Do you take a young baby to groups/classes?

[nicolamurrays]

Thinking of taking my baby to some local groups but realistically, is it actually worth it? She’s only 6 weeks old so can’t really do anything apart from me showing her toys etc. Has anyone taken their young babies to groups and how did you fin d ir

I did, my baby is now 10 months, his first class was when he was 2 weeks. It wasn't for him, it was for me, he slept through some of them when he was weeks old. I got out to have a brew and a biscuit, to chat to people, to walk there and back with the pram for fresh air etc. At this age it's for you. My favourite was the baby cinema, see if your local cinema has baby viewings, then you can grab a coffee and chill with your sleeping baby, I loved this and did it every week for a few months, now he no longer sits still 😁

Yes I did, my daughter is 16 months nearly now and her first classes were at 6ish weeks. It gave me something to do, a reason to get dressed & out of the house, and I met some amazing mum friends there with babies the same age who I then met up with frequently and we’re so close now it’s lovely.

I think at that age the groups are more about giving the mums a chance to socialise. I will endorse a baby massage group though. I was very skeptical, but it was recommended by an acquaintance, so I gave it a go. It was a nice way to bond with my baby and I found a few other women with babies the same age that I still see 13 years later.

I went to a couple and preferred the groups that did focused talks/days, etc rather than the stay and play types. I am/was a lone parent and was advised to branch out to baby groups and network with other mums. I didn't really find them that helpful as baby couldn't really do anything and most of the other mums had their own network and "tribes" already so found it hard to connect, so eventually stopped going. Luckily we went in the lead up to Christmas so did get to do a few crafty things like footprint cards, meet santa, which was nice.

We did the free ones but I have heard that church settings and paid groups can be a more welcoming and better community to join. Unfortunately it wasn't something we had available locally or in my affordability range at the time. I did feel the pressure of how I may be affecting and depriving my of DC of a wider social circle but they are almost 1 now, in nursery and thriving on that side so I don't think its had any negative impact on us not going longer than we did.

We did from four weeks old, but not the baby classes, which tend to be more expensive. We did the £2 donation, toddler group in church hall type groups. They all have baby corners, provide tea and biscuits and are a great source of support for new mums. My baby slept through most of them for the first few months but gradually got into more and more as she was awake more. The first few months were more about me getting out and doing something where I got a hot drink!

I did baby sensory which had three different groups based on ability (non moving, on the move and then fully mobile), took her from being 6 weeks until she was 3 and it was great. Also did baby massage, which was nice for us both but at that age is more about getting out the house and doing something for you rather than for baby's benefit.

I didn’t do the church hall type playgroups, I think they would be pointless for a young baby really and I preferred the professionals led/organised ones as I went alone.

I started taking DC1 to “rhyme time” at the local library from 4 weeks old. She’d always fall asleep on the walk there, sleep through and wake for a feed just as we were leaving. However, it got me out of the house, one of the librarians would make me a cup of tea and make a nice comment about DD and some of the other mums would chat. She got nothing from it but I did!