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Original poster

How many baby classes do/did you attend?

51 replies

NoNamesLeft234678 · 02/01/2022 22:37

How many baby classes do/have you done? We do sensory and music and did massage and yoga too. I've booked him in to start swimming next weekend too 😋 I actually love doing all of these classes with him and definitely think they're helping him to develop loads 😄

OP posts:
Newyearoldyou · 02/01/2022 22:39

We did baby massage and a sensory one.
They didn't help my dc develop at all however they were fun for me, got me out of the house, and I'm sure baby enjoyed them.

Starcaller · 02/01/2022 22:41

I did loads just to get me out and about. Baby sign language was probably the best as DD did pick up some signs to communicate before she could speak. Baby massage was nice too. Hated swimming, a huge amount of faff and expense for what it is IMO. Baby sensory was okay but it was a bit too franchisey and a bit soulless.

Now she's a toddler I find the cheap church group stay and play things better than anything too structured. Once they are on the move, sit-down classes can end up being like a comedy sketch.

Glitterbells · 02/01/2022 22:42

It’s not a competition. Do them if you want too and enjoy them.
Many people can’t for many reasons (not least to mention the many people who had babies in the height of lockdown) and it doesn’t mean their babies won’t develop in an optimum way.
Really at that age it’s more for you.
But if you enjoy it and it benefits your mood after having a baby, that’s great.

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Lazypuppy · 02/01/2022 22:42

Just swimming once a week

ShinyGreenElephant · 02/01/2022 22:42

I do absolutely loads, other than swimming which I think is really useful, they're mostly just to get me out the house and make mum friends. The babies definitely enjoy them - my 3 year old has made some lovely friendships and is very sociable and confident, and the ones I do with the baby give me some lovely focused 1-1 time that she doesnt often get with 2 older sisters. Whether they help them develop though I'm not sure, I think being outside and having opportunities for free play and exploring are more helpful to their development overall

WheelieBinPrincess · 02/01/2022 22:43

One, I’m not made of money.

Tulips21 · 02/01/2022 22:44

We didnt do any classes but with all 4x Dc , I did go to mother /parent and baby groups-
They were a life saver for me as I was new to the area with DD 1, I literally saw no one other than DP except for the 2x baby groups a week.
I ran one group for a while too.
Ive made life long friends and My DC all loved going, It really helped them socially and they were quite independent going straight off to play with others no problem.

Thatsplentyjack · 02/01/2022 22:45

Absolutely none. Waste of time, and money. My kids developed just fine, infact they all walked, talked, potty trained etc relatively quickly.

WheelieBinPrincess · 02/01/2022 22:45

*baby sensory once a week.

To be honest I was a bit on the fence about that because well, the world is Sensory isn’t it. I can rub an orange peel across his face and put a torch under a pink blanket for free.

But he loves it. We do heaps of other stuff though and are out every day but that’s the only proper class.

Phos · 02/01/2022 22:46

I did loads just so each day had some structure to it. I didn’t really make any mum friends from them, I didn’t know how to take it from seeing them for an hour each week to actually being friends, but it gave us things to do and places to go. We did baby sensory, baby massage, baby sign, mini rockers, messy play. Tried swimming but it didn’t work out. I used to really struggle in school holidays when everything for babies stopped!

HelloBunny · 02/01/2022 22:48

None. Baby was born during the first lockdown. He’s loves people, so would have really enjoyed it...
The one I’m really missing out on is swimming. The waiting lists are chockablock, as they have to honour previous bookings. Thinking of just taking him to the pool myself.

Danikm151 · 02/01/2022 22:49

None as they were all shut when baby was born. By the time they opened back up I was back to work.
We’ve been to 1 Saturday special music class but that was naff for the price paid.
He now goes to a stay and play on a Thursday with my mom. Free to go to and loads of different activities.
Some of them are a right rip off!

Waxonwaxoff0 · 02/01/2022 22:50

None. Didn't see it as necessary. When he got to toddler age we went to a playgroup and music class. He's 8 now and seems to have developed fine.

Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 02/01/2022 22:51

At the moment we do sing and sign and baby sensory. I love both.
We did baby massage when she was newborn.

Quornflakegirl · 02/01/2022 22:51

None, I had twins and these things were not possible alone. They could only start swimming at 3 because of parent/child ratios. We did lots of toddler groups though which were fab for all 3 of us!

WheelieBinPrincess · 02/01/2022 22:52

I’m a nanny so before I had my baby I knew these classes inside out because I went with my charges. Mini Mozart, monkey music, little gym, massage, you name it I’ve probably attended one at one time or another. The packed schedule I often had made me determined to take a less is more approach when I had my own baby.

Plus I can’t sing Wind the Bobbin up again without losing my mind.

dannydyerismydad · 02/01/2022 22:54

Loads. But I did them for me rather than my baby. It got me in the habit of getting up and out the house every day. I made friends.

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 02/01/2022 22:54

None. My DD was born at the start of the pandemic so there was nothing. Then we moved house and there's nothing on offer here at all.
I wanted my DP to be able to take our DD swimming but there's no nearby pools and now we have a second on the way he won't be able to take both (I can't swim).

Hockeyboysmum · 02/01/2022 22:55

Only one we do currently that is paid for is swimming. Ds is 21 months and has disabilities including cerebral palsy so cant walk etc. Swimming helps him get exercise and he loves it.

He should be able to attend a toddler group for children with visual impairments and one for children with hydrocephalus but covid ruined all that.
Our local school runs free classes for those in catchment who will attend the nursery. Once a week they do storytime and another time it alternates weekly between messy play and music. My eldest did swimming but no other paid class just toddler group.
Generally i would say they are unnecessary but in my current situation they have been great. Ben cant manage soft plays or anything and he struggles with no places and people so these are a great way to try and introduce him slowly and at no massive cost.

SickAndTiredAgain · 02/01/2022 22:57

One musical one. I didn’t do it for DD’s development though - she thought it was fun, and it gave me something to do especially as I didn’t know anyone else with a baby.

QuiltedHippo · 02/01/2022 23:01

I need to get out every day but too many scheduled classes mean you can't do adhoc stuff like meet friends, see parents, medical appointments. And as you've paid in advance that's a problem.

We currently do sensory, and swimming but that's an evening so DH takes her. I do the church hall type ones if I'm at a loose end and join a walking group if the walk location and dates suit. Did not enjoy baby massage. Would like to try sensory but the times don't work for us

Babyfg · 02/01/2022 23:06

I did everything that was free at the children centres near us (were in London so we're lucky to have a choice of children's centre).

I didn't with my youngest because of covid but we do lots of toddler groups now and happy to pay for church groups etc (although there is dramatically less available at the centres and some have now closed 😢)

TempsPerdu · 02/01/2022 23:06

DD is four now and we’ve done lots. Started with baby sensory, baby massage/yoga, Monkey Music, baby swimming and Hartbeeps. Now she’s older we’ve continued with Monkey Music and progressed to classes like football, ballet and formal swimming lessons.

I’m currently a SAHM and a lot of it has been to keep me sane and interacting with others, but DD has always been much easier when out and about doing things rather than cooped up indoors, and I do think she’s picked up some useful life/social skills and confidence from doing some of the classes (basic musical skills from Monkey Music, water confidence etc).

We do also have plenty of down time doing crafts, cooking, gardening etc at home, but DD doesn’t go to bed until 9ish and hasn’t napped since she turned two so there have been a lot of hours to fill!

Sunbeams09 · 02/01/2022 23:06

Lots, I did baby sensory, baby massage, swimming, tummy time, and some free council ones like stay and play and breastfeeding support. If my husband was WFH he used to comment that I was so busy 😂 but I liked the structure, and the distraction. I think baby classes are kind of split into before/after crawling, as once they are on the move any sit on your lap typed classes are basically impossible so I went to more stay and play sessions. I don’t think my babies developed quicker as a result but they enjoyed them and made a few friends too. Some of the classes are insanely expensive! I recall paying about £10 per class for baby massage and being so annoyed when my baby decided to sleep through it 😂

WalkingOnSonshine · 02/01/2022 23:09

Swimming in term time & mum and baby yoga for about 6 months.

Now I’m back at work, I have one day off in the week, but spend it with my closest mum friends who coincidentally have the same day off.