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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:
Generalpost · 05/08/2021 16:55

At 10 months old you need to be there to remove your child if you feel it's getting a bit to rough where he's playing. There is a little corner in our local soft play for baby's. But you will get older children in it now and then. If I felt it was getting a bit much I just remove my child until the children have got bored or are being less rough. Whilst your child is that little its upto you to keep him safe not other children. As others have said in a couple years or so your child will be running about just like they are now.

There have been times my children have been knocked over hit by a ball etc but that's life Some times there are accidents.

Neverrains · 05/08/2021 16:57

@1forAll74

We did not have,or need soft play places years ago, everything a baby, toddler, small child needed, was in the home environment.. My two would be crawling about, or toddling about in the grass and soil in the garden, (that was quite soft) My neighbours two little ones would be welcome to come round and play.. And all before special places, with staff,and crying children, and women glued to phones incessantly.
Well… good for you I guess. I go to soft play for a change of scenery for myself, too. I also chat to friends there (I can’t have them in my house as my DH works from home). If you’re happy at home every day with your toddlers then fab, genuinely. I need to get out of the house and to see other people. Don’t tend to look at my phone though, I just chat to the people we’ve gone with.
Neverrains · 05/08/2021 17:00

Oh and my children enjoy it too.

wearenearlythere1 · 05/08/2021 17:04

@Generalpost

At 10 months old you need to be there to remove your child if you feel it's getting a bit to rough where he's playing. There is a little corner in our local soft play for baby's. But you will get older children in it now and then. If I felt it was getting a bit much I just remove my child until the children have got bored or are being less rough. Whilst your child is that little its upto you to keep him safe not other children. As others have said in a couple years or so your child will be running about just like they are now.

There have been times my children have been knocked over hit by a ball etc but that's life Some times there are accidents.

^ this

I know one soft play that is appropriately cordoned off to be at all enjoyable for the guardian of a 10 month old.

Personally I can't think of anything more stressful than bringing such a small child. It has the opening scenes of casualty written all over it....

ElizaDoolots · 05/08/2021 17:08

At 10 months old you need to be there to remove your child if you feel it's getting a bit to rough where he's playing. There is a little corner in our local soft play for baby's. But you will get older children in it now and then. If I felt it was getting a bit much I just remove my child until the children have got bored or are being less rough. Whilst your child is that little its upto you to keep him safe not other children. As others have said in a couple years or so your child will be running about just like they are now.

This. Soft plays are rough and tumble. If you’re taking a baby it’s on you to protect them. I quite enjoyed softplays with my baby during mat leave but would only go during term time when it’s quiet.

BastardMonkfish · 05/08/2021 17:09

@stayathomer

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!!

I take my child to soft play to play and learn how to socialise and learn to work things out for himself in a safe environment like how to find me if things go wrong, how to sort himself out if he falls (not like he'll be injured), and really don't appreciate other kids helicopter parents trying to helicopter my child too!

Also YABU OP, soft play is supposed to be fun for kids,why should they spend their whole afternoon being scolded because you've taken a baby into the place.

BigPyjamas · 05/08/2021 17:11

Your baby is too young.

It's the summer holiday therefore softplay = hell

Wait until your cherub is 3. You'll be there chatting away with a friend whilst the little ones play beautifully together and enjoying every moment.

Original poster
roarfeckingroarr · 05/08/2021 17:14

@wearenearlythere1 @Generalpost I was there. The child launched himself into us repeatedly. I made sure DS wasn't hurt. We moved to a corner then left when it became apparent that child was going to carry on regardless where we were.

OP posts:
Generalpost · 05/08/2021 17:38

[quote roarfeckingroarr]**@wearenearlythere1* @Generalpost* I was there. The child launched himself into us repeatedly. I made sure DS wasn't hurt. We moved to a corner then left when it became apparent that child was going to carry on regardless where we were.[/quote]
So was he doing it on purpose or just playing ? Sometimes you can talk to a member of staff who will often encourage the older children to play else where.

stayathomer · 05/08/2021 18:18

I take my child to soft play to play and learn how to socialise and learn to work things out for himself in a safe environment like how to find me if things go wrong, how to sort himself out if he falls (not like he'll be injured), and really don't appreciate other kids helicopter parents trying to helicopter my child too!
How do you know your child is playing and socializing okay if you can't see them? The amount of children that almost knock other kids down, throw balls around nearly or actually hitting other children, pull things away from kids etc is huge. Totally fair enough if your kid is old enough, but when younger someone standing nearby and saying 'maybe be careful, you nearly hurt that little boy/girl's doesn't harm anyone

wearenearlythere1 · 05/08/2021 18:26

[quote roarfeckingroarr]**@wearenearlythere1* @Generalpost* I was there. The child launched himself into us repeatedly. I made sure DS wasn't hurt. We moved to a corner then left when it became apparent that child was going to carry on regardless where we were.[/quote]
I think it really depends on the set up and how old the bashing child is. If it is a continuous playzone with a sign posted corner saying under 1, you can totally see how that is hard to police/ explain to a 3 year old? They just think in the moment and you can't expect a parent to follow them around the equipment . Soft play apparatus just isn't really designed for adults to be standing up in there and if everyone did it then it would be jam packed.

