I have a toddler and a new baby, and am ready to venture to some toddler groups... can anyone recommend any in Chester-le-Street? Preferably not too cliquey? I am breastfeeding the new baby and while before I had the baby we went shopping a lot (OK, so we had coffee a lot...) I feel a bit less confident about days out shopping when I keep needing to feed newborn and stop toddler from running amok! It occurs to me that toddler groups would be more sensible... but don't know which ones to go for...

Any recommendations would be great. Thanks!

Hi, I can't remember the name of the church but it's the one on the corner facing the Market place.

It has a good baby and toddler group with a good selection of toys and they also set up an arts and crafts table for sticking/colouring etc.

I would say it's a good mix of mams and grandparents so definitely not clicky.

We used to go on a Tuesday morning but haven't been for a while so I'd double check first. There was also a coffee morning held in the next room so was nice to have tea and cake too.

Cookie - you have to pay to advertise on here.

See the For Sale topic.

what a strange thread to bump! I thought chocaholica's baby was a bit older than this!

BTW choc if you do happen to be reading this, I have been going to the LLL meeting in Washington if you fancy it?

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Most intrigued now. What were you wanting to sell, Cookie, that would have been prompted by my post??!

Stealth, when are LLL meetings? I would be interested in going along actually. I'm starting to think breastfeeding is invisible in this area. I so rarely see anyone breastfeed except I know people are feeding behind the curtain in John Lewis when I'm nappy changing, but I'm too greedy to feed there - I grab any excuse to have a cake in a cafe when it's time to feed. But where are all the breastfeeders in the north? Interesting...

You'd never guess what she was selling in a million years.......a baby sledge. Pmsl

I used to go to park view.

(((((((((waves to the bear))))))))))

Hi GM

We are all in cafe continental Choc, as you should be
The LLL meetings are 2nd Saturday of the month in the rainbow centre. I've only been once - the summer was disrupted, they had a picnic in early september instead of the august meeting, which I couldn't go to. So I assume it will be back on on the 9th of October. I will check on FB (seem to make the arrangements on there) and let you know if you like?

GM are you going to be in the NE an time soon? Would be lovely if you could make it to a meet up?

A baby sledge....!? The mind boggles.

Stealth, do you just take DD to the meetings? I am wondering about the logistics of it, but would like to give it a try.

I took both last time, but the room is small - not sure if it will always be that packed. There were plenty of older children there though and they all seemed to play together.

The surestart toy libray used to be good at the methodist church but not been for a while so best to check. There is a really good playgroup 5 mornings a week at the community center but they have to be around 2.9 i think as you leave them for 2 hours. My DD LOVED it and it was great to get her socialised before nursery started.

Hi - I'm new to Mumsnet but I live in Beamish - not far from Chester-le-Street. I've just found a couple of activities at the Brockwell Centre in Pelton, about mid-way between Beamish and Chester-le-Street. They have a fun time session 9:30-11am on a Wednesday and a messy play on Friday afternoons at about 1:30pm I think. Only been once but I think I may try to make it a regular thing. Oh and they also occassionally do cinema screenings. I took my 1 year old and my 3 year old to see Tangled last month for £1.00!

waves
I'm in Ouston, I really must start going to some groups, my babies are 13 months and 2 months old. I've heard good things about the Pelton centre, it's all newly built so I think I'll be checking it out.

I'm in Chester-le-street too! Hello local people!

Pelton playgroup is on 3days per week, tues and wed a.m then thurs p.m. There is also a good one on at Hollyoake on pelaw bank thurs and fri a.m. Pelton Surestart also do a wiggle and giggle session on Monday a.m