21/05/2012 13:18

at OHdearNigel - so very true! The coffee at our local ones is also really disgusting. The ones in the pubs are definitely nicer as they are smaller, cleaner and quieter as can only take 20 children!

voddiekeepsmesane · 21/05/2012 13:25

Our local one is great with go karts, a carousel and a climbing wall as well as a huge climbing frame, but my favourite bit is a quiet area for adults!

Though at 7yo DS just goes off and I don't see him for at least an hour and I get my kindle out :)

WestYorkshirePudding · 21/05/2012 13:33

YABU, I think they're great! The DS's (7.5 and 5) charge off for a couple of hours with their equally manic friends and I sit and drink coffee whilst buying crisps/fruit shoots/cakes every so often

However they are much more stressful when you have a toddler that needs accompanying to the baby section. Nothing worse than having to sit in there while your friends with older kids carry on chatting

BartletForAmerica · 21/05/2012 13:36

We have a lovely one near us that serves reasonably priced tea and coffee, sandwiches and, most importantly, lovely home baking.

MrsJamin · 21/05/2012 13:43

YANBU but it's very much a last resort activity, if the weather is awful and the boys are literally bouncing off the walls and in need of exercise. Otherwise it's rainy day activities, the park or the garden or put on loud music and have a dance! Mine often have picked up bugs from soft play and now it's basically a tenner for 2 hours play, which is steep as I'm not earning.

Wordsmith · 21/05/2012 13:43

Loathe loathe loathe. YANBU. Thank god my kids are too old for them. I hated toddler groups too. Bah Humbug.

buttress · 21/05/2012 13:49

Lol @ knowwatumean!!

I hate them too. totally YANBU. always get a migraine afterwards. last time we went the kids were ill with ear infections for ages after! fecking gross places!

IsSpringSprangedYet · 21/05/2012 13:58

YABNU. I'm not overly keen, however the one near where I live is not too bad.

It's fairly big, and I went last day of the half term, so it was rammed. I didn't see DS1 for about an hour before he came up for air a drink, and I could only locate DS2 by his crying. It would probably be nicer in term time though. I wouldn't feel so edgy. It seems fairly clean and the food and coffee was nice enough. It's nice for a change.

My first AIBU reply and it was too-sitty-on-the-fencey

IsSpringSprangedYet · 21/05/2012 14:02

Just thinking there's obviously a niche for an exclusive, home and fresh made food selling, very very clean soft play area......hmmm

PullUpAPew · 21/05/2012 14:09

They are hell. It is like Lord of the Flies in those ball pits. I hate soft play. Luckily for me so does my elder child, he prefers quieter places bless him. Younger one still doesn't know they exist so I just avoid totally.

MarysBeard · 21/05/2012 14:10

Some of them are better than others. Nearly all could improve their food though, especially their party food. I've no objection to my kids eating sausages and chips at a party, or indeed at other times, but some of these places serve the cheapest, shitest sausages imagineable. I hate the attitude that they can get away with cheap rubbish as it's for kids.

BartletForAmerica · 21/05/2012 14:40

IsSpring, the one near us is on a farm, so I think it sounds like a good bet for diversifying.

astreetcarnamedknackered · 21/05/2012 14:42

I worked in one. Children piss and shit in the ball pits. Nuff said.

theodorakis · 21/05/2012 14:44

I managed to get away with "the soft play was broken by a naughty child" for about a year. Just avoid walking past when it is open.

PeppermintCreams · 21/05/2012 14:54

YABNU.

We go to two regularly. One is run by the local church during school holidays and is free (suggested donation) and fantastic. The other one is at our local gym club, and they set up the pre-school equipment with a couple of bouncy castles. Maybe they are fab because they are only open occasionally, and by not for profit groups.

The others in my area are awful.

BadNails · 21/05/2012 15:02

Ordinarily, I'm a hater so YANBU.

However, the last time I took my eldest daughter (4) we went to one near a friend which had just been refurbished. It was lovely and clean and I wanted a go on the slides and the seating area was spacious.

After about ten or fifteen minutes, DD1 came rushing over all breathless saying, "This is so great mummy, thank you for bringing me here" and ran off again. It changed my mind.

I do think it depends on which one you go to. Snakes and Ladders in Slough anyone?

Labradorlover · 21/05/2012 15:02

There's one near me that went into liquidation a couple of months ago....I'm delighted

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