On the other hand if it is a gated off under 1 area, that is totally different. Of course the parents should explain and the barrier should offer some restriction.

Just my personal opinion, but I do think soft play is an opportunity for kids with an age range of 3-7 to run free without risk of serious injury. Any baby section that is not clearly off bounds to that age group is going to be very stressful for whoever is minding the baby.

My kids aren't in school yet and I only ever take them in term time.

contentedcake · 05/08/2021 18:41

Ahhh how I loved kiddietown under 3 section in kidabulous sunbury!

Perfect for toddlers, did get the odd older one with his siblings but parents genuinely following their little walkers and it's all peaceful.

But what was really great? Taking my 3 year old to the older section with her cousin. Letting them run wild while sitting down with a cuppa tea!

I have a baby now again but don't think I'll bother with soft play until he's old enough to run around with his sister haha

user89764 · 05/08/2021 18:45

Rookie error to go to a soft play in summer holidays with a baby and toddler.

contentedcake · 05/08/2021 18:46

But yeah I went to one soft play and it was more scatty. I had murders with many parents for not keeping an eye out. There is relaxing and then there is letting your 8 year old bash toddlers.

So I don't think you're being unreasonable to expect a baby section to be exactly that, a baby section!

EmeraldShamrock · 05/08/2021 18:53

I enjoy the free play of soft play when they're older especially on a rainy day.
Not the best environment for a baby.

Lonelylooloo · 05/08/2021 18:57

I love threads like this, almost as good as those who go to the seaside on a sunny bank holiday then piss and moan it was busy Grin

I have a 17mo and a baby, the first rule of having pre school aged kids is we have all the term time to take them to quiet activities so quit taking your inappropriately aged child to kids attractions during the holidays then whinging that it was busy with appropriately aged kids. Your 10 month old will be 3 before you know it and you’ll be rolling your eyes at the mums bringing their PFB crawlers to soft play/beach/tourist attraction and thinking they have more right to be there than your boisterous toddler Confused

GingerBreadTeddy · 05/08/2021 18:57

Depends on the soft play.

The “shiny new” one around here attracts all the phone-staring parents who are incapable of supervising their kids. It’s hot, and the coffee & snacks are nasty.

However, the slightly shabby one at the local leisure centre seems to attract a more decent sort of parent and is less busy in general & so I can cope with that one Wink

ReeseWitherfork · 05/08/2021 19:02

There can be the odd ASBO child everywhere you go, it isn't a soft play thing. Ever been to the cinema when they're throwing things, the swimming pool when they're bombing and splashing, the playground when they're sat blocking the equipment or yelling at people. One bad kid doesn't mean the entire concept of soft play is hideous.

wordsareveryunnecessary · 05/08/2021 19:20

Softplay is horrid. Last time I went my DS was a bit older and was playing in a basketball area, clearly for older kids use.
A tiny toddler kept wandering around in the way and could have been hurt by the balls. My DS kindly pointed this out and the toddler's mum went mad at me.
The owner corrected her so all was well in the end

Hallyup7 · 05/08/2021 19:20

Usually I don't mind them but a few years ago my daughter went off to play in one and came out covered in someone else's shit. That was nice...

LikeTheOceansWeRise · 05/08/2021 19:22

It's the fucking skanky pits of hell.

Yep.

Gingerodgers · 05/08/2021 19:23

Soft play is hell, when your kids outgrow it, you will enter the next hell, which is bowling alleys. Indoor places directed at children are not for the faint hearted.

Goldbar · 05/08/2021 19:24

I always liked it myself. Took DC from 8 months. It is a bit "survival of the fittest" so you do have to take a few hits from flying children to protect your baby. Not for the faint-hearted. By the time my DC was 2, they'd learnt to dodge the older children and get out from the bottom of the slide quickly so they didn't get squashed.

EvilPea · 05/08/2021 19:27

Lord of the flies.
Mine always liked me to go through with them, which meant I ended up with my own gang of children, it made me very uncomfortable!

Best time to go is 2pm on a school day. It’s dead quiet due to school pickup and it’s quite a pleasant experience

Isababybel · 05/08/2021 19:29

Dh and i took dd to a farm yesterday for her 1st birthday. We had a look at the softplay attraction that they had on site and the children were running riot and jumping off things, we quickly decided that non mobile dd was too little and immediately retreated. I think its perfect for boisterous toddlers though!