To be disappointed with baby sensory class?

[Sewblunt]

I started taking my DS to baby sensory class. This is a new experience for me as this is my first child and I was rather looking forward to it but the class is a bit of a let down. It is an officially branded baby sensory class so I expected it to be good. Every week we have done singing activities with actions. While I appreciate that the actions will be picked up as we go along I do not know the words to the songs and so can't sing either. I'm not talking about humpty dumpty either, some of the songs are in French or completely new to me. I feel like she could've printed off a few sheets of lyric so people could follow along. Most of the group sat in dumbfounded silence while she sang along to the loud music. Secondly the pace of the class is so rushed that I don't feel my son has time to enjoy the activities. She whips out some puppets or some flashing light things and after about two minutes she is collecting them back in and we move onto the next thing. It all seems a but too much. Thirdly, there are a group of 8 women who attend the class, I think they are an NCT group as they all know each other, who are just awful. In the first week my son started to grizzle a little bit, not excessively and he wasn't crying and one of these women told me I "should shove a dummy in his mouth to keep him quiet" I was a bit shocked by this and the rest of her group thought this was hilarious. During the second week the same woman remarked on how often I kiss my baby. I think this was very inappropriate. I kiss my baby as often as feels right for me. He is bloody gorgeous and I do it without thinking. Isn't that normal? This group are as thick as thieves and monopolise the activity stations during the free play section to the exclusion of others. They split themselves across 2-3 stations and just sit there chatting and no one else can use the equipment at those stations. Is it unreasonable to expect the leader of the group to be a bit more aware of what is going on and to try to encourage this group of women to move from station to station so the rest of the babies can experience more than one activity?

[Whatthefreakinwhatnow]

Life is too short to worry about this crap, just don't go back if you aren't happy and find another group that suits you better

[ssd]

these baby class things are designed just to get you out the house and to remember theres actual adults out there who hopefully you can have a conversation with...the babies couldnt care less they dont know if its baby sensory class or the washing machine going on...

try not to take it all too seriously, if you meet another like minded pal there you can go for a coffee with whilst the babies are sleeping, its win win

[Twodogsandahooch]

Doesn't sound great. I would vote with your feet. I went to Baby Sensory with DD1 and it was fantastic but that was down to the teacher. We had s terrible experience with Monkey Music.

[humblesims]

YANBU It sounds bloody awful.

[MoonStar07]

Plenty of other classes to try. Just leave and go elsewhere

[EastMidsGPs]

Leave, find another group, move on.

[Eminybob]

I took DS to baby sensory and I think a lot of what you get out of it is down to the class leader. We had one who was fantastic, then she trained another lady up and they swapped, I didn't enjoy it as much after that so left the following term. DS didn't really enjoy the classes either.

No one talked to me at baby sensory, it was very cliquey, until a couple of terms in a couple of mums from my postnatal classes joined and then at least I had someone to talk to.

[minniebear]

We hated baby sensory too-lots of shaking a massive bin bag over babies to stimulate their senses. Just don't go.

[Tobebythesea]

I tried a taster session a few weeks ago of Baby Sensory with DD. It was so slow paced and the groups didn't mix. I was bored, my DD was bored. I agree, vote with your feet. Can you get a refund?

I loved Hartbeeps until it got seriously repetitive, Monkey Music is fab and Jo Jingles is fine (cheap compared to some groups). Love baby swim, bopping bunnies was boring.

I have a friend who loves Baby Sensory but it's a different area/teacher. I think it's the teacher that makes it to be honest. It's worth trying as many free trials as you can to see what works for you and baby.

That NCT group sounds really awful. Of course you can kiss your baby frequently! I bet you didn't even think about it up until that point? Life is too short it put up with that rubbish.

[MrsJayy]

Sounds like pretentious twaddle find something else babies don't care where they are these classes are for parents really sensory classes should be fun nobody is having fun.

[Sewblunt]

Maybe I should just jack it in but I've already paid for the term of classes. I was required to pay up front. I was hoping to meet some new mums in the area we are moving to. These women aren't exactly a great start.

[Ifailed]

Cut your losses, buy a can of special brew and take your baby to the park. Both of you'll have more fun.

[MrsJayy]

Can you get a refund or give it another few weeks sounds crap though

[Sewblunt]

Tobebythsea I hadn't thought about it at all! Who doesn't kiss their baby frequently?! I thought or was a very peculiar thing to comment on.

I realise that these groups are for the parents, that's why I joined up. I thought it would be something nice to do with DS while meeting some new mums. I want him to enjoy it too though. I like the look of adventure babies, it comes highly recommended so I think I'll try one of their taster sessions.

[BettyOBarley]

There's loads of classes around so I'm sure you'll find something else you enjoy. Most do free taster sessions so you can see if it's for you before you pay.

[Sewblunt]

Lol ifailed don't think I haven't considered it!

I might try and ask for a refund or see of I can transfer to another group in the area.

[stripesstpots]

This sounds nothing like any of the sensory classes near us which are full of cornflower, bubbles, paint, materials etc.

Find another class.

Where are you? Maybe we could help?

[DavidPuddy]

But have you given feedback to the teacher? For example the suggestion to print out lyrics? If you have paid and want to keep going then that might be worth a shot. If you are nervous about sounding critical just remember to sound neutral.

[TheOddity]

Tell her! Your paid now, give her the feedback so she can improve. Then tell these horrible women they need to move around a bit or just plonk baby in the middle until they get the message. Not like you want to make friends with them!

[DavidPuddy]

And there is nothing nicer than seeing babies loved and adored by their parents. Kiss kiss kiss away!

[Champagneformyrealfriends]

I really think these classes are a waste of money if you go thinking it's going to benefit the baby. Imo the whole point is that you get out and meet other mums. The same goes for NCT-I did it because I wanted to meet other pregnant women in my area but the class info was (for me) a bit pointless.

Tell the class leader you're not happy with how things are going and that you want the remaining fees back. Life's too short to worry about things like this.

[Champagneformyrealfriends]

And kiss your baby all you want-I do and if anyone commented on it they'd get told to mind their own business.

[thecraftyfox]

Do you have a sure start near you? Ours does baby sensory and I quite enjoyed it and Dd gurgled a lot and slept after it so she seemed ok with it too. DH came along to one as well which they encouraged. Ours was lots of blowing bubbles, mirrors, ribbon sticks, those spikey balls, textured fabrics and then at the end gently swinging the babies in a sort of hammock. No singing that I recall. Not loads of chatting between mums at the sessions but we all went to other Sure start sessions so got to know each other from rhymetime, messy play etc.

[dylsmimi]

I did baby sensory and have to say I did love it but the leader really made it. By ds2 she had trained up someone else who just wasn't the same
The format stays the same but the activities change each week so apart from the hello and goodbye song you won't bexessarily know the songs and I found sometimes if I did know them they had a different tune !
The clique sounds mean and dominating but you may find a friend /ally in one of the other mums?
Don't let them doubt yourself - it sounds like you have a gorgeous baby and you are up and out and doing activities together.

[NataliaOsipova]

Everyone raved about the baby sensory class near us. I went once and thought it was shit. Found a tots' music class instead which was much better and my DD loved as she was growing up - made some real friends there too. I'd say move on. There are loads of these things about and when they are very small, to be perfectly honest, they are more for the mothers (to get out and meet other mothers) than they are for the babies. You're bound to find something better with people you like more.