Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Is it unreasonable to have baby groups / activities all starting at 10am when my baby sleeps at that time!

26 replies

Chocoholism · 06/05/2014 11:13

I know it may sound silly and there is probably some of you experienced mums who are going to give me some great advice (which I want!)
I really want to go to some groups and classes but they all seem to start at around 10am when my 5MO naps usually. She has naps a day and I thought this might drop by now but it hasn't. She only sleeps for 40 mins or at a time and I have no idea how to change anything about it so I don't know if I should leave it for now, or go and she will be tired or....?? Just reading this back I'm actually thinking I've totally lost the plot to be stressing so much about this!!
I am unreasonable no doubt!

OP posts:

Muppetsbitch · 06/05/2014 11:16

Well I don't imagine she will get much out of them at 5 months so I wouldn't worry for now. If its that you want to go for your benefit to meet other mums then just take hr and if she sleeps through it then all the more chance to meet people and chat.

Cakecrumbsinmybra · 06/05/2014 11:16

Most mother and baby groups will finish about 11.30am. How about you walk there/walk around while she naps in pram, and wake her up at 10.30am, ready to go in... Or get her to sleep earlier by walking?

Ploppy16 · 06/05/2014 11:19

Well you are a little but it's frustrating when you want to do something and you end up being hampered by a sleeping baby. I would go anyway, then you get to meet other parents and if you take her out of the pram and hold her she'll start to either wake up earlier or sleep later because of the noise and other distractions.

redandchecker · 06/05/2014 11:21

If you really want to go so that you can socialise and meet some new people then I would just go, at 5 months she will change her nap to suit, I used to walk to our group with DS in the buggy and often he'd fall asleep on the way. Unfortunately for you it's the perfect time as it finishes in time to get toddlers home for lunch and if they did it after lunch people may be in a rush for the school run.

I wouldn't worry too much and I would just take her.

NoTedInTheBed · 06/05/2014 11:23

I feel your pain! I just put DD in her pram and go anyway. Good to get out of the house for some adult interaction, even if the babies don't get much out of it!

Beanymonster · 06/05/2014 11:31

Give it a year and you'll be pulling your hair out as to why toddlers don't start at 7am, because you've been up and ready to leave the house since 5!!

smartypants1000 · 06/05/2014 11:31

I was like this with my pfb, the with the second (and third) I found that life couldn't revolve around the nap any more - and it all worked out ok! DC2 napped in the pushchair when we were out and about, while DC1 and I went about our lives, and it was all fine. I'd just take her in the pushchair anyway, and if she won't wake up for the group, at least you'll still have met people and had a cup of tea! I think she'll soon adapt though.

MuddlingMackem · 06/05/2014 11:33

Most afternoon toddler groups tend to run from 1:30 - 3:00, so if that fits in better with naptimes it might be worth looking for an afternoon group instead. They're not as common as morning groups, but they do exist here and there. Have a look on your local section on here and ask, or have a look in the local section of Netmums, which can be very good for this sort of thing.

Groovee · 06/05/2014 11:53

I used to go to the groups and if they slept, I used the time to make everyone else a cuppa and then it meant they could spent time with their awake baby.

Ds used to fall asleep in his music class every week when they did the sleeping bunnies!

jacks365 · 06/05/2014 11:59

My favourite toddler group has a stage that all the prams with sleeping babies are on. Mums get a brew and chat and eventually babies join in and play. It's still worth going just for you.

TheTertiumSquid · 06/05/2014 12:04

I used to take DS, keep him awake for the group and he would fall straight to sleep in the buggy on the way home. I would have a cup of tea when I got in and put my feet up for a few minutes.

DPotter · 06/05/2014 12:06

I used to run a group and I had someone say she couldn't make it as her baby did a poo-y nappy at 10 ! It's worth being aware that they start then so those with older children can drop them at school / preschool etc and so the group can finish at 11.3-12 so preschool kids can be collected.

Look at it as an opportunity to loosely keep to a work time routine if you're planning to go back to work.

Damnautocorrect · 06/05/2014 12:11

Yes! This was me. I just didn't go to any. Eventually found a later starting tumble tots class which was brilliant.

wigglylines · 06/05/2014 12:34

I feel your pain! All the bloody groups round here are in the morning. It doesn't suit me or DD at all.

However I have started taking DD to the morning groups, and she stays awake a bit longer, and has a later nap on that day (usually falling asleep while feeding at the group). She gets a lot out of it, so I think it's worth it for the hour that we do get.

wigglylines · 06/05/2014 12:35

"if they slept, I used the time to make everyone else a cuppa and then it meant they could spent time with their awake baby. "

What a nice idea, you are a lovely person! :)

JRmumma · 06/05/2014 12:41

Just go anyway. At 5mo they wont know what's going on and wont care if they miss it all through sleeping but you can chat to the other mums and get into the routine of going and eventually your baby will start to wake up and join in etc.

attheendoftheday · 06/05/2014 15:14

Take the baby, they'll adjust their nap around it.

At 5 months I went to groups entirely for my own benefit, to meet other adults and drink coffee.

CrohnicallyHungry · 06/05/2014 15:21

I thought that as well. DD used to have one nap in her cot a day (every single other one was in my arms) so that single nap was my 'me time'. What time did she have this sacred nap? 10 am every day without fail.

However, I went to an afternoon group at my local sure start, and filled out a feedback form asking for things at different times and they actually did it. So it might be worth phoning the sure start, asking if they have anything in the afternoons/slightly later start- if enough people ask then they might put some things on.

BakeOLiteGirl · 06/05/2014 15:34

I've tried setting up afternoon baby sessions and had no take up at all.

Burren · 06/05/2014 15:42

I thought exactly the same thing - I was desperate to see another adult face, but, given that my baby hardly ever slept anyway, I couldn't afford to wake him up for his one reliable daily morning nap, which coincided exactly with most morning playgroups.

If you can't find a later group, I would give them a miss for the moment, and arrange your mornings to suit yourself - will she stay asleep in her pushchair if you go for a coffee and read the paper? Her nap pattern will change eventually, by the time she's of an age to get something out of the groups.

autumnsmum · 06/05/2014 15:45

Funnily enough I hated the fact that all our groups were in the afternoon as dd slept then and afterwards I had to go and collect older Dcs , 10 am would have been perfect

Writerwannabe83 · 06/05/2014 15:47

YADNBU

I'm a new mom and can't believe the classes are so early!! When I've been up all night and only getting to bed myself at 5am there's no way I'm being anywhere at 10am. It's ridiculous!!

autumnsmum · 06/05/2014 15:50

It's a shame our local children's centre didn't do a morning and afternoon group on different days

thereisnoeleventeen · 06/05/2014 16:10

None of the 10am starts made any sense to me until I dropped DC1 at school then went more or less from the school run to the local toddler group. DC2 would have a play and I'd get some much needed coffee (at some point DC3 joined us and would sleep).

Sizzlesthedog · 06/05/2014 16:26

I agree, past the baby stage now, but I remember feeling like 10.30am was so impossible.

Once I had mastered the art of leaving the house before midday. Baby fell asleep at 10.30am and that was the time of the baby group.

Flip

1 2