Safety in a Ball Pit

Seas of yellow, blue, red, and green plastic balls are very appealing to children at fast food restaurants and game rooms. However, parents are often leery about allowing their children to play in these. Besides the obvious concern about germs in the pit, there are also other safety hazards. Adhering to these suggestions can keep your child safe and sound while playing in a ball pit.

  • Before allowing your child to play in a ball pit, do a quick visual check of the condition of the balls inside. Also trust your nose. If the balls look really dirty or if the area smells a bit funky, it is probably not a wise idea to allow children to play there.
  • According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the most common accident in a ball pit is collision between two or more children. This can be avoided if children don't submerge themselves completely in the balls and don't stand under slides or other play equipment that directly empty into the ball pit.
  • In addition to removing your child's shoes (which is usually a stipulation for entering the pit), make sure to remove any sharp jewelry that children may have on along with removing items from their pockets. Loose items can end up in the pit and hurt your child or others.
  • Wash your child's hands after playing in the ball pit as it may be unclear how often the pit is cleaned. Workers have reported finding dirty diapers, half-eaten food and other unsavory items in these play places.

Source: WebMD.com