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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate parents who don't wear socks at soft play

115 replies

WitchOfEndor · 28/06/2013 12:34

There were four of them this morning, and I asked them all if they knew they were supposed to wear socks. One said she was just running on to pick up her daughter who had been pushed by a boy. Fair enough, but does your verruca/athletes foot know that? Of the other three, two gave me evils for the rest of the session and one ignored me and went back on with bare feet so I asked the staff to have a word.

Is it me being an officious twat or should adults follow health and safety rules where children are involved?

I feel even more rabidly about non poop scooping dog owners

OP posts:
Original poster
WitchOfEndor · 28/06/2013 16:15

Quangle its not like I'm saying that people should wear socks because I think they should. I think they should wear socks because soft play rules say you should. If I had seen a parent in there with shoes on I would have said something too. Although from now on I will be leaving it to the staff.

OP posts:
Thymeout · 28/06/2013 16:26

When I was at school, we had to do barefoot dancing in little tunics. We had a foot inspection every term. If you had a verruca, you had to sit out.
I used to long to have a verruca.

OP - I'm with you about the rules. They have their reasons. There are signs. Why do people think it doesn't apply to them?

Feel the same about people who put their feet on the seats on trains and buses. Especially flipflops.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 28/06/2013 16:36

I agree that we should stick to rules, but when the DCs were little and needed supervision, I was not going to get to the softplay and then say, oh, sorry, we can't go in because I've forgotten my socks (no adult ones on sale at ours). I did try and remember, but if I forgot, just not a big deal. Putting feet on seats on trains is not the same, you can refrain from doing it without it having any adverse effect on your day out with your DCs.

Funions · 28/06/2013 16:39

Half-day closing at the grip shop?

HeySoulSister · 28/06/2013 16:58

Op yabu for adding the 'especially where children are involved' bit.... H&s is for everyone's benefit, why more so for children??

TwinkleSparkleBling · 28/06/2013 17:14

OP YANBU

I have a crawler and a toddler and no, I don't want them putting their hands where someone's feet have been. There are rules, they are for everyone, follow them. Simple.

Don't get me started on the selfish fuckers who wear their shoes in the baby area.......

Quangle · 28/06/2013 17:18

don't get me started on the selfish fuckers who wear their shoes in the baby area

No I won't. Because there's no way that's an overreaction to a minor infringement at all Grin

Original poster
WitchOfEndor · 28/06/2013 18:37

quangle most people don't do mean and nasty things so I have to admit I haven't met any.

I would be happy to shoot child abusers in the face though

Hth

OP posts:
Original poster
WitchOfEndor · 28/06/2013 18:54

heysoulsister just because as parents we are supposed to protect children. I can imagine someone who doesn't have children might not necessarily think about the implications of shoes/ no socks in soft play, but parents should.

I am equally protective of animals and vulnerable people though so not just " wont somebody think of the children"

although I draw a line at "what about the Menz"

OP posts:
RoseandVioletCreams · 28/06/2013 20:38

But Quangle,

If you ignore the rules, put there to protect public health and your little bare foot darling has given my sock footed darling some nasty infection, isnt that rather mean? You chose and made the decision to go barefoot and have infringed into our lives and made us ill? When you could have chosen to wear socks and protect us?

fuckwittery · 28/06/2013 21:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 28/06/2013 21:53

It's toes getting caught and ripped off in the netting. Not hygiene.

greeneyed · 28/06/2013 22:04

Utterly mad OP. YABU - not to be narked off that people aren't wearing socks (though it wouldn't occur to me) but to actually say something - who made you the soft play police? I don't think I'd give you evils but I'd probably laugh at you and say 'sorry Miss'.

CheshireDing · 28/06/2013 22:16

I didn't know you were supposed to wear socks. I am sure I have been in my flip flops sometimes.

I can see where you're coming from with the verrucas etc but if I had such a scabby thing on my foot then I would think to cover it up.

I took pfb socks off once at a playgroup session and heard a Mum shout really loudly at her "where are your socks" - she was about 17 months old at the time! and I didn't want to lose the socks that's why I took them off.

TwinkleSparkleBling · 28/06/2013 22:20

Genuinely I am really surprised by the fact that so many people think it is OK to simply ignore a basic "rule".

Do you ignore the speed limit? Would you exceed the child/parent ratio in swimming? I know socks at soft play aren't really a huge issue but it's the principle.

You choose to go somewhere, you follow the guidelines in place to make it a pleasant environment for ALL people there.

What message does it send to kids? That's the rule but it doesn't apply to us.

DoJo · 28/06/2013 22:34

Well, after reading this thread earlier and knowing I was going to soft play, I checked - ours doesn't have rule about it. So I guess it is a non-issue for me, which is good because I hate wearing socks!

DoJo · 28/06/2013 22:35

(Although I made my son wear them this week as last week he got stuck half way down slide because of his bare feet!)

MummytoKatie · 28/06/2013 23:54

I hate feet so do find it rather icky when people don't wear socks. (Especially as it is always the types with horrid looking feet who don't. Never those with nice ones and pretty pink toenails. Why?!?!?)

But that's not the reason. It's to avoid toes being ripped off. (And presumably eaten by whichever small child finds them!)

FannyBazaar · 29/06/2013 00:07

I never knew there was such a rule at soft play but then I wouldn't willingly choose to go to soft play unless dragged by friends and would never think to bring socks.

I do like the poo bag idea though, are these special bags? I'd like to offer them to the people pooing behind the bushes in the local park.

SoftlySoftly · 29/06/2013 00:43

Well I think YANBU though I am one of the guilty ones as I frequently forget socks though I avoid actually entering the play equipment as much as humanly possible!

I honestly believed the sock rule was to prevent injury and slide climbing but a Google shows rosa says it's verrucas.

Bloody stupid rule though as it's like dodging raindrops in terms of the quite literal crap you find in softplay.

teacherandguideleader · 29/06/2013 07:18

Having worked in a shoe shop in the past, I can safely say that some people's socks are far grubbier than my feet ever are and are harbouring goodness knows what.

I always have socks on unless I've got sandals and flip flops on, and at these times I carry a pair in my bag (I have a wool allergy - some people's carpets bring me out in hives). I always wear socks in soft play, but it wouldn't bother me if someone else didn't (plus I always change my socks before putting my own shoes back on).

teacherandguideleader · 29/06/2013 07:21

As an aside, I have had terrible trouble getting children to take their socks off for activities at school and Guides - they refuse because they are so convinced everything is dirty (probably because they're never allowed to take them off for things!). Socks can be dangerous - far too slippy.

urtwistingmymelonman · 29/06/2013 07:33

I don't think you abu.
but then I have a bit of a fear of others feet so maybe we are both bu?
i find these soft play areas always smell a bit cheesy anyway and i always wear socks when i go.
it makes me cringe to see strangers bare,sweaty feet but that is down to my own personal demons!
i have to say though that childrens bare feet don't bother me really,its only adults.

theodorakisses · 29/06/2013 08:24

It is perfectly reasonable to hate all people at soft play, a red mist descends upon entering and even the most ordinary person can seem like a complete asshole.

theodorakisses · 29/06/2013 08:25

Ouch, the thought of the sound of bare feet getting stuck on a slide makes my teeth hurt!