Aibu to hate soft play

[EmmaandJacob]

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

I only went to one once..the god awful Wacky Warehouse in Colliers Wood.
Truly grim.

Hate them.

I have been a parent for 9 years and all that time I have been 3 times.All 3 times at least one of mine came back with a sickness bug and I had the local Vicky Pollard next to me effing and jeffing.

I think they should make slightly larger ones for grown ups. As someone said earlier, scrambling around and going down slides certainly beats the gym. I wish they had been around when I was a kid.

My DD (3.11) always seems to get pushed around and hit at most of the ones near us so she hates them. The one we go to is a much smaller one aimed at under 5s with an organic cafe set in a gorgeous park/forest - much calmer and delightful and it means she can play safely and I can work or read in the cafe.

I have been told that you can clean an entire soft play centre with steam but it costs a lot so most places don't bother unless someone has actually puked.

I hate the places. Last time we went DS handed me four plasters he'd found - each ickier than the rest. Then he puked on the way home. Lovely.

I love the soft play centre we take DD to. Its attached to the garden centre, it's clean and small so they restrict the amount of play if it gets busy (and its only £2.50 per playing child, adults pay nothing). The parents are allowed to go in with their kids, so often the place is filled with parents, too, so DD has never had any kids being mean to her. It's also got an outside area when the sun comes out, which DD experienced for the first time on our last trip. We love going as DH can go and play with DD (and everyone elses children--he plays so enthusiastically that all the kids flock to him!) and I can have a coffee and snuggle with baby DS. Although I am looking forward to the time when I can send both kids off to play

There is another soft play centre in town, which I went to once before DC and I hated that one. That was full of bullying kids and uninterested parents and the food was shite. Come to think of it, I didn't much rate the soft play we went to in London, either, when we were visiting my cousin. Parents weren't allowed in so you couldn't see the kids for parents crowding around the one entrance. It was also on the first floor and as I was paying for something I suddenly noticed that DD had pushed open the electronic release gate and was standing at the top of a very steep flight of stairs. She was only 2. I still shudder to think of it now. I pushed the gate myself and it gave without much resistance. The staff got a right ear full after that.

I love the one where we live.
No ball pit
clean enough
LOVELY homemade CAKES and COFFEE
However, we only go during school time so that it's not too busy.
DD gets to run around, have a bit of freedom (NOT feral) and I get a wee bit of time to myself. We still go for lots of walks and trips to the park.

Yanbu. I think they're crap. I went to one to meet a friend who had older kids and had to pay £3.50 for my dd who was about 6 months old. Haven't paid to go to one since, though dd seems to like them. She likes running in the park on going on the slide equally though.