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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think soft play is utterly hideous?

185 replies

roarfeckingroarr · 05/08/2021 15:07

I've just taken DS (10 months old, he's standing, cruising and crawling) to a small local soft play with my friend and her baby. It's a very expensive smart newish one with a small amount of basic stuff and a cafe - not a jungle gym with slides etc suitable for bigger children

Dear Lord it was hideous. Parents on their phones not supervising or even vaguely keeping an eye on their children, our toddlers nearly getting trampled despite keeping them to a small corner away from the more grown up bits. Boiling hot and sticky. And the screeching.

Never again. Never.

OP posts:
Coffeeonmytoffee · 05/08/2021 15:23

Yes it's awful but it's also fantastic for children. Mine all adored it and when it was winter and they just wanted to crawl everywhere it was a life saver.
But yes mostly horrific! Find one with good coffee.
Later - you sit at a table and read as they charge around together only returning for food and it's bliss.
ONLY GO IN THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS ONCE YOUR KIDS START SCHOOL.

Original poster
roarfeckingroarr · 05/08/2021 15:24

@Curiosity101 good advice thank you

OP posts:
Scottishskifun · 05/08/2021 15:24

When mine was smaller I would only take him to ones with a designated under 2s section.
He's over 2 now but we still stick to ones which are for under 5s or go very early when it's quiet

TheGoogleMum · 05/08/2021 15:24

I figured it was pointless to go before DD was walking. Then they were closed because pandemic. And now she's a good age for toddler ones! Wait till your child is bigger maybe

MoonlightWanderer · 05/08/2021 15:24

I agree that 10 months is too young. I remember I took mine to a soft play at that age and he was in the baby area on a mat playing with a toy and an older kid (about 5) just jumped over the barrier full speed and missed landing on him by an inch. I yelled at him. His mum rolled her eyes and told him to stay out of the baby area. He just shrugged and ran off. I would wait until they are about 3 and able to withstand a bit of rough and tumble.

Soubriquet · 05/08/2021 15:25

@roarfeckingroarr

AIBU to think the parents should've intervened when their little thugs smashed into mine (well, into me because I kept between them) for the third time and made him cry?
I actually told a group of kids to leave the area and go back to their own after they knocked down toddler dd for 3rd time

She was in the under 5 section and kids 10+ Plus we’re running through because it was easier to bounce off the walls.

Most slunk away without a murmur but one or two tried to come back, saw me and went away again

Dh was a bit embarrassed because “it’s soft play! They should be able to run around”

I had no problem with toddlers and anyone else under 5 running around in this area but older than that? No! They have their own giant section that I was keeping my dd away from.

NautaOcts · 05/08/2021 15:25

Madness to take a baby to soft play in the school holidays, possibly on a rainy day (it is here)
Lovely when it’s deadly quiet in the school day or when they’re old enough to hold their own and crack on without much assistance or needing protection from the inevitable “boisterous” kids

Sally872 · 05/08/2021 15:26

When your dc is walking go to a big soft play during school hours. Completely different experience.

Our local costs £13.50 per child for an hour at the weekend, it is noisy, hectic and wild but my children do enjoy it. I only take them as they are old enough to go and play while I sit and read with a coffee and come back to me if any issues. There have been bumps due to charging around but never anyone being mean to them.

When they were little during school day it was quiet and calm, £5 and this included a coffee, squash and a biscuit. It was lovely safe space to spend time together and meet friends with their children.

MoonlightWanderer · 05/08/2021 15:27

Also, my daughter when she was 3 got punched in the face by a kid at soft play. I ran over but the mum grabbed him and left before I could say anything. I agree that mid-week, term-time is better.

WombatStewForTea · 05/08/2021 15:29

It all depends on the one you go to but it sounds like a few by us that aren't really soft play but toys and role play areas so not much different than being at home just with different toys.

There is an amazing soft play round here that has a baby zone for under 1s, a cruising zone for pre walkers, a toddler frame for under 4s and then the main frame. Oh and they do under 2s sessions where the whole main frame can be explored without worrying about bigger kids. It's brill and I wouldn't go anywhere else

MsTSwift · 05/08/2021 15:31

When your kids are proper toddlers dashing about and it’s crap weather so you can’t go to a park it serves a purpose as a place to meet your friends without pissing off the general public or trashing anyone’s house .

