To go to the zoo

[Isitbedtimeyet4]

We’ve got tickets to go to the Zoo tomorrow for my birthday.

I’m 36 weeks pregnant, we were going to do the Zoo for my daughters birthdays next month, but I won’t be comfortable taking a small newborn to a zoo with everything that’s going on. I don’t want them to miss out and know that life is going to be very overwhelming for them soon so would like them to have this fun day out before baby comes!

I’ve got a mask, two bottles of hand sanitiser, we’ll take a picnic and I don’t have to worry about the littles not socially distancing because one is a non walker and will be in the buggy and then eldest is too shy to ever leave our side.

All of a sudden I’m feeling a lot of anxiety, am I being silly in going? The zoo has had nothing but five star reviews since reopening and apparently their Covid measures are fantastic, but I’m worried that this is an unnecessary risk?

Do you think I should cancel? We can still use the tickets in the next 12 months so neither us or the Zoo would lose any money, I’d just call and cancel the day slot as they’re only letting in a certain amount of people so another family could go.

YABU - Cancel
YANBU- Go and have fun

I would go but only if you’re actually going to enjoy it and not spend the whole day worrying about Covid.

We’re members of our local zoo and have been a few times since reopening, it’s a massive outdoor space with loads of room for the kids to run without getting too near anyone. Risks are very low.

I was at whipsnade zoo last week with my toddler and my 8 week old, I didn’t touch anything, we were outside the whole time, we could socially distance the whole time, if it’s a similar setup then I’m sure you’ll be fine

The wildlife park near us has been the safest place to visit the last couple of weeks. We have a pass so have been going regularly. Fewer people allowed in, socially distanced and workers cleaning benches and tables constantly.
Go and enjoy yourself you might be stuck in for a while with a newborn so enjoy.

Go and have fun.
Capacity is reduced so it's not crowded. (Which is why they are still struggling with funds) You might get clusters at some exhibits, in which case move on, they will be there next time.

I've been twice to our nearest on now and we've had two great afternoons out.

We went to London zoo midweek last weeks and it was fine. There were a lot less people than any previous visits. They have 3 different clearly marked one way routes (you can do all of them) and they were quite strict on people sticking to it especially around the penguins. The only indoor bits were quiet. There was hand sanitizer in various places.
Most people were good with the social distancing apart from the posh grandma behind us queuing for the shop till! Her daughter did remind her about it.

Thank you guys! It’s really reassuring to know that places are managing the risks so well! I really didn’t want to cancel, I just got so anxious all of a sudden!

@Connelloni Can I ask how you find having zoo memberships? Our DCs love animals, zoos and animal parks are their favourite places to visit so I’d been considering getting a membership for next year, I just couldn’t decide whether limiting ourselves to just one zoo was a bit pointless or if the children wouldn’t care and still find it just as fun towards the end of the year?

I'll be going on mat leave at 37 weeks and have two other kids. I'm planning on going to the zoo, farm, playgrounds etc with them. I think the chances of catching it when it's currently only something like 1 in 3600 have it at an outdoor zoo would be incredibly slim!!

I will probably be a bit more careful the 7 days before my section but I'm looking forward to do some fun things before I'm glued to the sofa for a month!

Go and have fun!

I've been really cautious as also pregnant albeit earlier and concerned about intrauterine transmission (albeit it seems rare but due to problems in a previous pregnancy which could even have been viral transmission are on ultra alert!)

Have a toddler as well though so didn't want her to miss out and have been going to outdoors things - the zoos have felt really safe and I haven't felt at all concerned while there. It's outdoors and loads of sanitiser points etc

Have fun if you do!

@ChipsAreLife and @Morecheesywotsits congrats to you both it’s nice to hear some opinions from others in the same position so thank you! I definitely think I’m going to go!

We went to London zoo the other week and it was brilliant with enforcing social distancing and only letting a limited number of people in

I've been to London zoo several times since they reopened - I hadn't been a member for a while, and it seemed a good way to support them.

VIsits have been fine - socially distanced, indoor stuff not open, loos really clean.
Wouldn't a baby be in a buggy or sling anyway?

The advantage of being a zoo member, a bit like a gallery, it that you can drop in for short visits, see a few things and not feel you have to stay for hours or see everything because you've paid £xxx.
It's not something I'd travel miles or spend ages travelling to, so annual membership suits me - I would have thought it would be ideal for small children as well. Normally, you can just drop in whenever, although you have to book at the moment.
The experience can be very different, depending on the weather, what the animals are doing, any new births.... (although the first time I went, it was raining hard, and I wasn't sure whether all the animals were inside to avoid the rain, or had decided they'd enjoyed three months of not having to entertain anybody, and really couldn't be bothered ).

We had a zoo membership when ds was little, it was great as you could just go for a couple of hours whereas if you have paid a fortune to get in you want to spend the whole day to make it worth the cost.

Ours also does members days where you can take friends and family for half price and you got free entry to four other zoos across the country once each year.

@Isitbedtimeyet4 our membership is so valuable to us, with everything having been paused it’s given us time to reflect on what we really need and what the kids enjoy, and the one thing we were in total agreement on was that the zoo membership would stay.

We live about 15/20 minutes from ours and we got membership when I had DC1 5 years ago (now expecting DC3). It is expensive but so worth it. The best thing I find is that we can pop up whenever we want for any length of time. Sometimes my toddler will say he wants to see the tigers and we can drive there, look at the tigers for an hour and go home, without feeling we’ve wasted money. It’s so expensive for a day pass that if we just bought a ticket we would have to stay all day and see everything which can be a bit exhausting!

The DC absolutely love it and we don’t get bored of it. Great place to meet friends for a picnic too.

Not sure if all zoos do, but London Zoo has a scheme where you can convert day tickets into annual membership within (I think) a couple of weeks of the visit by just paying the difference.