To avoid soft play during all this

[aristo]

I haven't taken my son to soft play since the pandemic started. Is this silly?

I know he would still love it, perhaps even more now he's 6 months older, and much bigger and stronger.

I would say if there is any up side to coronavirus...then an excuse to avoid soft play, is it.

Well, maybe but there's limited things to do with a toddler!

If you don’t feel comfy doing it you shouldn’t have to.

Of course it's not silly, soft play is a hotbed of germs at the best of times.

I'm staying clear of soft play & 'play & stay' - kids touching & putting everything in theirs months, no way!
The only thing I've took her to is Jo Jingles ( songs & rhyme's) were there's none of that.

Im sorry, I was being a smart arse!
It is hard to keep them entertained at that age.
I somehow managed to avoid soft play for the majority of the time when dcs were small...but I think they hated it as much as me!
Are toddler groups open where you are?
Any outdoory places, and you could get some really good outdoor all in ones with the money saved on soft play?
I hope someone comes along with good ideas...mine are 14, 13 and 10 now!!

We are the same. Anything like trampoline parks or soft play had been avoided and will still be. My are older but one in particular has additional needs and he still sucks his thumb so it's just not happening.

Yanbu at all I am not going.
However I know some of the soft play business owners (work in a related field) and the situation is really grim for them. Frankly if they don’t get support they will probably be closed permanently by Christmas so bear this in mind. Personally I wouldn’t be taking my children there though unless/until local case are extremely low.

I actually thought it was still closed!

I don’t need Covid as an excuse to avoid softplay. Those places are hell on Earth!

I never took mine to soft play

I actually didn't mind going to soft play, he goes off and plays nicely. I can see the whole play area and sit down for once!

I thought they were still closed too! YANBU though, I fucking hate softplay. Ours is filthy at the best of times too 🤮

I haven’t taken mine back to a soft play yet.

We've been to a local small one. It was incredibly clean, limited numbers, well managed by staff. I'll be going again and as it's run by a local mum, I'm happy to support in difficult times.

I'm the same. 2 Yr old DD has picked up all sorts of bugs at soft play which previously I just saw as part of life but at present, no i wouldn't be going. It was never particularly clean with fairly young and motivated staff. Other places might be different but I'd be avoiding our local one which is a shame as it was a nice wet weather weekend activity last year.

I'd love to take mine but it's £50 for an inclusive 1.5 session well outside my budget sadly

They aren't even open here.

I took my DS last week for the first time and there were 4 children in the whole soft play! He was the only one in the under 2 section for 90% of the time we were there. The poor owner looked truly defeated. I honestly don't judge anyone for not going as it's obviously a very high touch activity but I'll be amazed if they are still operating by Christmas.

@Bupkis

I would say if there is any up side to coronavirus...then an excuse to avoid soft play, is it.

This.

Soft play is one of the Germiest pls es going, so I'd avoid it. The ones near me have closed down :-(

Check your local soft play. Many are limiting numbers and are set sessions that they then steam clean all the equipment between. Ours have removed all the balls and extra toys, so it's just the large foam stuff and slides. They still love it, it's quieter and much more relaxing than usual!

I went to one nearly two weeks ago. Touch wood my 3 year old didn’t catch anything. It was nice to feel ‘normal’ for a bit. That was before our local lockdown came into effect so now we’re not allowed to meet friends and the main reason I took her was so that she could play with her friends and I could chat with mine! It won’t be the same now.

I havent gone back either though most round here are closed. I just don't see how they can clean it sufficiently between sessions

Don't do any activity you're not comfortable with, it's your choice. Personally I would go if mine were still that young, but we don't have any vulnerable household members.