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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think you're a dick if you let your kid do this at softplay?

60 replies

FuckOffff · 12/09/2022 19:57

Run riot in the under 3s / toddler section and don't say anything.

I'm sick of taking my kids to these places and having to mind my toddler as a bunch of 9 years olds run through the young children's section without a care for the toddling kids and babies they are nearly knocking over.

I get you don't always know where your children are but there are some parents who obviously know their children are in there and who don't say anything, I've even seen some where the parents are in the toddler section with their own young child whilst their older ones hurtle about.

Fuck off and use the section for older kids! And tell your kids they aren't to enter that section at all!

I have older DC that come with us sometimes and they are always instructed at the start that they'll be in trouble if I catch them going in the babies section. Does my head in.

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 12/09/2022 21:20

FLOWER1982 · 12/09/2022 20:05

Isn’t 9 a bit old for soft play?!

No.

Prinnny · 12/09/2022 21:21

Yuk lazy entitled parents with feral kids! I’d pull the parents up on it but I doubt you’d get much sense out of those kind of people.

Noneyerbuisness11234 · 12/09/2022 21:24

My son is 3 but had additional needs he's soo tall wears 4-5/5-6 clothes and because of his size I don't let him in the baby/toddler but incase he hurts or knocks over the babies but his mentality isn't old enough for him in the older part so I don't take him to soft play anymore x

PersianStar · 12/09/2022 21:41

The last time I took my 3 (3 under 4) a couple of girls about 9ish had set up camp at the top of the toddler slide to watch something on their phones 🙄the other toddlers were avoiding the slide so I just told my 2 eldest to just step over them which then made them move to the ball pool bit to start throwing the balls the slide instead… They soon stopped when I stood in front the slide.
the parents happened to be sat at the table next to ours and were also glued to their phones with no idea where their darling children were.
my soft play is not cheap and parents also have to pay to go in…. What’s the point??

Cinnabomb · 12/09/2022 21:50

I do agree with much older kids, however I’ve had some side eye from parents of non walking babies regarding my toddler (just turned 2) as I think until you’ve had one you just have no idea. I don’t let her near any babies but she does love to run around climb and whizz about. Surely that’s what soft play is for? And if you’re sat at the top of the slide with your 8 month old taking 15 minutes to do anything, of course she’s going to throw a tantrum when I try and hold her back. I actually think soft play isn’t suitable for really small babies, sorry 🤷‍♀️

Hugasauras · 12/09/2022 22:07

Yep, DD is 3 and knows not to go in the baby bit!

Original poster
FuckOffff · 12/09/2022 22:21

Grumpybutfunny · 12/09/2022 21:08

It depends on the soft play the one we use is large so it's impossible to see what kids are doing 24/7 and at 8 years old I ain't following him around. I pay £15 for him to go play with his friends whilst we have coffee.

It's usually keeping him off the slide that's 9+ or watching the go karts don't become dodgems but they also have a massive ball pit in the under 5s section that attracts the older kids. When DS was younger I used to spend it following him in the play frame and making sure he didn't get hurt.

So just tell him beforehand that he's not to enter that section. That's what I have always done 'listen, before you run off, if I see you in the baby section you'll be in big trouble and we'll be going straight home'.

Other parents shouldn't have to be telling your child to get out of the baby section for fear of their young children getting knocked over because you want to enjoy a coffee.

OP posts:
StClare101 · 12/09/2022 22:25

So many crap parents out there unfortunately.

rainbowmilk · 12/09/2022 22:26

I’ve no idea why soft play is the place where parents feel they can get a break from parenting, given that everywhere I bloody go seems to resemble a zoo these days. Soft play is truly hell on earth though. YANBU.

VikingLady · 12/09/2022 22:28

I snitch to the staff. The two soft plays we mainly frequent both have brilliant staff who'll deal with it.

CampRedLeaf · 12/09/2022 22:34

MikeWozniaksMoustache · 12/09/2022 21:19

What a sad thought.

Show quote history

My 9YO is 5ft tall. He is too big for soft play. Not that he would go anyway. My kids haven't been since before Covid. They still play, just outside in the mud and dirt on their bikes like most kids their age.

Beezknees · 13/09/2022 06:40

MikeWozniaksMoustache · 12/09/2022 21:19

What a sad thought.

Show quote history

Nah, 9 is too old. When my DC was 9 I took them to places like theme parks, the zoo, etc. Soft play is for little children to enjoy.

