Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to decline soft play invitation last minute

67 replies

Beanbag12 · 14/03/2020 20:08

A bit of an AIBU and a WWYD.

My DS who’s 3 has a birthday party to go to tomorrow at a local soft play centre. The Mum who arranged the party messaged everyone yesterday about what time to turn up etc and I thanked her for the invitation and said my son is excited. It seems a lot has developed over the last 24 hours in the news etc and now I‘m really concerned about putting DS and myself at unnecessary risk of catching Corona Virus.

WIBU to not take him? WWYD?

YABU= take him
YANBU=it’s not worth the risk

OP posts:
RhymingRabbit3 · 14/03/2020 20:24

I wouldnt take my kids to soft play at the moment.

Darbs76 · 14/03/2020 20:26

Tough one, I think we all know how annoying it is for people to no show when you’ve paid for the party. If your child is in school or nursery with these kids I doubt it will make much difference. Just keep your child away from any elderly relatives as they can be carriers but don’t tend to suffer much with coronavirus

louisawhitegenius · 14/03/2020 20:28

I think anyone who doesn't understand reasons for last min cancellations would be unreasonable. You may live with someone who's at risk and I think most people are changing/rethinking plans day by day. I would apologise and say you've got a lovely gift to give and looking forward to meeting up when its a bit safer.

OhCaptain · 14/03/2020 20:29

People are mad organising parties during this shit storm. Especially for a three year old who won't care/remember. She could have a party in August and he wouldn't care about the time change.

It's just madness. And so selfish!

louisawhitegenius · 14/03/2020 20:31

Probably arranged a while ago tbf but I agree I wouldn't plan much for the next few weeks/months to avoid this type of stuff

Mummyshark2018 · 14/03/2020 20:31

I'm fairly laid back and I wouldn't take my dc to an indoor soft play place. They're breeding grounds at the best of times never mind now.

Cornettoninja · 14/03/2020 20:32

Right now no. I’ve made myself unpopular this week by declining similar invitations but I’ve invited everyone to feel free to take the piss out of me in six months time for overacting because I sincerely hope they have reason to do so.

Worriedmum54321 · 14/03/2020 20:33

Whether you go or not, don't let feeling bad about cancelling make the decision. If your child isn't in nursery it's a bit if a different risk profile from if they are. It also depends on whether you have grandparents looking after them at any point. You have to think about your son but also others he comes into contact with

Oly4 · 14/03/2020 20:35

Yes yabu, you could get this virus anywhere at the moment, there is no government advice to cancel soft play, parties or anything else.
I take it you’re still taking your son to other places? Unless you’re planning on going into complete lockdown, yabu

louisawhitegenius · 14/03/2020 20:36

I remember taking my dd to a soft play years ago and another darling little toddling baby came wobbling towards me. I smiled and put out my hands to 'catch' her steps and as she got closer all I saw was 2 eyes oozing green gunk. Safe to say I grabbed my dd and ran!! I think it's just all about reducing risk and if you can, I would politely decline

FoxEars · 14/03/2020 20:36

Oh my goodness, absolutely I would cancel.
As someone up thread said, they are breeding grounds for germs at the best of times, let alone now
I would politely decline.

louisawhitegenius · 14/03/2020 20:38

So if you can catch it anywhere is it not better to weigh up the risk of certain activities and avoid catching/passing?

cadburyegg · 14/03/2020 20:39

Whatever you decide you’re not being selfish.

I’m taking my kids to a soft play party tomorrow. We went out today to some NT gardens and there were elderly people everywhere. If the vulnerable are not isolating themselves then I don’t see why healthy people should. I feel like this limbo situation could go on for awhile and I don’t plan on staying indoors through all of it. My 5 year old is still at school after all 🤷‍♀️

CrocodileFondue · 14/03/2020 20:39

No chance. We are losing loads of money through wasted tickets to events and a holiday but it's just not worth it at the moment. Sad

louisawhitegenius · 14/03/2020 20:45

Again I think it's about risk assessing, hot sweaty soft play with lots of drooling and sticky hands - I'm out 😂

Breckenridged · 14/03/2020 20:48

I’m having exactly the same dilemma OP.

MmmMalbec · 14/03/2020 20:51

Took my 5 year old to a soft play party today. There’s no logic in cancelling when he’s still at school IMO. If schools closed then I wouldn’t have taken him. I won’t go to a soft play for the sake of it but I would have felt shit not going to a kids birthday.

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 14/03/2020 20:53

I've just had a soft play party.
We had two kids cancel as they were unwell and one kid cancel because of concerns.
The party went ahead with three guests and the birthday girl.
It wasn't the most banging party I've organised but DD seemed happy enough with it.
Hoping for better times next year.

Breckenridged · 14/03/2020 20:54

See I don’t entirely agree with the school thing because a) soft plays are also full of adults who may well not be following self isolation advice on coughs and fevers and b) DD’s school is enforcing very stringent hygiene measures at the moment, not so the soft play!

Breckenridged · 14/03/2020 20:54

(I say that about the coughs because DH had to go to Boots today and apparently it was full of people coughing...)

Isleepinahedgefund · 14/03/2020 20:55

Soft play are little germ pits at the best of times. I wouldn’t go.

MrsHardbroom · 14/03/2020 20:56

I wouldn't go, social distancing is key at the moment to slow down the spread and any non-essential group activities should therefore potentially be canned. Plus, soft play has always been a great place to catch whatever is going around.

AnneTwackie · 14/03/2020 20:56

YANBU I would offer the money and say you’d love to have their little one over for a play date when things settle down.

RogueV · 14/03/2020 20:58

We are going to a soft play party tomorrow.
He’s at school on Monday so meh!

inselfisolationnow · 14/03/2020 20:58

@OhCaptain it was probably organised months ago!

Op it's up to you but are you going to stop dc going to nursery or anywhere where lots of people congregate for 16 weeks?