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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to take 6month DD to Baby Ballet?

551 replies

MillieMoosMummy · 09/03/2011 20:13

My DD is actually 5 months but baby ballet starts at 6 months (anyone have any experience of this??)

My MIL basically told me I shouldn't, in front of all of DH's family. She thinks DD 'Does enough already!'

I felt like she was implying that DD isn't having a good time, or that I'm not thinking of her, but I swear she likes her actvities.

At swimming lessons she smiles and splashes, at Gymboree she actually laughs and giggles.

We also do Catapillar music and go to rhyme time at the library.

In four weeks we are starting 'Gymbabes' at Tumbletots.

I tried P & T groups but found them really cliquey.

I'm quite upset about MIL saying this and really enjoy DD's activities.

AIBU? Is she right?

OP posts:
ZZZenAgain · 09/03/2011 22:13

I just wanted to know what is, you know, I couldn't imagine how on earth you teach ballet in any form to 5 monhth olds but they don't attempt to I see which makes a lot more sense

HeartSkipsABeat · 09/03/2011 22:14

Am amazed that the amount you are spending is considered 'not much'!!!

Envy

I've only done one class, baby signing with my younger child, and that came out of my birthday money

StayFrosty · 09/03/2011 22:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
MillieMoosMummy · 09/03/2011 22:15

Well, obviously calling it 'baby ballet' just sets it apart in name and what they wear to the class? I still think it sounds good - plus maybe she'll be in a class with babies she'll grow up to do actual baby ballet with?

OP posts:
ZZZenAgain · 09/03/2011 22:16

what is baby signing?

MCos · 09/03/2011 22:19

4/5/6 is late to start ballet. Our ballet school starts them at 2.5/3. 4 yrs old will catch up, but 6 yr old will not be with her peers.

LadyBiscuit · 09/03/2011 22:20

I've never understood the point of soft play for babies either. They only get squashed by bigger children.

Original poster
MillieMoosMummy · 09/03/2011 22:21

www.singandsign.com/

It's this....

My cousin takes her baby. It does seem to work.

OP posts:
SugarSkyHigh · 09/03/2011 22:22

Mcos - you can start ballet at 9 yrs and still be fab! what are you talking about 6 yrs being late to start. So what about peers!

ZZZenAgain · 09/03/2011 22:23

I see thanks. Never heard of that before either. I am clearly not up to date

Original poster
MillieMoosMummy · 09/03/2011 22:24

LadyBiscuit - that's why I like classes for babies. Softplay & parent/toddler groups did nothing for her.

But gymboree for example is soooooo good! Different sensory objects, a tummy time mirror with fibre optic balls & lights, parachute play (which DD loves) puppets, musical instruments. It's very very good. I would recommend it to anyone with a baby 8 weeks plus.

OP posts:
HeartSkipsABeat · 09/03/2011 22:24

Baby signing is using a recognised sign language along with talking to aid communication, the theory being that the physical representation is remembered quicker than the verbal.

I went because DS was not verbal, just screeching etc, it's made a massive difference already as he's able to tell me what he wants.

manticlimactic · 09/03/2011 22:24

I must have been a terrible mother when mine was a baby when I read about all the groups people go to with their babies - I went to mums and tots once a week and that was it I really couldn't be arsed traipsing to groups more than that. I had shopping trips and library visits (not rhyme time) and housework to do. plus fitting in sleep 'me' time when DD was having a nap! Grin

LetsgoflyaBlatherskite · 09/03/2011 22:26

Millie - if you put your links in 's then they'll become clickable. Means lazy cows like me don't have to copy and paste them Grin

Our local soft play place has a special are for under 2's with smaller toys and their own ball pit so no squashing by bigger children

Original poster
MillieMoosMummy · 09/03/2011 22:27

Heartskipsabeat - my DH had a phobia of deep water for years so I only just taught him to swim last year at 29... I didn't want DD to have that so swimming is quite pricey I suppose, but I consider it worthwhile.

The other activities dont cost that much or are free.

What do you mean? Were you referring to swimming lessons?

OP posts:
Original poster
MillieMoosMummy · 09/03/2011 22:28

Letsgo - ive always wanted to know how to do that! Haha... Thanks ;)

OP posts:
Mssoul · 09/03/2011 22:29

My favourite part of mat leave was lying on the sofa with dd asleep on me having her morning nap with the Wright stuff on Grin Hope you get a bit of that (r&r, not Matthew Wright) too, but you can take your baby anywhere you like.

Your mil may be from a different time when there were less options and maybe didn't have spare money for such things (just a guess). She probably had a twin tub and 3 in terry nappies and is remembering babies being bloody hard work...

annh · 09/03/2011 22:30

MCos, the OP's daughter is 6 months old, not 6 years old! And I am stil waiting for someone to tell me exactly what happens at baby ballet? Is it held in a room with a barre? Is there a pianist and a ballet teacher calling out instructions in French?? What on earth happens there to justify calling it "ballet"?

OP, of course your DD smiles and giggles at these activities, that's what babies do when they are happy. She would be just as smily and giggly if you invited a friend or two over to yours and let them roll around on your carpet with some rattles. Your current activities are costing about £120 per month, without ballet. That is actually a LOT of money to be spending on baby activities, when she could be having just as good a time for free. Are you sure these activities aren't all for your benefit, to get you out of the house, or to relieve the tedium of having to play one-on-one for hours with your DD or some other reason?

LetsgoflyaBlatherskite · 09/03/2011 22:30

Just put your link then

or if you're feeling daring then link, a space, then whitty title and more

Original poster
MillieMoosMummy · 09/03/2011 22:31

Mssoul - my favourite part is putting her in bed with me for her morning nap and watching 'homes under the hammer' or 'wanted down under'

I get lots of that :)

OP posts:
LetsgoflyaBlatherskite · 09/03/2011 22:32

Oops, I managed to make a link out of my instructions Blush

The official instructions are to the right of the message writing box.

Mssoul · 09/03/2011 22:33

Glad to hear it Smile I miss that time.

Original poster
MillieMoosMummy · 09/03/2011 22:36

Annh - there is a baby ballet link a bit higher up the thread.

Playing with my baby in the house isn't tedious. We have lots of people over. We go to the park and my friends houses and to lunch and to my parents house. We play on her playmat, in her swing, bouncy chair, bumbo. I give her wooden spoons and a plastic flower and we laugh at the dogs and life is lovely.

She just seems to have an even better time at activities.

OP posts:
LadyBiscuit · 09/03/2011 22:36

I went to gymboree type thing a couple of times and that was much better than soft play for babies, it's true.

And whoever said that children need to start ballet at 2.5 to get anywhere - my sister didn't start lessons until she was 12 and was accepted at the Central School of Ballet when she was 18 so not necessarily true!

pigletmania · 09/03/2011 22:41

YABU why does a 5 month old baby need such a full time table they are a baby fgs, there is going to be plenty of time when she is older for her to do different things, just enjoy the time you have with her as its going to pass very quickly.

Baby ballet, your dd cannot walk let alone perform ballet moves, too much too young. Is she your first per chance?