DishingOutDone · 05/08/2021 15:32

I think my daughter might have been 5 or 6 when she was punched repeatedly by a hefty toddler, mother did nothing of course, her boy had to be the victim by having his ickle handy pandy touched by my daughter's face and stomach, that sort. It was the last time we ever went. Soft play is Dante's 7th circle.

MsTSwift · 05/08/2021 15:33

Also the ages of the devilish older kids are always madly exaggerated in these threads - 10 plus wouldn’t be caught dead in a soft play centre! they were probably 6 or something

Summerbubbles · 05/08/2021 15:35

Worse than the parents that sit at the table enjoying a coffee are the parents that insist on following their PFB all the way around the play frame getting in the way and stopping the other children actually running around and enjoying themselves.

Soubriquet · 05/08/2021 15:35

@MsTSwift

Also the ages of the devilish older kids are always madly exaggerated in these threads - 10 plus wouldn’t be caught dead in a soft play centre! they were probably 6 or something
It was a 10th birthday party..so I can confidently say 10+
Mistressofnone · 05/08/2021 15:38

I'm appreciating them more now my DS is 3. They make him so happy! Agree with PPs that it's far better to go in term time.

Also those parents that don't keep an eye on their kids are infuriating. You end up with their children latching onto you because they just want some attention. But they become pests because you want to play with your own child; not provide free childcare.

Thisnamewasnttaken123 · 05/08/2021 15:39

It totally depends on which ones you go to they will all be different.
I have a certain few I use because of their cleanliness and layout.
Most of them have a smaller toddler area, some have those lovely sensory rooms which are great.
But yes summer holidays probably not the best time to go especially if there doesn't sound like there is a proper toddler bit.
Softplay is great for kids I find it weird that some people would be too sneery to take their kids along.

Neverrains · 05/08/2021 15:40

@Summerbubbles

Worse than the parents that sit at the table enjoying a coffee are the parents that insist on following their PFB all the way around the play frame getting in the way and stopping the other children actually running around and enjoying themselves.
I don’t get the issue with parents having a coffee while their older kids play. What else are they supposed to do? They can’t follow them around! My 7 and 6 year olds go off and play while I relax with a coffee…. I barely see them. They know they’re not allowed in the areas designated for younger children, and as I’ve never had any issues with their behaviour around their peers in any other settings, I have no reason to believe they’re terrorising other children at soft play. I supervise my 2.5 year old much more closely.
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 05/08/2021 15:42

Soft play is best when they no longer need you.

PizzaPiePizzaPie · 05/08/2021 15:43

They’re awful BUT between the ages of say 6-8 they were great. DD would disappear with a friend and only return for occasional drink/snack. She would run herself ragged.
The best days were school training days in the winter where a few of us would meet up there and they would be lax about how long we were in there as long as mums were buying coffee.

stayathomer · 05/08/2021 15:44

YABU the joy they get out of it is huge! The two in our area still haven't opened making it a year and a half since my children have been there and it's all they want! Have a game of chasing and let go, OP, nothing better. In years to come you'll miss it!!!

inmyslippers · 05/08/2021 15:47

Mines 4 and he loves it. I get an hour to chill and read in peace. Hard work when he was younger though.

NigellaSeed · 05/08/2021 15:50

I can't wait to take my DS - he's nearly 14months but he's only tottering about so not really ready just yet. Someone said £13.50?! I thought it would be £2!

stayathomer · 05/08/2021 15:50

Worse than the parents that sit at the table enjoying a coffee are the parents that insist on following their PFB all the way around the play frame getting in the way and stopping the other children actually running around and enjoying themselves.
I've followed all my children around and prevented collisions and scuffles, helped children who'd fallen or who were afraid. The term 'pfb' is such a copout!!

Summerbubbles · 05/08/2021 15:51

"I don’t get the issue with parents having a coffee while their older kids play. What else are they supposed to do? They can’t follow them around! My 7 and 6 year olds go off and play while I relax with a coffee…."

Yes that's my point, you always get people moaning about the parents that sit having a coffee or being on their phone etc, but that's the whole point of soft play, that kids should be off playing!