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AIBU?

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Original poster

Flamingo Land suitable for a baby?!

184 replies

sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 18:32

Please help me settle this disagreement with my OH. We have 3 older kids between us (his two aged 14 & 11, mine aged 15), and a baby together. He wants all 5 of us to go on a family day out to Flamingo Land. I've never been. He's insisting it's suitable for all the kids including the 4 month old baby? To me it looks just like a theme park - I can't think of anything I'd rather do less with a baby tbh. He thinks we'll all have a lovely family day out. I don't - I think he should just take his eldest two (and my eldest if she wants to go) and I'll stay home with baby. He thinks I'm being miserable and unreasonable. Help?!

OP posts:
UrAWizHarry · 04/08/2021 20:03

"I'm tempted to screenshot your reply and show DH to put him off 😂""

I went with DH and DC aged 6 and 3 last year in the brief time it was open. They were okish WRT covid safety but they were massively understaffed and it was clear they were out of money. It was only reasonably good fun because the number of people there was way down on what you would normally expect. By all accounts this year the staffing issues remain, they are back to full capacity and can't cope with it.

Blueskytoday06 · 04/08/2021 20:03

Pray for rain, Smile

Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 20:06

@UrAWizHarry

"I'm tempted to screenshot your reply and show DH to put him off 😂""

I went with DH and DC aged 6 and 3 last year in the brief time it was open. They were okish WRT covid safety but they were massively understaffed and it was clear they were out of money. It was only reasonably good fun because the number of people there was way down on what you would normally expect. By all accounts this year the staffing issues remain, they are back to full capacity and can't cope with it.

Interesting. I actually think this might put him off! Grin

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 04/08/2021 20:08

It would bother me more that Flamingo Land isnt really thrill seeking enough for the teenagers. It has a couple of "big" rides (a rollercoaster you hang from, a shorter rollercoaster, and a tower thing that drops you). All the other rides are incredibly tame boring for a teenager.

Where are you located? Alton Towers would be more interesting for rides.

bubblebath62636 · 04/08/2021 20:09

OP you're complaining that DP will get to be fun dad going on all the rides etc but you won't go on them anyway (fair enough).

You sound a lot like hardwork to be honest...

UrAWizHarry · 04/08/2021 20:12

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

It would bother me more that Flamingo Land isnt really thrill seeking enough for the teenagers. It has a couple of "big" rides (a rollercoaster you hang from, a shorter rollercoaster, and a tower thing that drops you). All the other rides are incredibly tame boring for a teenager.

Where are you located? Alton Towers would be more interesting for rides.

I was pleasantly surprised as a bit of a RC nut that the 3 big coasters - Mumbo Jumbo/Velocity/the other one are actually pretty decent rides. There is one more dreadful rollercoaster and a few decent flat rides as well.

It's certainly better than Drayton manor for teens/adults in that respect. Not a patch on AT/TP of course.

Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 20:13

@bubblebath62636

OP you're complaining that DP will get to be fun dad going on all the rides etc but you won't go on them anyway (fair enough).

You sound a lot like hardwork to be honest...

Ah the "you sound like hard work" line. Classic. Grin

OP posts:
Clangerschick1 · 04/08/2021 20:13

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

ToykotoLosAngeles · 04/08/2021 20:13

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

It would bother me more that Flamingo Land isnt really thrill seeking enough for the teenagers. It has a couple of "big" rides (a rollercoaster you hang from, a shorter rollercoaster, and a tower thing that drops you). All the other rides are incredibly tame boring for a teenager.

Where are you located? Alton Towers would be more interesting for rides.

I love Alton Towers - my fave theme park, but there is really, really nothing for babies that aren't CBeebies age. I went when I was pregnant which is the equivalent to not liking rides and there's no zoo, shows, nothing.
Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 20:14

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

It would bother me more that Flamingo Land isnt really thrill seeking enough for the teenagers. It has a couple of "big" rides (a rollercoaster you hang from, a shorter rollercoaster, and a tower thing that drops you). All the other rides are incredibly tame boring for a teenager.

Where are you located? Alton Towers would be more interesting for rides.

Ah really. I would have thought DH would have known this to be fair as he's more clued up on theme parks than I am. Alton Towers is quite a trek for us and would involve overnight stay.

OP posts:
PTW1234 · 04/08/2021 20:15

The zoo is really good, but in all honesty where can you take a small baby to “entertain” them.

I would go, for the benefit of your older DCs, why should their fun be stopped because a new baby has been introduced to the family

MrsTerryPratchett · 04/08/2021 20:16

@bubblebath62636

OP you're complaining that DP will get to be fun dad going on all the rides etc but you won't go on them anyway (fair enough).

You sound a lot like hardwork to be honest...

