Toddlers under 2, Playgrounds and COVID

[Anonymous]

I really wish there was better official guidance about this. My child is about to turn 1 and loves to climb on playground equipment and be among other kids. But I always leave the playground uncertain if I've made the right decisions and I'm not sure what to tell our nanny either.

Do you let your older baby or younger toddler play on equipment at the playground?

Do you wipe down swings before putting them in?

How do you handle handwashing right after you leave the playground? Are baby wipes enough? Is hand sanitizer safe for little ones?

How assertive are you with keeping them distanced from other kids (bearing in mind little ones aren't masked)?

[Anonymous]

My kid (1.5) goes to the playground every single day. We wash our hands when we come home. She climbs and swings and tries to give everyone hugs. The kids at our playground are pretty good at masking age 4/5ish and up; little kids do not wear masks. She got a runny nose this week so I know she's being exposed to germs, but I cannot (/will not) lock her in the house from 1-3 waiting for a vaccine.

I make sure she doesn't grab other kids' toys because I don't want them going in her mouth. Otherwise I have no real qualms.

[Anonymous]

It seems like less of hassle to get a playset for the back yard. Your 1 year old doesn't need to play with other kids these social outings are more for you and your nanny at this stage, which is fine, but you also have to accept the germs with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems like less of hassle to get a playset for the back yard. Your 1 year old doesn't need to play with other kids these social outings are more for you and your nanny at this stage, which is fine, but you also have to accept the germs with it.

We don't have a backyard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems like less of hassle to get a playset for the back yard. Your 1 year old doesn't need to play with other kids these social outings are more for you and your nanny at this stage, which is fine, but you also have to accept the germs with it.

These comments always strike me as entitled and douchey. You realize you’re in an urban area, right? Many of us live in apartments.

[Anonymous]

Our kids have gone to the playground since they opened after the riots and have played there with other kids in a normal fashion. Still alive 6 months later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kids have gone to the playground since they opened after the riots and have played there with other kids in a normal fashion. Still alive 6 months later.

+1 sanitize hands after playing and that’s it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kids have gone to the playground since they opened after the riots and have played there with other kids in a normal fashion. Still alive 6 months later.

Where do you live? What riots?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like less of hassle to get a playset for the back yard. Your 1 year old doesn't need to play with other kids these social outings are more for you and your nanny at this stage, which is fine, but you also have to accept the germs with it.

These comments always strike me as entitled and douchey. You realize you’re in an urban area, right? Many of us live in apartments.

Put the kid in a stroller an take a walk? Your 1-year-old doesn't need the playground for peer interaction or peer interaction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids have gone to the playground since they opened after the riots and have played there with other kids in a normal fashion. Still alive 6 months later.

Where do you live? What riots?

Trumplandia. That's their favorite talking point. No one caught COVI from the protests ( or as they call them riots), so social distancing is not a thing. PP will now come back and proclaim they are not a Trump supporter.

[Anonymous]

Personally we sanitize our hands before and after playing. I will even sanitize a couple times in between (for example any time he goes from the playground to get his bottle of water ) I do it before so in case we have germs we won’t pass it on to others and a couple times in between just to be safe.

[Anonymous]

17 mo and 4 yo. We've been playing at a relatively uncrowded playground (maybe 2-5 other kids at a time) since May without any precautions besides adults social distancing. No one sick so far....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like less of hassle to get a playset for the back yard. Your 1 year old doesn't need to play with other kids these social outings are more for you and your nanny at this stage, which is fine, but you also have to accept the germs with it.

We don't have a backyard.

Go for a walk instead. The point is she doesn't need the playground if you are so worried about germs. You could debate a trade-off if she was older say 3+ but your baby isn't even one, there's zero social benefit of going to the playground especially if you are worried about germs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally we sanitize our hands before and after playing. I will even sanitize a couple times in between (for example any time he goes from the playground to get his bottle of water ) I do it before so in case we have germs we won’t pass it on to others and a couple times in between just to be safe.

Thanks. Do you use hand sanitizer?

[Anonymous]

I have a 3.5 year old and would just like to say to OP and others: I have no problem whatsoever with toddlers going unmasked at the playground!

My DD does wear a mask, but it took us months to get her used to it enough to keep it on for a playground visit. Even now, the minute we're alone at the playground she takes it off because she knows she can. It's hard.

No kid under 2 should be wearing a mask (it's a hazard), and I personally think at 2-4, I extend a lot of grace to parents because I know it's difficult. I wouldn't expect people to say away from the playground for several years for this reason -- that's not a reasonable expectation. And there are tons of gross motor skill benefits of playgrounds at that age. It's why they exist!

I rely on social distancing even at the playground. Does my kids sometimes come within 6 feet of an unmasked toddler? Yes, of course. But never touch each other, and if I see her getting close to another kid not wearing a mask, I just remind her "keep distance". Plus, we're all outside.

People who are uncomfortable with that range of behavior (all of which is legal and within epidemiological guidelines) should not bring kids to the playground. If you are only comfortable interacting with children in public spaces if everyone is masked and complying perfectly, I would recommend making other choices for your family where you can have more control over everyone present. But a public playground is not that place. You either have to accept the minimal risk or choose not to go.