To think soft play is utterly hideous?

[roarfeckingroarr]

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.

I get annoyed when parents don't intervene to stop their children entering and being boisterous in the toddler area. Most children are letting off steam in the right areas and are supervised, but there's frequently the odd couple of mid primary aged children who think it's OK to go in the under 3 area and charge around.

However a 10 month old that's crawling and cruising was probably always going to be too small for anything other than a baby specific baby group soft play and you seem a little precious in places.

I didn't notice any parents on their phones either.

I hate it with all of my heart, however I have a very active nearly 3 year old, in the depths of winter there are only so many times I am willing to get soaking wet and freezing cold to exercise him (we live by the sea and the winds are horrendous in winter). I am willing to take DS and clamber around after him on occasion just to let him blow off some steam. My favourite soft play sessions are the ones when DH takes him on a wet windy Saturday morning and I stay at home and have a long bath.

Haaaaaate soft play. Considered it disease ridden since an early experience of a group of us catching norovirus in one. Seems a sure fire way to catch covid for now!

@NeverMetANiceOne

I find softplay appeals to a certain kind of parent, and is therefore best avoided at all costs.

Yes.

I hated it when mine were younger, avoided it unless they were attending birthday parties

[quote Neverrains]@BananaMilkshakeWithCream she means those filthy working classes, I think.[/quote]
That’s definitely how I took it, how rude!

Hahaha ah the good old days of precious first born syndrome. Re read this in 3 years OP when yours is the thug and you’re the one on your phone ignoring them 😂😂

For me they are survivable once in a while on a rainy day with children who need to burn off energy. I didn't enjoy it when mine were toddlers as they didn't seem to get much out of it, required constant supervision and I couldn't just sit with a coffee reading a magazine or scrolling through my phone.

I quickly learned to swerve soft play at weekends and school holidays. It is much calmer for toddlers/ pre-schoolers in term time.