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Original poster

Washing hands at soft play..

56 replies

treetop122 · 18/02/2026 22:40

Trying to work out if I am normal (ish) or OTT…

I have 3 kids, 10,6&3. Normal half term fun this week and we met some family at a soft play.

Now I try to avoid soft plays because of the germs this time of year. When we do go to a softplay, I make my kids wash their hands before they eat, and/ or when we leave. I noticed that others are not bothered and let their kids just eat.

Am I being over the top or do people normally make their kids wash hands before they eat when still in the softplay. I am quite strict on it and try not to let them eat until hands are washed.

i also make my kids take their socks off for clean ones when we get home… got me wondering, am I normal?! 😂

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Original poster

treetop122 · 20/02/2026 10:46

It’s interesting isn’t it..
I do feel like sometimes I am OTT.
normal hygiene standards aside.. I can worry about it which isn’t healthy.
I suppose Illness impacts our house hard. 3 young kids can mean a normal illness can take a month to pass through the house. Needing us to take unpaid leave to cover time off school.
I would like to be more relaxed about it but recently illnesses seem to hit my kids pretty hard. My 3 year old has needed antibiotics several times for example.

And yes to the grossness sometimes.. softplay dont seem to be cleaned very often!!

OP posts:

Moo31 · 20/02/2026 19:16

I wipe hand with wipes if they are snacking at soft play. Always have clean socks with me and we all change socks before putting our shoes back on!

schoolrundashsprint · 20/02/2026 19:55

HamToasties · 18/02/2026 22:52

I don’t always get a chance to make them wash hands before eating at soft play but I’d prefer it if they did.

Socks off, and clothes changed when we get home from such places. We always wash hands when we get home. And if DDs have sat on any communal loos: shower asap when getting home (as do I). Fully expect to be told I’m OTT 😂

I'm the same, especially after being on a train. We'd make great friends .

op, I always get my children (and DH!) to wash their hands before eating out and as soon as we get home from anywhere. My children do this automatically now.

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gamerchick · 20/02/2026 20:02

Hand Washing is sensible. Every time i take grandbaby to soft play he comes down with a lurgy. Despite hand washing. But he's a toddler atm and still not quite out of tasting everything he comes across.

Full clothes change and shower is a bit OTT.

Elisabeth3468 · 20/02/2026 20:02

Yep I'm the same! And I often wonder if I'm OTT. My 4 year old washes his hands as soon as we leave soft play and I change his full clothes when he gets home and generally give him a shower too 😂. The places are germ pits. I also try and remind him not to put his hands near his mouth. He is good with hand washing generally and when comes in from nursery or anywhere he goes upstairs to wash his hands without question.

Wynter25 · 20/02/2026 20:12

Brewtiful · 19/02/2026 08:02

You must go to some absolutely disgusting soft plays or places in general given your comment about showering.

My child has never had filthy socks from playing in a soft play, nor have they got ill.

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Yeah same. I never wash my kids after soft play

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