AIBU - covid rules at baby group?

[Heckythump1]

I took my little one to a baby group yesterday, one we've been too before, but this was a different session to last term as she's a bit older this time.

The group has some very simple covid rules -

• masks to be work in the buggy area, and until you're sat on your individual mat

• stay on individual mat unless retrieving mobile baby (there were no mobile babies in the group)

• when the group all comes together at the end masks to be worn

• only one adult per baby

Every single rule was broken yesterday.

One woman had a friend with her. My husband had a week off during the last term and would have loved to have come but the rules said he couldn't so he didn't.

There were only three of us wearing masks during the group bit even though the leader said to put masks on.

There were a few Mums who obviously knew each other wandering around take photos of their babies together on their various mats.

Nobody except me wore a mask in the pushchair area.

I'm not an anxious person and this isn't my first baby.
I also don't think it's the group leaders fault as she did ask people to follow the rules they just ignored her.
It just made me feel really uncomfortable and I don't know what to do.
I've paid a lot of money for the group so I can't just not go again and all the other sessions across the week are booked up, so I can't change session either!

Masks do make a big difference to spread. I would be extremely annoyed with people not wearing them, and wouldn't go again.

If one person in there has Covid and is breathing it out into a small room, most of you are going to get it.

No one cares any more.

They have had enough.

Rightly or wrongly that's the way people are feeling.

It’s a bit like everything though isn’t it? You’ll always get the ones who think the rules don’t apply to them.

How many times have you seen children clutching a snack in the soft play when there are dozens of signs saying no food in soft play? It’s the parents who don’t give a fuck. They’ve always been there. You just have to decide whether you can ignore and continue or leave.

And for those saying that example isn’t the same as covid because a child won’t get ill as a result. Well sometimes that rule is in place to protect children with allergies (as well as the obvious mess it creates) and parents still ignore it.

@Heckythump1

What if I decide to vote with my feet and leave? I'd also then not return next term, so that's two terms fees she'd lose! That argument works both ways.

Of course it does, and that option is available to you. If the majority of attendees feel like you do about it and do that, or suggest they’re going to, then perhaps the group leader will change her approach. At the moment she seems to be judging it as not worth her while to push it any harder than she has been.

If it’s baby sensory, good luck getting your money back. The franchisees have a long, long list of reasons why they will not refund you. Ever.

I think you need to talk to the group leader and basically ask what the fuck he or she is going to do about it.

If you all sit in the same enclosed space, breathing the same air with no masks on, what difference does the mask make when you are stood up? Has their been studies on this? The stood up vs sat down thing seems really daft to me (in restaurants etc. too)

*there

'.. he doesn't have any time off til August now.'

@Heckythump1 Well, how very inconsiderate of him

@BoomChicka

If you all sit in the same enclosed space, breathing the same air with no masks on, what difference does the mask make when you are stood up? Has their been studies on this? The stood up vs sat down thing seems really daft to me (in restaurants etc. too)

It's not a case of stood up Vs sat down I've explained earlier...

It's in two small rooms, half in one and half in the other mats over a metre apart, so fine without masks, we then all come together for the last part of the group in one room, so obviously not a metre apart, hence masks required.

You can complain to the organiser and the venue, who will have issued guidance for its use. However if you walk she won't really lose out but you and your baby will. Could the accompanying friend have been in a caring/support capacity? Even if others breach rules you can keep to your mat and distance.

It's in two small rooms, half in one and half in the other mats over a metre apart, so fine without masks, we then all come together for the last part of the group in one room, so obviously not a metre apart, hence masks required.

Oh dear, I thought I had a fairly good grasp of the rules but it looks like I’ve lost track somewhere. Is it fine to not wear a mask if 1m apart, I thought you had to wear a mask unless 2m apart?

I'd be demanding a refund and telling them that you will no longer be attending as they are not Covid safe. I suspended my gym membership due to people not following the rules and the owners not enforcing them and told the owner exactly why I was doing so (having paid all the way through lockdown 1 to support them!) and I know I wasn't the only one to do this. There is also a local licensed premises I used to frequent which isn't following the rules too ( no table service and people roaming around chatting with their mates) - I won't be going until the rules are gone/ enforced. I won't give my business to people who aren't prepared to help stop the spread of this disease in my area and suggest that as it clearly bothers you that you don't either. I'm sure other baby groups are available elsewhere.

@Wanttocry

It's in two small rooms, half in one and half in the other mats over a metre apart, so fine without masks, we then all come together for the last part of the group in one room, so obviously not a metre apart, hence masks required.

