Do you go to playgroups and if so when did you start going regularly?

[Ijustworemytrenchcoat]

I'm feeling really guilty about the lack of groups I go to with my 15 month old. There are two I go to but I don't attend them religiously, they work well with his naps and my days off but I will often skip them if I need to run errands instead. I am concerned because I am moving soon so will be moving away from these two afternoon groups to somewhere where the groups are in the mornings and fall on my working days.

I don't drive and live in a rural location so need to stay local and so many of them seem to take place from 9.30 to 11.30. My little one is napping then. The afternoon ones are few and far between and though I could possibly get a lift to them some of those are for 0 to crawling rather than toddlers. The groups are Sure Start or church groups there is no Gymboree/baby yoga etc. and the only rhyme time/music ones are in the mornings so no good.

He does mix with other children, lots with my niece and we go to soft play as well but I feel awful I am depriving him of something important.

[Mehitabel6]

I went from a few months old, but that was only to get me out. It really doesn't matter. Do what suits you.

[Mehitabel6]

He is not being deprived, it isn't important.

[Mrsgrumble]

I went from twelve weeks until I went back to work when he was six months old.

I went for myself, for company rather than his needs as honestly I don't think it's essential at all.

Enjoy him and don't worry about not going regularly. You have enough on.

[Ragwort]

Yes - in fact I helped start up our village mother and baby group when I was still pregnant - I had moved to a new area and it seemed a good idea to get to know people - I have long since moved away but the group is still going strong .

[Lovage]

Don't feel guilty! At that age, it makes no odds to them - going on errands with you is just as much fun and just as good for developing knowledge of the world (in fact better, cos they are learning about the normal world, not a lot of plastic!). As other people said, go if it helps you (saved my sanity when I had 2 LOs) but not if it doesn't.

[strawberrybubblegum]

If some of the morning ones are on your days off, then you'll probably find that they work well for you in a couple of months when your lo drops his morning nap. Once that happens (usually by 18 months or so) you'll find that mornings are the best time to do things, followed by an early lunch and then a couple of hours sleep.

If the timings work out, the groups might be a nice way to meet other mums in your new area. If they don't work out, then don't worry about it.

[Ijustworemytrenchcoat]

One of the mornings is my day off so hopefully we can start to go. He is very attached to his nap at the moment, but I can see that changing soon.

I managed to get to a group today, albeit half an hour late and he was a little overwhelmed with the noise, he enjoys snack time though.

[ConstanceGoesFishing]

We go to two groups, swimming class and also have one 'long day out' each week.
Both groups and his swimming class are in the 10 - 11.30 slot, and he really enjoys them but is normally a bit tired and grumpy by the end of session music interlude. He dropped his morning nap by 12 months, and now we only have a post lunch 2hr nap.
I try and do an activity completely focused him him at least once a day, even if it's only a short trip to an indoor play area or the park, otherwise he gets v grumpy and fed up of having to be good whilst we do chores, run errands etc.

[Ijustworemytrenchcoat]

I was walking to the play park or going for a long walk every day off during the summer. I miss the gorgeous weather . Still going to soft play which some days he loves and others he sits rooted to one spot.

I've just split from my partner and it's the long days out we used to have that I will miss most Constance. We live in a touristy area, loads to do but unfortunately public transport is rubbish and I don't drive (it's on my list though).

[morethanpotatoprints]

I went until mine were ready for school, from being a few months old.
Only a couple of times a week and we did lots of play dates as well on the other days.
We too were rural and I thought it important for dc to mix before starting school.