To think that I can go to this baby class?

This. All you need to do to support your baby’s language development is to talk to your baby, and read to them. That’s it. Humans are hard wired to learn language.

I didn't comment, I asked a genuine question as the point of the thread is about a teacher attending the class.

You referred to the linguistics professor comment however appeared to say to the OP "If you were an expert in something, to the point where you’d studied the subject beyond degree level and now taught that subject at degree level, what exactly do you think you might learn at a course covering the fundamentals?" Implying that the OP was an expert and wouldn't learn anything from the baby class. Or perhaps your wording is just terrible and you didn't convey your point very clearly.

If you're going to comment on something, at least know what you are talking about. Or at least make yourself clear.

@Gerbera55 YANBU. Sometimes even when you think you know it all (or in your case when someone thinks you should know it all), you don’t. Yes even teachers.
Your baby is your child and not someone you just see in a classroom. You see your baby all the time and you are their number one carer, and there will be times where you will question things and question yourself. Having your own child is not the same as supporting someone else’s at work. So go to those classes guilt free! Ignore your silly friend.

Is the number of spaces highly restricted? If so I would agree with your friend - leave it for those that would need it more. If not, then of course go.
You could always phone them and see what take-up has been like.

OK I see the update. Sounds like uptake hasn't been huge so far anyway, so drop-in!

Weirdly specific

The pp’s post I was replying to here was specifically whether an expert on child language acquisition would learn anything they didn’t already know at these basic classes.
The socialising with other mums and babies is a completely different aspect of going to groups (incidentally the op had said that she wanted to go for the language aspect, because she already had the social aspect covered at the other groups she attends).

Go to the class, OP.

There was a fairly long thread on here recently about a school parenting type course being run, but the only people who were invited were those whose children were in receipt of Pupil Premium. The OP's child was in receipt of PP and they wanted the course to be open to everyone as they felt they were being unfairly targeted/stereotyped.
If a mix of people attend these courses it might put others at ease.

Completely different subject but I volunteer at a Community Fridge. Ours is open to absolutely anyone who wants to use it - there are rules e.g. don't rinse it. The amount of times I have heard people say oh I couldn't possibly take the bread because someone in greater need than I am will come along and find there's nothing left for them. In reality we end up sending it for animal feed/composting because no one will take the bread.

So once again OP, sign up for the course.

If they are designed for the "poorer" population it would be publicised as such I.e. criteria is UC or anyone with SS involvement would be asked and added by virtue of circumstances.

If its council run they likely have a list with the aid of community HVs that it wants to reach. In my experience there are some who will take everything offered to benefit their child, the majority won't....it may be through shyness or its simply because they dont want to.

Op id prob message along the lines of, you wouldnt be classed as priority for a community run class but are happy to be added to a wait list if they do not reach their targeted audience.

I think it’s fine to go. I used to run these classes and they rarely had a full capacity of the ‘target demographic’. We often had mums much like yourself along.

I thought it was good as it

1. Filled spaces otherwise the class wouldn’t run again.
2. Often provided some positive role modelling to those struggling more.
3. Allowed those who perhaps were more isolated to make friends for them and their children who could perhaps help them afterwards too (it takes a village - and not everyone has one!).

so I think you’d be helping them to go along. If they have a criteria and it’s full they will tell you and allocate spaces accordingly. I think it’s likely not to be full, in my experience and you, your child and other children and their parents will benefit

Yes, because…

YANBU to go, of course not.

Of interest, this type of thing was a huge contributor to the Sure Start centres closing. The ‘wrong’ families were attending and so they were deemed not cost effective in reaching the families they needed to reach.

A teacher is not a particularly well paid job these days

I disagree. I think having people from all walks of life at these groups is great for everyone.

Note that quite often the sharp elbowed middle class have paid a lot in tax etc, and should get to participate in this sort of thing too.

Definitely go to the class! My local council has a family centre in almost every town, not all in the deprived areas.

The only things all the mothers had in common at these groups was that they were able to take maternity leave- so could be on a very low wage/unemployed so might as well take as much time as possible, have savings, lower mortgage/rent or a job where it’s easier to go back no matter how much maternity leave.

Also, this group will most likely be first-time mothers with babies close in age to yours. Therefore you’ll be able to make more friends potentially. Mothers with other children would have to go to play groups or paid groups aimed at them.

I found that lots of the paid classes like Baby Sensory and Hartbeeps really packed in the activities so there was less time for socialising. And, playgroups are chaotic to go with a little baby.

Also, I’m a professional with a similar pay and education to teaching, as is my husband. I live in a working class area and our salaries combined are nothing special. There are lots of tradesmen, people in the military, people with no qualifications who have worked their way up in companies who earn way more than us. Often the male partner will be earning well and the female partner might work in a minimum wage job but have a Range Rover.

Op, on a side note, if you’re looking to improve your babies language development the best things you can do are: no screens (them or you using phone wherever possible!) talking and interacting back and forth and chattering about what you and baby are doing and what you can see etc all day long, and BABY SIGNING - if sing and sign or makaton is on offer do this, so much research evidence for its benefits and it helps them communicate early

This is absolutely correct

I am as expert as it gets on child development, but I loved baby classes on my mat leave, being in the moment and thinking about what they’re discussing with your own child in mind is totally different. And lots of these classes have a focus of some sort but the main goal in them is to build parents confidence, get them meeting each other and reducing their risk of postnatal depression etc

You should definitely go if you want to and if there’s space. These things are not normally oversubscribed. Enjoy your mat leave!

I agree

What nonsense. It’s good for low income families to mingle with the more privileged educated professional families.

You should go to all the council run activities they are great! Baby massage is good for your baby age. However the children’s center language groups are often targeted to specific kids or families so double check that. If they’re open to all then do go!

I’m not sure it was the middle classes taking up the spaces of the lower income parents, more the centres didn’t appeal to the lower income parents so they didn’t attend (in general).

I look at things like this more as a use it or lose it kind of thing.

If classes are oversubscribed then they will keep running them and run more of the same if the demand is there. If people stay away because they think they're taking a place from someone else then the provision eventually stops.

If your child is behind with language development then you can go. Have you had training in baby and toddler language development?

I do think it’s for children who need it though. Parents who have English as an additional language might need the support more than you if spaces are limited.