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Parenting

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Original poster

Do you let your DC go barefoot in local parks?

54 replies

Quootiepie · 03/05/2007 13:01

I have a few really great parks near me, and the grass was freshly cut so had a great view of the ground, so I let DS (13 months) run around barefoot. It's a safe place, no a local druggie hangout or anything and I was scanning the ground everywhere he waddled... is it ok to do that? Seemed silly to have shoes on him on such a nice day...

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ThomCat · 03/05/2007 14:07

No way, not out and about. Glas, dog poo, bees, wasps, etc. Would like them to be but not worth it.

Twinmummyx2 · 03/05/2007 16:11

Awww i dunno...it's a nice idea, but my DS stood on a bumble bee and got stung..so i always worry about that...it was horrible.

climbingwalls · 03/05/2007 16:41

yes I do, as long as there's no poo or glass that I can see.

On pavements too, he has hard feet and we watch out for any nasties. One of my favourite memories of him was walking back from nursery one day when it suddenly really poured with rain, really heavy rain, we got soaked and DS loved it and took his sodden shoes and socks off and splashed in the puddles and the little riverlets running down the pavements... lots of people who passed smiled when they saw him enjoying the rain so much

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Blandmum · 03/05/2007 16:48

No, due to the risks of dog shit and glass.

Plus I trod on a wasp last summer and it hurt like hell. I was wearing flip flops and it flew in!

Hulababy · 03/05/2007 16:52

Depends on the park. It is is clean then yes.

PregnantGrrrl · 04/05/2007 08:00

yes, but he's only just walking so i'm behind him the whole time, ready to scoop him up at the first sign of danger (or poo!)

Hallgerda · 04/05/2007 08:32

If you're reasonably sure that the park is clean and free from sharp objects, I can't see a problem.

I wouldn't do it in my local park because the dog-free area is not reliably fenced, and the local dogs are shockingly illiterate

thegardener · 04/05/2007 18:26

i didn't let ds the other day because the grass was fairly long, unfortunately people smash glass bottles in parks where there are swings etc, i'd be worried if bits flew off to nearby grassy areas - i wouldn't walk bearfoot in any of our parks so no, wouldn't let ds, it's a shame, i'm a bit sceptical about the beach now aswell after other comments on here- can you still get those jelly shoes for a 14month yr old (sorry to hijack thread)

Blu · 04/05/2007 18:30

Yes
Hope DS enjoyed himself - nothing wrong with freshly cut grass and you can see what is on it.

Blu · 04/05/2007 18:31

I can't imagine children growing up without the pleasure of feeling sand under their feet at the beach.

Sand in shoes is so unpleasant.

hana · 04/05/2007 18:32

nope to barefeet in parks, glass and dog poo
but yes on beaches in the sand and barefoot in our own garden

hayes · 04/05/2007 18:35

depends what park but agree that its great if they can run around barefoot, i enjoy it too but sadly some ppl are just very disrepectful to public spaces and break glass, let their dogs poo etc

penmack · 04/05/2007 18:38

my ds's are 10 and 6 now but when they were small they loved to run about with no shoes on. i was always careful and kept my eyes open and they never had any injuries worse than a slight graze

noonar · 04/05/2007 18:48

blimey...question for the 'no' brigade- not even in the sandpit?

AngharadGoldenhand · 04/05/2007 20:46

Yes to the sandpit and yes to the beach, even though I cut my foot badly as a kid on the beach.

luceymay · 05/05/2007 09:01

Yes, Yes, Yes. I live in a (fairly) rural area and have a 'green' outside the house. Both children seem to take their shoes off at the first opportunity and I don't worry about it too much. I certainly don't worry about dog poo as if it ever happened they would just go straight under the hose / bath / sink! Where we are my main concern is nettles, bees, or stones. DD 2 happily wandered around Mothercare yesterday in socks only. If I lived in a city/town it would need more consideration depending on the area but even here I still meet mothers who balk at my two running around barefoot...

mummyhill · 05/05/2007 12:05

Yes in the garden and on the beach or in the park as long as I have had a good scout round first. We all hate wearing shoes anyway.

I love trentham gardens as they have a garden specifically for taking your shoes off and feeling textures of grass, bark, pebbles etc under your feet.

Caz10 · 05/05/2007 12:17

I'm glad I read your post luceymay as I was just about to ask (and no doubt get shot down in flames) - does dog poo not just get washed off?!
I am pg at the moment with my 1st so I might well change my mind, but I can't imagine I will. I live in the same town I grew up in and can't really remember wearing shoes very much at all at weekends and summer holidays!

fortyplus · 05/05/2007 18:07

I think you have to know your park. I wouldn't worry too much about dog poo - but glass can cause dramatic injuries. I knew of a 9 year old girl who severed tendons in her foot playing in a public paddling pool. My own ds1 had a cut about 1/4" deep on the ball of his foot paddling in the roped off children's bathing area at Studland Bay. That's a National Trust beach and is cleaned daily, so if it can happen there it can happen anywhere.
I love mine to play freely and get dirty. ds2 fell 8 feet out of a tree and once broke his foot when I was encouraging him to jump off a wall when he was 3!
But if they're running around in a park or beach I encourage them to have something on their feet.

Eulalia · 05/05/2007 21:09

Yes. dd (5) hates shoes and socks and removes them if she can get a chance. She started taking them off in parks in March - brrr! ds2 - 21 months regularly runs around barefoot, in fact he seems to run better without shoes which make him trip up. dd does cut her feet - well usually her toes actually on rough stones or can stub her toes etc but even with a bit of blood it doesn't put her off. None of them have been cut by glass though fortunately most of the parks are OK round here. Totally agree about allowing them to get dirty and have fun.

MerryMarigold · 06/05/2007 21:10

i let ds go barefoot in a friend's garden the other day (they had the most beautiful, soft lawn) and got a few 'looks'! i love being barefoot and often used to go barefoot at work too (central london ad agency!) - got a few 'looks' there too, but having feet that can breathe is just the best.

funnypeculiar · 06/05/2007 21:14

Yes ... esp in local playground (fenced, so no dog poo ) - first thing ds does when he gets there is take his shoes off!

I take my shoes off at the least opportunity, so can't expect them to keep theirs on..

Clary · 07/05/2007 00:19

Our park has a dog-free area with a paddling pool. Mine go barefoot there, yes.

DS2 cut his foot on glass there last year. But y'know what - he was fine, and it was a first and I hope last such incident in 7+ yrs.

at children not going barefoot on the beach. Still recall DS2 age 14mo trotting down a virgin acreage of wet sand to me leaving tiny little DS2-prints...

KerryMum · 07/05/2007 00:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Peridot30 · 07/05/2007 00:47

I dont let mine go bare foot at parks as there could be glass or anything lying on the ground.

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