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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that one hour entry slots are not parent friendly?

166 replies

TotorosFurryBehind · 24/09/2020 21:48

Feeling sad after reading our favourite place to visit as a family has just gone back to timed entry slots of one hour, due to escalating Covid risk.

I understand the rationale, but with a toddler with variable naps this turns a relaxing family walk into a logistical operation that will stress us both out.

We've hardly used our National Trust membership in the past months due to timed entry and now our other place to visit has gone the same way ☹️

OP posts:
Marzipan12 · 25/09/2020 06:22

We ate in a pandemic. These places have to plan around the restrictions placed upon them, this restricts everyone not just you. You sound very ruled by your toddler, take it from someone with more than 1 child you need to stop this. My second had to slot onto everyone else's timetables. If we had stopped for every nap or poo my eldest would never have got to school, activities,various parties etc and life would have ground to a halt on various other ways. Most of us on here know how toddlers are but we don't let that stop us doing other things just because the toddler needs to nap.

Redraptor · 25/09/2020 06:30

Yabu. I have a 5yo and 2yo and find the booking systems and timed entries so much better. I love the organisation and love how much quieter places are now

OddBoots · 25/09/2020 06:31

I see someone has said that the slot is a fixed hour for a museum and for indoor places I understand why that has to be but in the last few weeks I have been to Wrest Park (Eng Her) The Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey (Nat Trust) and Old Sarum (Eng Her) and in each case the hour slot was the arrival time, there was no rush to leave.

marmite79 · 25/09/2020 06:32

I've actually really liked all the booking systems. It means places have been overly busy or there's big queues to get in places!

I understand how hard it is with a toddler but my top tip for being organised to get out the door is to get everything ready - clothes out, bags packed the night before and getting up a little earlier 😃

GetUpAgain · 25/09/2020 06:38

I agree OP, it is one more hurdle in a bloody difficult year. Yes of course doctors etc have appointments but this is for fun. Rushing and being stressed to be on time for something fun is very draining. My DC are much older now but I remember how hard toddler parenting is. Hang on in there. Flowers

Tumbleweed101 · 25/09/2020 06:42

I haven’t got a toddler and find the time entry slots that need to be prebooked before the day annoying. Would be less annoying if the still had some same day slots.

Often just fancy a trip to our local NT gardens, esp in summer but don’t necessarily know if I’ll have time until the day - or if the weather will be bad three days ahead etc.

Figbee · 25/09/2020 06:50

How about a slot after breakfast? I used to find that the best time to do anything, it was very unusual for him to nap that soon after waking, and had just eaten so didn't need to rush back for lunch etc. The poo is a bit odd to be honest, if regularly you're having to bathe following an explosion Confused. Are the nappies the right size?

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 25/09/2020 06:58

We ate in a pandemic.

And the prize for stating the bleeding obvious goes to...

Made marginally more amusing by the typo, I'll grant, but good God, when will posters on MN stop smugly spouting that phrase as if they were the first person to notice. It's been going on since February! We know! And guess what? - still allowed to have a concern about something other than Covid!

Shoxfordian · 25/09/2020 07:06

Yabu
How do you ever go to any other appointments if you can't manage this?

nosswith · 25/09/2020 07:28

Very friendly for those who have to collect children from school and want to do something different during the day if not at work or having a day off.

Perfectly reasonable I think. It's 15 minute slots for museums.

What is annoying and not family friendly are utilities and parcel deliveries where it is '8-1' or '1-6'.

EssentialHummus · 25/09/2020 07:34

I'm another state-the-obvious-er - some people like this setup, others find it stress-inducing. (I'm in the latter camp) I tend to just avoid museums etc for the moment, sadly. The combination of "turn up at x", wearing a mask and trying to stop the toddler touching anything takes it from fun to stressful.

Sirzy · 25/09/2020 07:36

Personally I hope it lasts. Much more family friendly for us and less time wasted queuing to get into places.

