Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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:

CeibaTree · 25/09/2020 11:25

I kind of think timed slots are more parent friendly than turning up and not being allowed in as a place is too full!
OP do you have much support - you sound quite overwhelmed.

RomanyBlood · 25/09/2020 11:37

IME the NT were very reasonable about flexing the timed entry. I showed up about an hour early and they were happy for me to park and walk in the wider grounds before going into the formal gardens.

I know it is frustrating but the whole world can’t really revolve around toddlers and their ways. Except the ones actually in Gvt, obv.

ClarencesMum · 25/09/2020 11:39

Just use your imagination and go somewhere else for a walk.

mediumperiperi · 25/09/2020 12:05

If you find an hour slot hard - could you enlist the help of another adult?

I'd look into trying different nappies and keeping a food diary. Poos that are so messy that a nappy can't contain them only happened when my kids were really young, start of weaning, when teething, ill or had a good intolerance.

Remember that it's a successful outing even if your toddler sleeps in the buggy the whole time. Sleeping outdoors is probably great for health (fresh air) and you get the benefit of the outdoors too.

Do you never meet friends? Take her to nursery or a playgroup?

p0ptart · 25/09/2020 12:24

I've not read the full thread but FFS posters are so horrible! OP I completely sympathise - I have a toddler and a baby and find getting somewhere for a certain time stressful too. You can't predict what kind of mood they're going to be in, nor the timing of their bowel movements.

I think the issue is children really vary in how easygoing they are. I laughed bitterly at some posters' suggestion that you just pop the toddler in a buggy if they fall asleep on the way, easy. Mine would NEVER do that!

No real advice, just lots of sympathy and agreement. And try bribes - Maltesers seem effective.

Tunnocks34 · 25/09/2020 12:30

I never Understand this. I have three sons, all 6 and under and I am never late. Even if my baby was to take a shit before I left, it’s what, 5/10 minutes topic

metellaestinatrio · 25/09/2020 13:38

@ChanklyBore your post really made me smile. Your children sound brilliant (especially the one who had to be removed from their own birthday party after a squash incident!).

Agree with others OP that an hour slot gives you plenty of time to play with. Plenty of toddlers’ naps just have to fit in around older siblings / fixed classes like swimming lessons etc. etc.

allofthetings · 25/09/2020 21:54

I sympathise my Dn has SEN and it's really hard to get out of the door - we can manage school just about as it's only a 15 min walk or 2 min drive. By the weekend we've lost our strength to fight!

Porcupineinwaiting · 25/09/2020 22:10

Even before COVID there were a lot of things, including little kid things, that had times associated with them - playgroups, music groups, swimming sessions, meeting friends for coffee.

I do think you are being a little U, sorry.

Lolaloveslemons · 25/09/2020 22:17

Yes and the OP also states that she been hit very hard by the pandemic. You have no idea what the OP has gone through. (FWIW she might have had some v close relative dying from Covid or she ended up been the only carer etc...)
She also clearly says this is was TIPPED her over. The impossibility to do an activity she was looking forward to wo the (usual??) stress. If she is one of those people who have been badly impacted by Covid, more stress will be the last thing she will want.

If the OP’s life has been badly impacted by Covid surely she understands better than most how important it is for places to limit the number of visitors they allow in at one time?

saraclara · 25/09/2020 22:33

I won't even tell this place what tipped me over the edge recently. It wasn't losing my friend to Covid. It wasn't losing my late husband's auntie to Covid. It wasn't even not being able to see my beloved MIL in her care home for six months.

It was something incredibly mind-bogglingly trivial. So trivial I daren't even share it.
So much as I think OP has a case of PFB, I can totally understand how something she really looked forward to becoming more complex, was the little tiny straw that somehow broke the camel's back.

Time to give her a break. Laugh along with her about the PFB thing if you must. But many of these posts are actively nasty.

1Morewineplease · 25/09/2020 23:07

NT properties must have staggered entries.
I appreciate that their entry times don't suit your child's nap times so you must find a slot that suits. It's not difficult.

Once you're in a NT place you can stay as long as you like.

My own precious first born works in a large museum. She has regaled me with many tales of mums who have pitched up, without booking , who are demanding to be let in due to their child's/children's mental health and has also had to deal with mums ( alas it's always mums) who have booked a slot on a day and time to suit them but turn up on completely different days/times and demand to be let in just because.

Are you THAT mum?

fishonabicycle · 25/09/2020 23:30

No - I completely get it. We have a national trust membership which I'm probably going to cancel as we just used to drop in to various places as hoc. Only just realised the booking system when we turned up to a place on our way home from dropping our son at Nottingham university and couldn't get in due to needing a booked slot.

IrmaFayLear · 26/09/2020 09:41

Went to a NT property yesterday. It was still quite crowded even with booking.

At the entrance was a large sign asking people to be kind and not to abuse staff. Heavens above! Has it really come to this?! I can imagine that the “abusers” were those who were turned away due to not booking.

Monday55 · 27/09/2020 11:33

Considering you know your child better than anyone, you have the advantage of being able to plan in advance in accordance with how your child behaves. Otherwise staying at home and going to a local park is still an option.

Meuniere · 27/09/2020 12:36

@Lolaloveslemons

Yes and the OP also states that she been hit very hard by the pandemic. You have no idea what the OP has gone through. (FWIW she might have had some v close relative dying from Covid or she ended up been the only carer etc...) She also clearly says this is was TIPPED her over. The impossibility to do an activity she was looking forward to wo the (usual??) stress. If she is one of those people who have been badly impacted by Covid, more stress will be the last thing she will want.

If the OP’s life has been badly impacted by Covid surely she understands better than most how important it is for places to limit the number of visitors they allow in at one time?

Or instead, this is the thing that has broken the camel’s back. The last thing that suddenly makes it all unbearable or the last thing she has to adapt to and she just can’t do it/face it.

There is a total lack of compassion on this thread. And too much of the ‘well we all have to cope with that. And I, myself has found it hard. So get on with it’ with no idea if what they have gone through bears any ressemblance tto what the OP. Has gone through

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7