Chdjdn · 13/09/2022 06:49

I agree; I tell staff or even the kids directly when they’re running round and I’m getting worried about my DC (never had a parent try and argue with me in response).

funinthesun19 · 13/09/2022 06:58

FLOWER1982 · 12/09/2022 20:05

Isn’t 9 a bit old for soft play?!

No!!

alwaysdarkestbeforedawn · 13/09/2022 06:59

Beezknees · 13/09/2022 06:40

Nah, 9 is too old. When my DC was 9 I took them to places like theme parks, the zoo, etc. Soft play is for little children to enjoy.

Show quote history

Probably depends on the soft play. There’s a brilliant one near us that’s absolutely massive and I see lots of 9ish year old kids there. Some of the smaller ones my 7 year old has outgrown already.

mummabubs · 13/09/2022 07:02

I knew what this was going to be about just from seeing the title. 100% with you OP. I've stopped taking my 1 year old to soft play as I got so fed up of this. Ours has a gated section for 0-2 years and every couple of minutes school kids just open the gate and pile in. I have a 5 year old and I've taught him which sections are "his" to go in. It's not that hard (!)

alwaysdarkestbeforedawn · 13/09/2022 07:07

Genuinely surprised at how many people experience this. Why do all the older kids want to be in the baby/toddler section? Anyone understand the appeal? I’d have thought it would be really boring, especially compared to what’s on offer for their own age group. So odd.

Totally agree that the parents should be stepping in. The pp who said she pays her £15 so that she can sit and have a coffee should use her money for a babysitter instead…

Ihatecocomelon · 13/09/2022 07:08

What annoys me is when another baby comes in and I'm playing with mine and they want to play whilst mummy or daddy are just sat in the cafe in their phone.

funinthesun19 · 13/09/2022 07:13

The softplay near me is massive and is for children up to 12 years. I was there on Sunday and there were plenty of children around 9 - even a party going on too and group looked about that age.
It depends on how big the softplay is. Wacky Warehouse at the restaurant might be a big small for them. But a big one like the one near me clearly attracts the parents with older children and younger children alike. 9 year olds aren’t too old at all.
My 9 year old loves softplay. He doesn’t go in the toddler bit and isn’t any harm to anyone. He runs around with his 7 year old brother in the big bit. If I was to tell him he’s too old he would firmly disagree with me.

Indoctro · 13/09/2022 07:16

This used to really annoy me when my kids were babies.

My boys are 6/8 and even know when we go in any soft play they are reminded they are not allowed in baby area.

Aubriella · 13/09/2022 07:24

Other parents shouldn't have to be telling your child to get out of the baby section for fear of their young children getting knocked over because you want to enjoy a coffee.

They shouldn’t have to, but do it. Tell them to get out and let your dc enjoy.

KickUpAFusss · 13/09/2022 07:38

alwaysdarkestbeforedawn · 13/09/2022 07:07

Genuinely surprised at how many people experience this. Why do all the older kids want to be in the baby/toddler section? Anyone understand the appeal? I’d have thought it would be really boring, especially compared to what’s on offer for their own age group. So odd.

Totally agree that the parents should be stepping in. The pp who said she pays her £15 so that she can sit and have a coffee should use her money for a babysitter instead…

I'm not sure maybe a mix of things.

Sometimes it's quieter than the larger section. Or maybe the fact that they know it's 'off limits'.

But yes it does seem to happen every time I go to a soft play.

IMustMakeAmends · 13/09/2022 07:54

I don't know the attraction but my older DC are the same. For some reason they want to be in the baby/toddler bit despite the massive section for older children. It's weird!

I do let them in if it's empty and I'm in there with the baby, to be fair they are usually playing with her and me and not running riot. If anyone else comes in I send them out straight away.

9 isn't too old for the big soft play near here! I'd like a go on it myself 😀

nachoavocado · 13/09/2022 07:58

Summerishere123 · 12/09/2022 20:12

You wouldn't believe the stuff that kids do in soft play. I run one and have been told to fuck off (by child), had them poo on the equipment, had staff spat at and hit.
Had to parent numerous kids that are stealing shit from the cafe and off tables. All the while the parents are sat on their phones seemingly oblivious.

Not really selling soft play to me tbh. I shall avoid.

Tirediam · 13/09/2022 08:02

Soft play. Urgh! Pits of germs and w@nker parents .. my son loves it though. (3.5)

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