RegalRags · 25/09/2020 07:40

Well go early doors or afternoon then! My DD is a similar age and that's what we do with no problem.
Or just book for when you want, you can't plan your life around toddler naps.
Also if you are requiring a clothes change frequently enough to be a concern maybe you should change your brand of nappies

From one PFB parent to another

Time2change2 · 25/09/2020 07:41

I get that it’s annoying- I love to be spontaneous depending on the weather so all the booking is very annoying.
Yes toddlers are hard to get out sometimes I get that but by the sounds of it you only have 1. I had 3 kids under 3 at one point so trust me I know about trying to get out of the house but with only 1 and an hour window it should be doable?
Book the slot before naps and then you will be well into the place with the bigger before your DC needs a nap.

I must admit I found naps quite annoying as I love to be out a lot. With child 1 it was all very precious and pandering to every need of the child. With children 2 and 3 it was your fit in with us. Nap when you can’ I honestly think there is a bit of this going on here

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 25/09/2020 07:43

Am hour is very good. The last two places we’ve been to (NT and independent) had half an hour entry slots.

Pumpkinnose · 25/09/2020 07:43

There’s a global pandemic! You’ve just got to get on with things. Can’t you predict when the toddler will nap and just work round that? Confused

Lolaloveslemons · 25/09/2020 07:46

Have you actually tried to use your NT membership and missed your slot or are you just meaning for the sake of it?

If y u have, you’ll know that the NT are brilliant.
We always book for 12-12.30 and set off to get there for 12. The last time we went We turned up 40 min late because there had been an accident on the roads and were delayed. We explained and they let us in no problem.

Bluetonic41 · 25/09/2020 07:47

You are being a little dramatic, I have a 10 min window to get a 7,5 & 3yr old at school. 5 days a week. I'm no superwoman but these things really can be done without the stress. Even if she does do a 'really smooshy shit' it doesn't take an hour to sort it out!

jacks11 · 25/09/2020 07:48

I don’t think everything in life has to be “parent friendly”, you just have to work around it. Or decide not to go. Given the current situation, I think we all need to just get on with things a bit more and stop faffing/moaning. I think not being able to turn up for a leisurely walk as you please is, in the grand scheme of things, a pretty mild inconvenience.

To the person saying lack of spontaneity is “stifling”- I prefer to be able to be spontaneous too. But, in the middle of a pandemic there are some things which have to change- perhaps it is better to book than spontaneously turning up only to be sent away as not enough room? It’s not what we would chose, of course, but right now very little is ideal and that’s how it is.

I have been quite surprised by how widespread the acopia is in this country.

Incrediblytired · 25/09/2020 07:54

I’m someone who is fairly spontaneous, fairly disorganised and prone to be late. I’ve got a toddler and so I get what you are saying but....

These places have to do this, they have to restrict visitors and manage crowds and it’s up to you if you go or not. Parks etc are still free and untimed.

I have been booking national trust and farms etc. My approach is that if I have booked 10-11 arrival or similar, I aim to arrive at 9:45. This gives plenty of time for being late and toddler drama. Or if I’ve booked a farm that’s got a visit session of 3 hours, I don’t stress if I’m late, the toddler gets grizzly after 1.5hours so it’s not the end of the world if my session is 10-1 and I get there at half past.

If it stresses you out too much, don’t do it. Just find your own groove.

glowworm93 · 25/09/2020 07:57

Wow, why are people being so harsh?!

I agree it's not the worst problem in the world ever (and the OP never said it was was!) but I do think it is a bit annoying. And this year has hardly been a great year to have a toddler, it probably feels like the last straw.

BishopBrennansArse · 25/09/2020 07:59

It's really challenging with 3 teenagers with special needs. But it's that or not go so I suck it up.

RubertRoo · 25/09/2020 08:02

I am happy with NT having time slots the only thing that annoys me with it is you can't prebook for the next day the night before. We only live 5 mins from our closest one and I never think to book until the night before and by then its too late

jomaIone · 25/09/2020 08:03

Few questions...

  1. Why is your child doing such messy shits that she needs a BATH? Regularly enough for it to be a problem??
  2. Surely.you should have some type of nap schedule by now??
  3. Why don't you book a time that works like early morning, or before tea time so you know they won't be asleep?

Being a parent needs organisation. Sort it out.

AuntieMarys · 25/09/2020 08:03

Its better than the alternative