Wouldn't it be better to stay at home? Because she doesn't enjoy the rides, she will be default baby-parent. Might as well not be there.
MrsTerryPratchett · 04/08/2021 20:17

@PTW1234

The zoo is really good, but in all honesty where can you take a small baby to “entertain” them.

I would go, for the benefit of your older DCs, why should their fun be stopped because a new baby has been introduced to the family

Their fun won't be stopped. They can go with dad.
Mockolate · 04/08/2021 20:18

Yes, it's suitable for babies.
Obviously they're too little to go on the rides and you or your partner would have to take it in turns to not go on a ride in order to stay with her or whatever, but you can still go and have a nice day out!
They've got a great zoo, where you can see the tigers, hippos, giraffes etc.
Also Peter Rabbit Land which is basically a playground for smaller kids, think there's a little petting type farm too.
Go, you'll have a great day out
Oh and YABU Smile

DelphiniumTea · 04/08/2021 20:29

A voice in the wilderness OP. I don't think you're being at all unreasonable. I don't like rides either and wouldn't be paying 40 quid to look after my baby all day. I'd rather have a nice quiet day at home and let the others go and enjoy themselves. Too often I've been pressured to do things I really didn't want to. I've now learned to be firm.

Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 20:29

The zoo is really good, but in all honesty where can you take a small baby to “entertain” them.

Sensory rooms, sing a long classes, swimming... to name just a couple off the top of my head that my baby loves.

OP posts:
Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 20:30

@PTW1234

The zoo is really good, but in all honesty where can you take a small baby to “entertain” them.

I would go, for the benefit of your older DCs, why should their fun be stopped because a new baby has been introduced to the family

Their fun wouldn't be "stopped" - I was suggesting to DH that I stay home with the little one while the four of them go. He wasn't happy with that.

OP posts:
Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 20:31

@Mockolate

Yes, it's suitable for babies. Obviously they're too little to go on the rides and you or your partner would have to take it in turns to not go on a ride in order to stay with her or whatever, but you can still go and have a nice day out! They've got a great zoo, where you can see the tigers, hippos, giraffes etc. Also Peter Rabbit Land which is basically a playground for smaller kids, think there's a little petting type farm too. Go, you'll have a great day out Oh and YABU Smile

Oh Peter Rabbit land might have just sold it for me .... I'll pay £40 for that 😂

OP posts:
30degreesandmeltinghere · 04/08/2021 20:32

Are you planning on your dc to stay home until it is 3 years old?
It is a family place. Your baby is faaaamily..
Pack up that car!!

PumpkinKlNG · 04/08/2021 20:34

Whhaaaatt this is so weird!! I went to chessington with my ex and our kids age 5 4 and 1 at the time and me and the 1 year old just waited around whilst they went on rides, one year old was a sleep in the pram the whole time, might sound bad that I waited with the pram the whole time but I can’t think of anything worse than going on rides 🤣 so I was happy! Surely you still go to places with a baby or you only go to places suitable for babies?

PumpkinKlNG · 04/08/2021 20:36

I even took my newborn to the zoo for our older ones birthday once and he just slept in the pram the whole time, babies don’t need entertaining constantly, this is one of the weirdest threads I’ve read on here, so everyone stay home and not do anything till the baby is old enough to join in 🤔

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 04/08/2021 20:39

4mo need nowt to entertain them. Cuddles, a chit chat, and some bright colours to look at from the pushchair. That could be anywhere.

BakewellGin1 · 04/08/2021 20:42

We have been to Flamingo Land twice since I had youngest... Both times for a long weekend as older DS plays in football tournament there.

First time baby was 3/4 months...

Everything we did was centered around oldest as baby did not give a single shit where he was as long as he could look about.

However there is a petting farm, zoo etc that is included in price so on occasion I would get a Costa wander the zoo and come back... Or there is a little cafe near Peter Rabbit area that does nice snacks/cake etc or the pub at top of park where if quiet I sat with a glass of wine whilst baby slept Grin

Honestly I would just go armed with milk supply and enjoy the time baby is in a pram so doesn't need entertaining...

A 2 year old and pre teen I found much harder work although a lot of fun... To be fair we are back there in three weeks so I don't mind it that much

lazyarse123 · 04/08/2021 20:44

Op has said multiple times she would be happy to stay at home with the baby while dh takes the older kids.
So can we stop with the "babies don't need entertaining" posts.

Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 20:46

@PumpkinKlNG

Whhaaaatt this is so weird!! I went to chessington with my ex and our kids age 5 4 and 1 at the time and me and the 1 year old just waited around whilst they went on rides, one year old was a sleep in the pram the whole time, might sound bad that I waited with the pram the whole time but I can’t think of anything worse than going on rides 🤣 so I was happy! Surely you still go to places with a baby or you only go to places suitable for babies?

I think there's a difference between a 4 month old and 1 year old?

OP posts: