Am I mean to not take baby to classes?

[freemefromacne]

I have a 10 week old baby. If I had a pound for every time someone has asked ‘what classes are you doing with him?’... and then there’s the look of disapproval when I say ‘none’.

I’m sure baby sensory, sing and sign etc etc are great, but I have no desire to fill my days with these classes yet. Baby seems happy kicking about on his play mat at home, going for walks in the pram, and sleeping. He can go to classes when he’s a bit older and can actually stay awake to appreciate them. It doesn’t help that DS is at his happiest when he can kick about with no clothes on, which would probably be frowned upon in public.

I do worry that I’m being mean though. I’ve been a nanny for so many years pre-baby and attended so many of these bloody classes that I feel my tolerance for them has worn out already. Poor DS.

[northdownmummy]

Absolutely do not feel guilty. It sounds like you're doing what suits you both. I always felt that classes were more about adult company for me than what my DD got out of attending. Trust your instinct

[chocolatelog]

I didn't do any groups with my older 3, not even when they was toddlers 🙈

I did with the other 2 but not until they were 6 months old.

10 weeks is a bit young and pointless in my opinion.

[Heartofglass12345]

I never bothered until my son was around 14 months and nearly walking. I find it hard to talk to strangers and he actually wanted to join in with stuff by then.

[Heyha]

I have searched high and low for things to do when my first arrives, that won't do my head in (sorry baby but I'll be better at being your mum for it, I promise). I've found a local walking group for people who happen to have babies, you can take your dog and they have cake after the walk. So I'm definitely going to that one!

But I don't think I could handle messy play, baby music group type of stuff. I am going back to work when DC is 7 months old so am assuming those three days a week at nursery will provide plenty of stimulation so we can do more low-key stuff at home and with family and friends. Who knows how it will pan out, of course!

[SosigDog]

Classes are more for you to talk to other parents. I felt my LO was too small to get any benefit out of them before the age of about 1yo. He wasn’t able to interact with the other kids, we might as well be at home on our own. Also I was told by a GP friend that the trend of taking small children to classes and soft play has led to more illness in that age group, because they’re being exposed to older kids and germs, whereas previously they’d have been more isolated.

[Aarghineedaname]

I used to take my DS but he was 2 by then. He enjoyed it as he was able to run around and play. I have a 5 month old baby as well. We don’t go to any classes. We just go for walks or play on the mat at home. I think 10 weeks is still very young and your baby certainly won’t know what’s happening around him.

[Butteredghost]

They aren't necessary at all. Nothing wrong with them either, of course. If people enjoy them, great! They help you meet other adults, get out of the house and give a bit of structure to the day. Personally they aren't for me though.

[freemefromacne]

I’m glad I’m not the only one. I took DS to the supermarket this morning. What with the interesting lights on the ceiling, the rustling of packets as I put them in the trolley, and the movement of the trolley, he was fascinated. It’s the first time he hasn’t slept through it all. Who needs baby sensory when you have Sainsbury’s

[bigbluebus]

Does a 10 week old baby need classes?
I thought you were supposed to start playing Mozart to them in the womb now so surely at 10 weeks old they should be ready to start playing an instrument?

Seriously there is absolutely no need to take a baby that small to any classes unless you are looking for a reason to get out of the house.

The only thing I took my 2 to was baby massage - and that was only because it was a friend of mine who ran it.

[Samind]

I take mine to baby yoga as she struggled with digestive issues and it's really helped her and she likes all the attention and chat she gets. But tbh if she hadn't of had said issue then I wouldn't of bothered. I don't need to meet new people either bit it has helped her. I think from HV visitors point of view is possibly to eliminate potential post partum anxiety/depression but random people asking you is silly. Do what suits you and baby

[1forAll74]

I used to go to a Mother and baby/toddler group many many years ago, It was more for the Mothers, to get out for a couple of hours,, to talk,and compare their babies achvievements and baby clothes It was in a little village where I iived then, and it was ok for a while, but I was never overly fond of other peoples children.or all the baby talk.

[crazychemist]

I think health visitors encourage it, but only so that you’re getting out of the house occasionally. Your baby will be happy without classes! I liked going to one a week at that stage because I could meet other mums and hear what was normal for that age of baby as I’d had little to do with babies before I had my own.

Later on I think they enjoy seeing other toddlers, especially by the time they are 2, but if they are happy they don’t need organised classes. The washing machine is pretty great entertainment at that age, as are trees moving in the breeze, a pet etc etc.

[TheWomanin12B]

It's nice to get out of the house, but I hated classes and found no real benefit to them.

It doesn't seem to have caused them any harm, unless maybe this is why the eldest is a stereotypical Kevin the teenager?!

I think they can be a waste of money if you are fine under your own steam.

I went to Baby Sensory once and absolutely hated it. So much frigging noise and stimulation for a small quiet being that can't really register their discomfort.

I did like Baby Massage though. That was good.

[Mummy428]

I agree they are more for the parent than the child at that age, but I disagree with anyone who says they are useless. I enjoyed mine. I was not a confident mum and was really unimaginative when it came to playing with my baby, so the classes taught lots of things. And it was helpful for me to see parents with similar aged babies and I'd always learn something new from them. But trying to stick with regular classes could be stressful and I skipped quite a few when I was still adjusting to being a mum.

[Dinosauratemydaffodils]

Dd (2nd child) went to her first activity at 2 days old. However that more for my benefit than anyone else's (it was Messy Church and there was a cooked meal at the end of it). If you are both happy at home, stay at home. She's 9 months now and we do a lot but even now, a lot of that is for my benefit rather than hers. I started at 3 months with dc1 and again that was mostly for my benefit until at least 18 months.

Both mine have been pretty feral and hard to get to sleep at home so going out was the easier option. If it wasn't, we wouldn't do half as much as we do.

[spiderlight]

We did nothing at all until DS was about nine months old, and even then it was just a baby and toddler group once a week. Didn't do 'classes' of any form until Rugby Tots when he was 2. Has made not one jot of difference. He was perfectly happy at home with me, coming out to walk the dogs, watching the washing machine go round etc.

[SurgeHopper]

Total waste of time IMHO

[YouBoggleMyMind]

I didn't take my DS to anything until he was 1. Partly cos we were advised not for medical reasons but partly cos it wasn't my cup of tea at all. HV kept talking to me about baby massage and I had no interest.

[DianaPrincessOfThemyscira]

Didn’t take my third to any. I was just too busy with two older toddlers plus him.

He never suffered for it, he’s the most popular child and very clever.

[happypotamus]

No, I didn't take DDs to any. They are now 4 and 7 and seem reasonably intelligent and well-adjusted without them. 10 week babies get no benefit whatsoever from baby classes. They are only a benefit for parents who are fed up and lonely at home on maternity leave. I was too antisocial for them, and they are expensive. I went to a free group at the children's centre with mine when they were a bit older than 10 weeks with activities that sound a lot like what my friend now pays £7 a week for at baby sensory class.

[hopelesslyromantic93]

I go to baby yoga, rhythm time and a swimming class. Honestly it's more for me than my daughter. I'd go stir crazy stuck in the house and it helps my mental health to have some structure and routine! It's also nice to be able to meet other people while you're busy doing things too so there isn't the awkwardness of the baby groups where you just sit and talk Haha. Definitely don't think the classes are a necessity so you're not mean at all!

[Parker231]

I didn’t go to any. I went back to work when DT’s were six months old and before that age I don’t think they get anything from them and I wasn’t keen on spending time with other parents comparing babies. Preferred to go out to see friends.

[anniehm]

The class is for the parents! Seriously, anything under 2 isn't for the benefit of the kid who would prefer to play with their own stuff or feed the ducks the park.

[Ambi]

The only one that was useful for me was baby massage and I was the only one who turned up to that which was great having 1 to 1 teaching.
But then I'm an antisocial sod.

[Flamingosnbears]

This is the problem health visitors in particular LOVE to glamourise these classes and yes you get ground upon for not attending... What happened to mum knows best?!