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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To turn down an invite to soft play because of germs?

318 replies

Skatingonthinice16 · 26/01/2017 21:22

Ds (7) has been invited to a soft play party, I don't want him to go because I think basically they are a complete germ fest but he obviously goes to school so is soft play any worse than that?
But then how often is soft play ever cleaned? Never? Someone I know took their child and their child went in the ball pool and got covered in poo. Who knows what lurks in the ball pool?! I'd hoped by 7 ds wouldn't ever have to go to soft play again. It's been about 2 years since we've been but my germ phobia didn't exist then so it didn't bother me.

Aibu to say no based on the fact I don't want us all to catch norovirus?

OP posts:
paxillin · 26/01/2017 22:02

YABU, he's 7, he'll have been exposed to all of those germs at school. At soft play, parents are there so hands might possibly be washed after the loo. At school? Not a chance.

OTOH, 7 is old for a softplay party, I'd wonder if half the class won't be allowed in because they are too tall. Ours had a max height and was aimed at babies- 4 year olds. I am glad the soft play hell days are over for us.

sallysparrow157 · 26/01/2017 22:03

A significant part of the immune system is basically created by exposure to germs. Your body is exposed to a bug, you might get sick (or you might not if you're exposed to a tiny amount of the bug) your body learns to recognise that this bug is bad and develops antibodies for that bug and ones a bit like it, so next time you're exposed to that bug your body recognises straight away that the bug is bad and the immune system zaps it. (We exploit this with vaccinations - we inject a little fragment of a bug, generally without the bit that makes you sick but with the bit your body recognises as bad, then your body produces antibodies so when you're exposed to that infection your body recognises its bad and zaps it before it's had a chance to make you sick)

If you're not exposed to germs, your immune system basically can't learn what's bad, so you're actually more likely to get sicker when you actually do catch an infection

NavyandWhite · 26/01/2017 22:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SEsofty · 26/01/2017 22:06

Also, you say add possible diagnosis. From spending too much time on mumsnet it's clear that being invited to parties is something that doesn't always happen for all children.

So actually you should be pleased that he's been invited to a party.

And again, what does his dad think?

budgetsbonus · 26/01/2017 22:07

to me, soft play= child wee over stuff and not properly cleaned up if even noticed by parents or staff! however, we still go but i wince a bit.

i think you are aware you sound a bit phobic, which is good. you can't prevent him from doing stuff forever.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 26/01/2017 22:08

You won't let him use public toilets. What if he desparately needs to go one time. You want to stop him from going to soft play. I think this phobia is taking over not only your, but your sons life, too. Of course its not your fault. People don't choose phobias. Phobias choose people, but. Please speak to your GP.

Germs are everywhere. Even bacteria only kills 99.9% of germs, so. What about the other 1%.

murmuration · 26/01/2017 22:08

Let him go.

You sound like my mother. She never let me play in soft plays, or even enclosed structures on public playgrounds. She instilled a terror of public toilets in me, which I still have to fight. I now struggle with jealousy about the fun climbing and things my DD gets to do. Don't do that to him.

BlueOnMondayNight · 26/01/2017 22:08

I'm flabbergasted - and a little impressed - that you've managed NOT to take your son to soft play in 7 years!!!

What did you do on endless rainy days??

Skatingonthinice16 · 26/01/2017 22:09

His dad isn't bothered.

I do feel like going to soft play is as risky as going into a war zone Blush it makes me feel very very anxious and I'd he does go then I will worry constantly for 72 hours afterwards until we are out of the incubation period.

OP posts:
NotTheMrMenAgain · 26/01/2017 22:09

Hi OP, I know where you're coming from a bit because I had PTSD following a traumatic birth and one of my symptoms was that I became quite germ phobic (as part of the typical PTSD hypervigilance).

I was pretty horrified by soft play places, and it was only when DD started being invited to school friend's parties that we began going because I didn't want her to miss out.

The thing is OP, is that your germ phobia is just that - yours. It's not fair if your phobia has a big impact on your DS and means he misses out on things.

I don't mean to sound harsh, because I understand how all-consuming the anxiety can be, but the invitation really isn't about you, it's about your DS being included with his mates.

I know it's hard, your anxiety will probably really be spiking, but kids bloody love those places and have an absolute blast. The first time might be the worst for you, with subsequent visits being less stressful.

If you really can't face it then is there anyone else who could take your DS - on the basis of what the eye don't see, the heart don't grieve over.

If you do feel able to go, then try really hard to distract yourself - chat, read, enjoy seeing your son have fun.

