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 don't understand how they're allowed to open, actually, when certain other places/venues/groups still can't function.

You're not being unreasonable to avoid them. They're full of germs at the best of times, but normally the risk of coughs and colds is outweighed by your child being entertained for a few hours. With covid knocking about I don't think it's worth the risk, to be honest. And that's not because I think it's super dangerous to young children - more because of the hassle of everyone having to isolate and be tested etc.

Thankfully mine are getting a bit old for soft play now anyway so they've not been missing it! Our local one hasn't re-opened because they don't feel they'd be able to do so whilst complying with all the regulations, if it was open I think I'd be even less enthusiastic about going than I usually am.

I am considerably more pro soft play than the average Mumsnetter.

I'm also pretty laissez faire about Covid, especially re toddlers.

But ... I don't think I'm missing much by staying away at the minute.

Op, we went back for the first time last week. I was actually really looking forward to it as he’s started walking over lockdown and more interested in slides etc. Just generally more mobile and strong. Although they were hot on hygiene, couldn’t fault them. DS caught a nasty cold and now we’ve all got it. Plus the price has tripled. Didn’t feel worth it. I think you should try it out if you miss it but expect to pick something up as kids have had less exposure to germs and stuff recently so immune systems are not as strong.

We went a couple of weeks ago - dead quiet, even on a Saturday morning, very clean and temperature testing at the door. I'd see what the situation is with your local ones- ours has really bumped up the proce, which is frustrating but I get why. I think a lot of them will be gone by the time this is all over

My grandson LOVES soft play, and has missed it dreadfully. I took him last weekend and was impressed by the cleanliness, mask wearing and hand gel available. The balls in the ball pits have been removed quite rightly. I think now is the time to go, as there were only 3 families there! He's goes to nursery anyway so I wasn't worried, and he had a blast!

Our soft play centre has only been letting 25 people in which includes adults in for a two hour play session, they have removed all the ball etc and the centre in closed after two hours and ‘fogged’ to remove all traces of virus and bacteria (or so they tell me) it was so quite last week there was only my two children and one other family in the whole place. I was really worried before I went but I’m glad I did as the children really enjoyed themselves and it felt really safe, safer than school p!

You're not obliged to go.

Saying that, it's worth a look at their fb pages to see what measures they had in.

The winter I had an SPD pregnancy and a 2 year old, soft play went a long way to keeping us sane. It was a long hard winter and difficult to get outside especially as DS was not a keen walker and my pelvis didn't cope with pushing the buggy. In that position this year, I think it would have been worth a fairly low risk to keep a well exercised toddler!

I dont get the hated towards soft play. Yes, kids are scruffy, and they put things in their mouth, but I am under no illusion. That happens in DDs nursery too. Maybe I am silly, but I actually think being exposed to germs does my DD some good. I haven't been able to take her to softplay since before lockdown as I am pregnant and crippled, but she loves it, and I am really looking forward to bringing her back once my baby is born. I think it's easy and cheap entertainment, and is does her good to be physical and seeing lots of kids.

However, OP, if you dont want to go, you dont have to go. There are outdoor playgrounds to go to.

Loathe and detest it with a passion personally, but if you’d like to go and you think he’d really benefit, then I’d book in for the first session in the morning, when things will have been cleaned overnight. And then consider changing clothes afterwards as well as hand washing.

He won’t miss out or be traumatised by not going, but if you’d really like to take him that’s how I’d be doing it to try to reduce the risk.

Or else I’d just do what we did as children, pile all the sofa cushions onto the floor, make a tent den from a blanket and the clothes horse, and go crazy with upside down armchairs for a bit. But then, I’m not particularly houseproud and neither were my parents!

I took my toddler to soft play this morning for the first time since lockdown. They're doing an antiviral fog once a week which lasts 7 days and wipe down high touch areas between slots. You book in advance and stick to your allocated table. No parents allowed in the older kid bit. It was great and felt very well organised and safe and it was spotless. I think it depends on the soft play. My local one is small and easy to manage to I'm confident they're taking all possible measures. My toddler loved it and we will definitely be going back.

I’m not a fan of soft play at the best of times and I’m really not a person to be bothered by germs! They are filthy and I would say impossible to clean effectively, especially regularly. I don’t know how you would clean a ball pit for example. More though it’s the noise of the places 🤣.

I use them sparingly anyway but I wouldn’t be using one now and I’m not avoiding anything else. I also don’t get the obsession with taking (especially young) kids to constant activities. A 6 month old is just as happy with a saucepan and a wooden spoon and interacting with you. Activities such as this just didn’t happen when I was a child and I am only around 40.

Have never taken DC3 as DC1 got very poorly after going once (thay may have been coincidence) and DC2 nearly broke her leg.

They are hotbeds of germs and poorly behaved kids.

@LeSquigh

I’m not a fan of soft play at the best of times and I’m really not a person to be bothered by germs! They are filthy and I would say impossible to clean effectively, especially regularly. I don’t know how you would clean a ball pit for example. More though it’s the noise of the places 🤣.

I use them sparingly anyway but I wouldn’t be using one now and I’m not avoiding anything else. I also don’t get the obsession with taking (especially young) kids to constant activities. A 6 month old is just as happy with a saucepan and a wooden spoon and interacting with you. Activities such as this just didn’t happen when I was a child and I am only around 40.

My son is 2.5, not 6 months old. Parks every single day is so boring now, despite me getting in the car and going to parks further afield.

I honestly don't know how I'm going to entertain us both during winter full time!

I haven't sent him back to nursery because of covid, but he only went one day a week anyway

I’ve taken baby DS to a local soft play and can’t wait to return. It was spotless, is fogged and deep cleaned each evening, you have to book time slots, they’re only allowing in 25% of their usual capacity, staff cleaning throughout the session, everyone in masks and it was so quiet! I wouldn’t go on a weekend when it’s likely to be busier but it felt very safe and DS loved it! At times me and my friend were the only ones in the baby & toddler section.

Oh yes! I’m hoping it’s the end of soft play visits for me tee hee!!

DS enjoyed messing about in our woods far more to be fair

I’ve taken DD a couple of times to my local one since they reopened and it’s been brilliant. Really quiet, much cleaner than usual and she’s had a great time.

You’re definitely not being unreasonable to avoid anywhere you’re not comfortable going though.

For me it doesn’t feel particularly any more risky than nursery and sometimes you just need somewhere for a toddler to burn off a load of energy when it’s chucking it down all day. I probably wouldn’t have bothered when she was younger but almost 3 year olds and no naps make for some very, very long days.

Yep. Agree with others. Soft plays are disgusting. You can practically see the dirt on most round our way. This will probably be the 1st time many have been cleaned on a regular basis. Before Covid it seemed worth the risk of picking up a vom or cold bug to give you a chance to sit and finish a whole coffee. Now not so much.

They’re still closed in Scotland. Thankfully.

Dp took ds not long after they all opened. The ball pits had been emptied and they were cleaning regularly (never seen that before!) adults had to wear a mask in the soft play part but not sat at a table.
They were also open for limited numbers and they kick you out after. 2 hours at ours, which then gave them the chance to clean everything before the next lot came in.

I wouldn't dare 😯 I have a toddler too but I'd be too scared

I haven't. My 6 year old is autistic and puts everything in his mouth so we are avoiding going anywhere except school at the moment.

Soft play??!!!! I haven't taken my kids to a playground since this start!!!

I have 2 yr old twins and we're avoiding. We just do lots of walks and parks. They're fine although I miss soft play, I think they'd love it now and I like it too!

YANBU. Soft play is like a buffet of infection at the best of times.