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Original poster

Would you take your child to soft play? Strep A.

36 replies

christmastime11 · 12/12/2022 19:11

Hi! My 14 month old is getting so irritated by being in all day. We usually spend a majority of the day outside (at the park, walks, meeting friends etc) but with the current weather it's not ideal. We've been for winter walks and he slips over because of the frost, refuses to wear mittens and therefore his hands are like ice, and it's all round a nightmare. We've exhausted most inside activities (water play, drawing, reading, sensory activities) I need him to burn some energy!
With the current strep a im a little bit worried about taking him to a soft play but I'm in town tomorrow so thought I could pop in so he can run around and have a change of scenery. I've seen posts saying to avoid soft plays etc.
Would you take your toddler to one??

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Tiredallofthetime · 12/12/2022 19:12

Yes. I think that the more he’s exposed to, the better, to be honest.

Bridgeth29 · 12/12/2022 19:12

Yes.

upfucked · 12/12/2022 19:13

Yes

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Eileen101 · 12/12/2022 19:14

Yes, I would. And did, yesterday, with another booking for next week.

Strep A is generally a mild illness. If your child is generally well, there's no need to avoid indoor places.

badassbaby · 12/12/2022 19:15

christmastime11 · 12/12/2022 19:11

Hi! My 14 month old is getting so irritated by being in all day. We usually spend a majority of the day outside (at the park, walks, meeting friends etc) but with the current weather it's not ideal. We've been for winter walks and he slips over because of the frost, refuses to wear mittens and therefore his hands are like ice, and it's all round a nightmare. We've exhausted most inside activities (water play, drawing, reading, sensory activities) I need him to burn some energy!
With the current strep a im a little bit worried about taking him to a soft play but I'm in town tomorrow so thought I could pop in so he can run around and have a change of scenery. I've seen posts saying to avoid soft plays etc.
Would you take your toddler to one??

Of course!

MonkeyPuddle · 12/12/2022 19:16

Yep. Absolutely. Took my 2 year old to the church hall Christmas soft play party, chaos, snot, toys everywhere.

pompomsandtinsel · 12/12/2022 19:30

Yes

Parkopedia · 13/12/2022 22:28

Honestly I'm going to go against the grain here. I've taken DD to soft play a lot and she always gets something after and the soft play bugs always seem to be the worst. With Christmas coming up I wouldn't, just to try and avoid the agro, but also the strep A thing being a supporting factor.

(I'm not a germaphobe in the slightest, just my experience from soft play)

Icecreamandapplepie · 13/12/2022 22:40

No

MarigoldPetals · 13/12/2022 22:41

Yes. To strengthen their immune system.

EspressoPatronum · 13/12/2022 22:46

Yeah, it wouldn’t occur to me not to tbh.

Figgypuddingpiggyfudding · 13/12/2022 22:47

I'd normally say yes but honestly, I'm avoiding stuff at the moment. Not because of strep a but because my little one has a birthday and Christmas close together and last year we were all ill and it was awful, everything cancelled.
Since September I've had 3 colds and a vomiting bug and I'm knackered - I look grey and hollow. I want us all to be well for the next 2 weeks and if that means avoiding toddler groups and soft play, so be it.

I've still been going on walks etc with mine but only for an hour or so as its slow going with a toddler and we both get cold and tired! I'm finding hide and seek a great way to burn energy indoors as he screams around the place looking for me - appreciate yours is a bit younger though and might not get it yet! NT places also great as we can while away a morning outdoors and have a snack in a cafe.

Fleabigg · 13/12/2022 22:50

Yes. And I can’t say I ever noticed any correlation between going to soft play and DD being ill.

rainingcats · 13/12/2022 22:57

Possibly. Especially on a weekday when its more likely to be quiet.

shivawn · 14/12/2022 12:17

Yes. We had two different Christmas parties at soft play in the last week and we went to both of them. It was in the back of my mind that there's a lot of respiratory illness going around at the moment but I'm glad we went.

Pantheon · 14/12/2022 13:42

No, but only because we have had weeks of illness in this house and I am crossing fingers we don't get anything else before Christmas. The kids always tend to pick up something from our local softplays.

Eatentoomanyroses · 14/12/2022 13:45

I normally take mine twice a week to soft play and play group twice per week but I have avoided it these last two weeks because of the strep A situation. I took her to playgroup this morning and immediately a child sneezes right in her face and I was cringing. It’s very difficult to know what to do for the best.

Dahlia5 · 14/12/2022 14:04

When I started reading your post I thought you'd be asking about going to soft play with your DC with strep A😆
If he's well I'd say yes. A good idea is to go first thing in the morning when everything is still clean (hopefully they wipe all the areas etc once the venue is closed ).

Tutorwife · 14/12/2022 14:18

You could try going right when they open? It could be quieter and there should be fewer bugs about - either surface or airborne.

Alternatively my little one is in love with random shops at the moment - we go somewhere different each day, bonus if it's got a cafe, and then do a bit of playing shops at home. Either toddling or backpack carrier (decided he hates the pushchair 😭) Dunelm's been the favourite so far but Wickes was close! I think he just likes all the lights and colours and same Christmas songs on repeat

Northernsoullover · 14/12/2022 14:21

No I wouldn't. My friend had to assess the safety of play centres and ended up with norovirus. I'm no germophobe but always reduce my activities so close to Christmas.

EarthlyNightshade · 14/12/2022 14:24

Dahlia5 · 14/12/2022 14:04

When I started reading your post I thought you'd be asking about going to soft play with your DC with strep A😆
If he's well I'd say yes. A good idea is to go first thing in the morning when everything is still clean (hopefully they wipe all the areas etc once the venue is closed ).

This is what I thought as well! 😆
I wouldn't take a child with Strep A to a soft play, otherwise I would.

Twizbe · 14/12/2022 14:36

Yep I took my two to soft play a week or so before lockdown. Was beautifully quiet lol

Mariposista · 14/12/2022 14:40

I don't think it ever crossed our own parents' minds to not send us somewhere because of illnesses. The world has gone soft.

Hugasauras · 14/12/2022 14:57

I've never noticed any correlation between going to soft play and DD getting ill. We go every week and she hasn't been ill in months (DH and I got Covid but she didn't!).

BobbleWobble1 · 14/12/2022 15:02

Yes. Wouldn't occur to me not to.