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For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

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For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Parenting

Bit of a daft question - when did you start going to baby groups?

27 replies

PumpkinPie2013 · 08/12/2013 17:40

I have a lovely little boy who is 11 days old so not planning to go anywhere just yet. I can't drive for another 5 weeks due to c-section and we live to rurally to walk.

However, I'm thinking ahead to after Christmas when my DH returns to work after the holidays.

I'll be able to drive by then and will need to get out and about as I know no one with a baby and the few neighbours we have work so I'll go barmy on my own all day and want my boy to get out too.

He'll be around 6 weeks old - is this too young for baby group? I'm thinking he may well sleep through it or not really play much at that age but a change of scenery will be good for us both.

When did you start going to groups? TIA

OP posts:

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PurplePidjin · 08/12/2013 17:53

Breastfeeding group 8 days. A friend took me to a playgroup (her dc is 16 months older than mine) at 2weeks but an hour was plenty, he found it far too noisy and busy. Under 1s and postnatal groups at sure start were awesome :)

Ditsy79 · 08/12/2013 17:54

I started going to groups when DD was 6 weeks-ish, like you I had a C-section, and was going barmy staying in the house.
DD is now 18 weeks, she still can't participate much in the groups, but she loves the noise and stimulation and generally stays awake for the whole session. I found it good to get out and meet other mums, rather than staying at home with daytime telly!

CointreauVersial · 08/12/2013 17:59

As soon as you can. I found them a life saver.

BlousyMumsyTwat · 08/12/2013 18:00

Never. Urgh.

Drove 10 days after my emcs though. 6 weeks is a myth.

trilbydoll · 08/12/2013 18:15

I find that watching other babies and looking at different toys is far more fun and tiring than anything i do at home, they are an easy win for me! It also helps me structure the day - get up, baby group, home for nap. So as soon as you feel up to it, you don't have anything to lose by going.

trilbydoll · 08/12/2013 18:17

I find that watching other babies and looking at different toys is far more fun and tiring than anything i do at home, they are an easy win for me! It also helps me structure the day - get up, baby group, home for nap. So as soon as you feel up to it, you don't have anything to lose by going.

PurplePidjin · 08/12/2013 18:17

Blousy your insurance would have been invalid and you'd have ripped your insides to shreds doing an emergency stop. I wasn't keen to drive 10 days after a vb, a cs is seriously invasive surgery and the advice is 6 weeks for a very good medical reason!

lljkk · 08/12/2013 18:31

I found a post-natal group to attend from 2-4 months. Felt like an imposter at toddler groups until 20 months, though, then I became desperate!

PumpkinPie2013 · 08/12/2013 19:13

Thanks all - we'll venture to the baby one asap

OP posts:

Fairylea · 08/12/2013 19:16

Never.

I never went with either of mine. I'm very introverted and they always seemed to be in the mornings here which was nap time... Both dc are very outgoing and social so only go if you want to and enjoy it.

Meglet · 08/12/2013 19:20

About 5 months with DS. Although I'd been meeting with my NCT group most weeks since 2 months.

BlousyMumsyTwat · 08/12/2013 19:30

Purple I'm afraid that too is a myth. Phone your insurance company and ask!

Meglet · 08/12/2013 19:40

Slight hijack- Driving 10 days after a cs isn't wise. Sadly the NHS forces post CS mums to be active too soon, it's nothing to do with speeding recovery, it's everything to do with clearing the beds fast, they're basically winging it and hoping the mums will be ok. I was told this by 2 midwives after my first CS.

I've had 2 CS's and a hysterectomy. The gynea team spoke very harshly about CS mums being turfed out of hospital so soon after major abdominal surgery. I wasn't even allowed to pick up my 10 month DD until 6 weeks post op, the internal wound takes at least a month to heal.

Sorry to rant , but I can't bear the way CS mums are treated and the 'get moving' advice that is bandied about. I drove 6 weeks after each op and was at the gym at 12 weeks.

BikeRunSki · 08/12/2013 19:50

When ds was 4 weeks old I went to a "newborn to walking" group that my HV runs. It was just what I needed, and I made some friends for life, who have utterly shaped my life since. Five years on, with school, work, other children and all the rest of life, we still meet for a curry once a month.

LittleMilla · 08/12/2013 19:50

Go as soon as you want. Things like baby sensory are great when they're tiny.

I also started a postnatal Pilates class. Made great friends and felt like I was doing something for 'me'. Plus you can't do classes like that once they're crawling

LittleMilla · 08/12/2013 19:57

Meglet - I was made to walk (pushing my baby in the crib) from recovery to the ward

rallytog1 · 08/12/2013 20:07

Insurance isn't necessarily invalid before 6 weeks. It varies from insurer to insurer. I phoned mine and they said as long as I was happy and that a doctor hadn't told me not to drive, then it was fine.

PumpkinPie2013 · 08/12/2013 20:13

Thanks again

We'll give it a go and see how we get on

Honestly don't think I could drive yet - bad enough being a passenger on short trips!

Meg I know what you mean about post c-section care!! I had my boy early hours on a Wed and came home on the Fri took me an age to walk slowly to the car and I wasn't even standing up straight!

I was in longer 10 years ago when I had my appendix removed which is nothing compared to c-section!

OP posts:

vanillavelvet · 08/12/2013 22:25

I started going to a bf group when dd was about 6 days old, also after a cs, but luckily I was able to walk there. I found it a lifeline having other mums to chat to. My midwife really encouraged me to get out as much as possible as my dh worked away at the time. Don't know what I would have done without the groups/ other mums.

MummyLuce · 09/12/2013 20:54

2 and a half weeks for baby sensory. Was brill!

Kasterborous · 09/12/2013 21:00

DD was about ten weeks but we could have gone sooner really. Even when she was little she enjoyed them and now at 21 months loves playgroup. I should have taken her sooner because I was going stir crazy at home.

MrsOakenshield · 09/12/2013 21:01

the 6 week driving thing is to do with doing an emergency stop. I was told this after recently having internal surgery (I didn't have a CS). If you fear injuring yourself through doing an emergency stop, then that will stop you from doing one! And that is really rather dangerous.

I went to the breastfeeding cafe at the library from very early on, otherwise round to NCT friends' houses.

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Jiltedjohnsjulie · 09/12/2013 21:43

With dc1 it was about 6 weeks, by then I was going crackers. With dc2 it was 8 days.

Don't feel pushed into driving, drive when you are ready.

As for groups, check your local nct, your children's centre and the library

gwenniebee · 09/12/2013 22:17

My hv ran a post-natal group for about 12 babies all born around the same time which started when they were about 8 weeks old, so that was when I started going. I would have thought after Christmas is a great time to start, as other people might start going for the first time in the new year too, so there will be lots of people who don't know what they're doing :)

Flisspaps · 09/12/2013 22:21

DD is 3, I've yet to go

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