I'm mostly over the germ phobia now, but still have an antibacterial wipe for any event in my bag. At soft play parties my DD and her friends line up for a wipe for their hands before they eat.

There's sensible hygiene practices and then there's a phobia that negatively impacts your life. OP, it's way off the OTT end of the spectrum to make your DS avoid using public toilets - you wouldn't want him to end up feeling anxious or upset about potential germs.

In the most sensitive way, have you considered perhaps talking to someone about your phobia? I'm not sure these things go away on their own and I'd be concerned the anxiety / avoidance behaviour would become more entrenched over time.

OP, do you know if there was a trigger/event that started your phobia?

Skatingonthinice16 · 26/01/2017 22:10

No we used to go. He went loads when smaller. But we haven't been for a while - partly because I think he's too old and he started getting bored pretty quickly and partly because I hate them because of the germs.

OP posts:
Sara107 · 26/01/2017 22:11

You need to deal with your germ phobia. Lots of children go to soft play without picking up noro virus or anything else. Your child needs to be able to live life without being made anxious about sickness ( unless he is immune compromised).

FinnMcCool · 26/01/2017 22:12

I mean this nicely - I think you need to see your GP.

SallyInSweden · 26/01/2017 22:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Skatingonthinice16 · 26/01/2017 22:13

No obviously not - what I mean is it feels like I'm taking him into a really dangerous situation.

OP posts:
JigglyTuff · 26/01/2017 22:14

You really need help. You're not thinking straight, please see your GP. If you won't do it for you, do it for your kids

Starlight2345 · 26/01/2017 22:15

There are a couple of things that stick out from your post.

Firstly you need to see GP about your anxiety. germ phobia.This is not just affecting your life but your DS

Your DS is been assessed for ASD..Then absolutely you should take up offers to built friendships.

He has been before and been fine when he immune system was more immature

MarklahMarklah · 26/01/2017 22:16

I understand your concerns where your DS puts things in his mouth but I don't think you're helping his health by dousing him in antibacterial solution. Hot water and soap is better, and less harmful if ingested.
I've a friend who's had recurrent stomach ulcers, made worse by the fact that she sprays every surface of her house with antibacterial stuff before/after prepping food. Basically she's slowly eating all the antibacterial spray.

Xmasbaby11 · 26/01/2017 22:17

You need to see your gp. It's not normal to teach your ds to avoid public toilets. Do you want him to grow up feeling as anxious as you do now?

My dc have never caught anything from soft play and my 5 yo dd licks things too.

harleysmammy · 26/01/2017 22:17

Me and my brother used to get our fun from playing in the mud and in ponds that were probably stinking, thats the generation we came from. Im protective of my son catching things but i also realize that even when i was a kid, the whole germaphobe thing wasnt even a thing. We had fun and if we caught a cold or a bug, we had hot lemon and got on with it. My best friend had her first job in a soft play and i can promise you all she did was clean hours after it closed

RainbowChasing · 26/01/2017 22:18

For as long as I possibly can prevent my dd from going to soft play I will. We've been four times since she was born (she's now 3) and we have a 50% sickness bug success rate. This is a child who virtually never gets colds, infections, sickness bugs etc yet she's caught something 2 out of the 4 times we've been. Admittedly the soft play where she caught these bugs is grim (party invites otherwise I would have avoided completely) but still. I don't care if she gets colds or shares germs normally but sickness bugs are just foul and they then spread like wildfire around the family. So from my point of view it is unfair to not let your ds go for his sake but I don't think you are being completely UF because some soft plays are just revolting.

Lovemusic33 · 26/01/2017 22:18

I used to be the same of you, mainly due to my phobia of vomiting, I would do anything to avoid picking up a bug. One of my dc's puts everything in her mouth ( she has asd). Not they are getting a bit older I have relaxed a little, last time dd picked up a bug it was from a shopping trip ( not a soft play, not from school, not from a party). I don't want to stop my dc's having fun just because they might catch something, I feel guilty for doing it in the past.

Skatingonthinice16 · 26/01/2017 22:18

When I took him before I did not know so much about germs... so I did not worry so much. Also norovirus seems rife this year. The summer time worries me slightly less.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 26/01/2017 22:19

This isn't about soft play. This is about your fear of germs and the way your anxiety is controlling your life.
It isn't normal to spend your daily life avoiding germs. (Not unless you have a severely compromised immune system.)
You need to see your GP ASAP before this phobia transfers to your child.

candycoatedwaterdrops · 26/01/2017 22:20

The more you say, the more concerned I am, especially about public toilets. Have you seen a professional about your anxiety?