Oh dear, I thought I had a fairly good grasp of the rules but it looks like I’ve lost track somewhere. Is it fine to not wear a mask if 1m apart, I thought you had to wear a mask unless 2m apart?

It must be different rules for baby groups, i'm not sure. I just know when both groups come together there is absolutely no social distancing and we're asked to wear masks.

Social distance or masks where not possible.

I'm about to have my baby and this is something that I have been thinking about. I have lost relatives to Covid and continue to be more vulnerable. If people stick to distancing and PPE I'll be able to join in baby groups and feel like it is a tolerable risk level, but if it is like your experience I'll have to avoid which is a shame.

I'd get a refund personally.

That's awful. So many people missed out on baby groups in the first wave and these people are just acting so entitled. I suggest you speak to the organiser and say if it doesn't improve you'll have to quit and ask for a refund.

None of my baby groups have allowed this - all instructors have been quite strict (and that's across 3 classes I've done recently). I would mention it to your instructor, it's not fair for rules to apply to some and not to others. It's her responsibility to make sure people are listening!

I’ve given up feeling annoyed or angry at people now. My DC’s school enforced masks during drop off and pick up time months ago but a fair few didn’t adhere from the start and I’ve noticed even less bother now. Less and less seem to be bothering in the shops now too. I think if anyone is challenged they’d say they were exempt… Nothing really surprises me anymore and I think most people just feel completely worn down by everything and fed up with being told what to do.

If it’s a problem to you, I’d cancel and ask for a refund if you’ve paid in advance. Sounds like it’s fairly distanced if you’re on mats spaced apart though so I wouldn’t be too concerned. I went to a baby group last week for the first time since last March and everyone wore a mask except the group leaders which I found odd.

I'd be annoyed too.

With our vaccination schedule and how rates were dropping after the jan and feb lockdown, we would be pretty much out of this mess if people had followed the rules about not travelling and isolating etc. But no, people do their own 'risk assessment' which is basically assessing the risk to themselves only and fuck everyone else. Cases are rising, the surge areas aren't going to be the centres for the delta variant for much longer- its going to be everywhere. Lockdown easing has been pushed back, cases and hospital admissions are rising. Yes a mask might not actually do very much, there is a chance it might, and so people should just follow the rules. It's so good that classes are running again and it would be nice if people could try their best to make sure they didnt shut again.

I get that the class leader is worried about putting people off but I think she could have been more firm, she could be shut down by the council if she is not enforcing the rules and her insurance may be invalid as well. She should be doing more to enforce them. If people refuse she can ask them not to come back. I'd speak to her and put your concerns to her and see what she says

I honestly am not anxious about covid at all, but this group is held in two tiny rooms and we all come together in one of the tiny rooms at the end, both rooms are smaller than my living room!
And what happens if 5 people bring a friend next week because the woman yesterday was allowed to?

I'd you're honestly not anxious about covid at all then what is your problem?

I am not concerned about covid at all and I would love this baby group. Lots of people are actively avoiding places that go OTT on the covid secure show and prefer to go to places that are relaxed about the rules. Don't be that person that complains and spoils it for everyone else. Just go to a different baby group.

YABU. People are fed up of these ridiculous rules. It needs to end at some point. If you aren't anxious about Covid then why are you complaining?

@OrangeRug

YABU. People are fed up of these ridiculous rules. It needs to end at some point. If you aren't anxious about Covid then why are you complaining?

It's not ridiculous. If one of them has covid then a whole room of young babies (and their parents) will be exposed.

@whatswithtodaytoday

Masks do make a big difference to spread. I would be extremely annoyed with people not wearing them, and wouldn't go again.

If one person in there has Covid and is breathing it out into a small room, most of you are going to get it.

Masks have their place and I wear mine when required, but they don’t stop people breathing out covid. If you’re in a confined space with someone for a period of time and they have covid, there’s a good chance of you catching it whether they wear a mask or not.

The bigger issue is people not wearing them in close proximity to OP when the bugger droplet particles which masks stop could reach her.

OP if you aren’t personally anxious about it I would let it go. This is going to happen more and more.

@OrangeRug

YABU. People are fed up of these ridiculous rules. It needs to end at some point. If you aren't anxious about Covid then why are you complaining?

@OrangeRug I'm fed up of people doing what they're like because they're 'fed up' and putting people at risk!

I get the 1m apart thing, but are you not still all breathing in the same air in the enclosed space? Is covid airborne or not? It seems to depend on the situation .