13 month old soft play

[RichTeaCheddars]

Sorry if this is a silly question but I've never been to a soft play before!

The one we'll be going to is really quite small but has a separate section for under 3s.

As my DD is quite young still, would I go in that area with her? Or sit at the table in the cafe and watch?

She's very mobile and energetic but I'm not sure if I should be going in with her - is that allowed?

Picture shows view from older area down to baby area and the cafe tables beyond.

Thanks!

you should be absolutely fine to go in with her if you want to. Or if shes happy playing independently you can enjoy a coffee. Just remember, the law of softplay is that as soon as you get a hot coffee the child will do something to distract you until its cold 🤣

I imagine you'll need to be in with her or standing very near by watching (by the edge of the area) ready to jump in - she's too young to sit and a table and watch from a distance.

Go in with her, otherwise it will be some other parent who ends up watching her!

I think patents tend to go with their kids until their a bit more independent. 2.5 maybe? My son is 19 months and I go in with him; he loves it!

Gosh I can't imagine someone leaving a 13 month old to play in soft play and sitting at a table, your baby must be very independent and calm! You won't be able to do that though because any older children could really hurt yours by accident if they get too close so you will need to be very close to her at all times to ensure that doesn't happen really. I'd also only go on a weekday if possible, under 3 sections still get full of much older children rushing around on weekends and I've never been to a soft play where the staff have ever been interested in kicking them out of it (and Ice been to many!). Failing that, as early as you possibly can is the best time for weekends.

Thanks all!

She won't "want" my help but I'd definitely feel more comfortable going in with her! I'll see when we get there if it's possible to go in or if I need to hover really close by.

If she’s quite mobile you’ll need to go in an make sure she doesn’t try make an escape for the big section by herself.

@Idontgiveagriffindamn

If she’s quite mobile you’ll need to go in an make sure she doesn’t try make an escape for the big section by herself.

Haha, good point. Yes, I'm sure she will try and make a bid for the big section. I just wasn't sure if adults were allowed in there at all. It seems silly now I've asked it. But the place is really small so if each baby has a parent in there too it'll be cramped.

I have to be out of the house tomorrow morning anyway and it'll not be nice weather so I'll book it and see how it goes!

We’ve got some tiny bit lovely ones by us and a parent can always go in. If you want to take her in the big section I’d do it.
The rules I live by with soft play is can they cope if they were (accidentally) knocked over by a bigger child and can they manage to navigate around. At the moment my 2.5 year old goes into a small soft play by himself and I go into the large one with him.

I’m a soft play regular for the past 3 years. I’ve spent 3 years clambering up the climbing frames, down the slides and in the SMALLEST gaps, holes & spaces 😂 it’s a good work out!

I’d say around 3 is when they really go off on their own, both from a physically able to get everywhere perspective & in my case, that’s when DD wanted me to sit down!

Also, you don’t need to stick to the baby bit.. my 15 month climbs right up to the top of the big bit & down the big slides, with my help obviously! She’s fearless by little one, she loves nothing more than a steep slide 🙈😂

In my experience, when they're little they just want to get in the big bit, and when they're older they want to go back in the baby bit! Some parents let their DC loose in soft play and you get quite big children crashing around near the little ones so you might find you want to stick quite close. Your DD will love it, have a great time!

I go in and sort of hover on the edges so that I’m there if needed but not actually involved in the play unless they want me

You’d go in with her. Most soft play equipment is built big enough for adults too. I was with my eldest every play session until we went a few weeks ago, aged 3.5yrs, and suddenly he was confident and competent enough to go off by himself and I got to sit at the table for the first time ever!

We went on Saturday. It was really good. I went in with her. In the smaller bit she didn't need me there to help her play but I had to stop her climbing back out and running down the aisle of tables 😂😂. I did have to sort of guard her from the bigger ones in the small section though. But it was all fine. :-)