soft play - worth it if ds isn't crawling yet?

[Tutter]

desperately need to find things to keep ds (10mo) - and me! - occupied. there are a couple of soft play areas nearly, but i have no idea whether they're going to be worthwhile if ds is still stationary! maybe he will still enjoy watching the other kids? what do you think?

ps if you think soft plays will be no good, pleeeaaase let me know any other ideas to fill spare hours with non-crawling babies!!!

Probably still abit too young yet. What about feeding the ducks at the park and swimming (obviously not at the same time!)

Local mums and tots group, great socially for you and your DS.

i wouldn't do soft play with such a small baby.you will just be paranoid about all the massive toddlers running about and tripping over your little one. what about finding out about baby sessions at the local library.here , they do little story and song times for little ones.

nct coffees?

Personally I think soft-play is the work of the devil even for older children and avoid it like the plague, but maybe that's just me!

There is usually an area intended for babies only, but generally the older kids use it too, so it may not be the safest place for him to be. It's usually a very tiny area, often just with a small ball-pit, so it may not keep his interest for long either, although it would depend on what facilities your particular soft-play area has.

I found with dd that these places were a complete waste of time until she was mobile, and it's only recently that she's started to get any great enjoyment out of them - she's nearly 5.

yes -baby swimming is a great idea.my ds's loved that from a very early age.

hmmm, thanks. well, maybe i'll leave them 'til he's older. normally see my nct ladies a couple of times a week but all the other babies have the lurgi this week, hence BOREDOM. might take him swimming this afternoon - have already been in the shower and dried my hair - such a waste if we go swimming now . think i can hear him waking up, so will cart him out for a breath of fresh air - part of the problem though is that he gets bored in his pram after a while. will find out about library sessions - good idea, thanks.

wwb, agree with you that it is a scourge from hell but believe me you'd miss it if you didn't have any ! Personally I think going before they can walk and climb confidently is a waste of time unless there is a specifically demarked area designed for little ones, both crawling and toddling. Also go in the morning before school is out to avoid the worst of rough behaviour(which is not necessarily malicious) and noise.

No, no, no - I wouldn't miss it at all, and neither would dd!! It's not somewhere I have ever routinely taken dd; we get our kicks in other ways! She usually only goes for birthday parties, although we have taken her once or twice otherwise - it's not somewhere I'd take her on a regular basis, I'd rather stick needles in my eyes.

i guess im in the minority. i think they are great. kids get to let of steam and youre house stays cleanish.
even at ten months its fine for them. sitting in the ball pool. reaching for stuff. i think its fine. much safer than swimming anyways. if yu go during a morning when a lot of the kids are in school, nursery etc its fien.

I'm another in the minority with Stitch. DS (16 months) has loved them since he was little. I take him even if they are manky etc. I get out of the house he gets rid of energy etc. He is much happier out of the house so I really like softplay areas.

Chose one with a baby area
Always go mid-morning in term-time so there are generally no kids much older than 4-5 around
Pick a largish one with room

However I know I'm in a minority.