To be disappointed with baby sensory class?

[Sewblunt]

I started taking my DS to baby sensory class. This is a new experience for me as this is my first child and I was rather looking forward to it but the class is a bit of a let down. It is an officially branded baby sensory class so I expected it to be good. Every week we have done singing activities with actions. While I appreciate that the actions will be picked up as we go along I do not know the words to the songs and so can't sing either. I'm not talking about humpty dumpty either, some of the songs are in French or completely new to me. I feel like she could've printed off a few sheets of lyric so people could follow along. Most of the group sat in dumbfounded silence while she sang along to the loud music. Secondly the pace of the class is so rushed that I don't feel my son has time to enjoy the activities. She whips out some puppets or some flashing light things and after about two minutes she is collecting them back in and we move onto the next thing. It all seems a but too much. Thirdly, there are a group of 8 women who attend the class, I think they are an NCT group as they all know each other, who are just awful. In the first week my son started to grizzle a little bit, not excessively and he wasn't crying and one of these women told me I "should shove a dummy in his mouth to keep him quiet" I was a bit shocked by this and the rest of her group thought this was hilarious. During the second week the same woman remarked on how often I kiss my baby. I think this was very inappropriate. I kiss my baby as often as feels right for me. He is bloody gorgeous and I do it without thinking. Isn't that normal? This group are as thick as thieves and monopolise the activity stations during the free play section to the exclusion of others. They split themselves across 2-3 stations and just sit there chatting and no one else can use the equipment at those stations. Is it unreasonable to expect the leader of the group to be a bit more aware of what is going on and to try to encourage this group of women to move from station to station so the rest of the babies can experience more than one activity?

Could you say that actually it clashes with a naptime, and see if you can transfer to a different group (which sadly happens to be run by a different person)? I really like baby sensory, but the lady who runs it is really nice and engaging, and it's a good group of Mums.

I only did a trial at baby sensory and absolutely hated it, the leader was going on maternity and her cover was absolutely shite. If you can find your local sure start children's centre they tend to have free sessions such as baby massage and song and rhyme time which are good to meet people and get you out of the house.

I hated baby sensory. I really don't get why it's so popular.

I love baby sensory! Like others have said it all comes down to the leader, ours is fab and so enthusiastic. Really noticed the difference when she was on holiday for a week and someone else covered it. You'll get to know the hello and goodbye songs really quickly and everything else changes every week so no one knows the words!

I did have a similar issue as you when I first started in that there was an NCT group in my class who were all a bit cliquey. However the class was big enough that there were plenty of other "singles" who I soon got chatting with. After half a term the NCT group left - remember that mums and babies will always be moving on for various reasons, back to work or baby is old enough for the next class up etc. If I were you I'd give it one more week but if you still don't enjoy it then see if you can transfer or get a refund.

Baby classes are so hot and miss and agree with others that the leader can make or break it. We did Monkey music once and one lady was brilliant while another was pretty awful - made a huge difference to our enjoyment of it!
I didn't manage to make any friends with people at baby classes because either a) people went in a group and had no intention of bothering with anyone else (like your NCT lot) or b) everyone was concentrating on doing stuff with their baby and no time for the adults to chat.
I found it was much better when mine were pre school age (3-4) and we did things like Forrest school/ballet/swimming. The leader would be taking charge of the children while the parents chatted near by. Much more sociable!
I would give it another couple of sessions and if no improvement, leave and try something else.

*hit and miss!

I found them shit too - for the same reasons. Complain and get your money back. Then find free things to go to at children's centres. Everyone is much nicer at free stuff I've found. I did paid for sing and sign and everyone was vile there too.

I just used to attach myself to someone and talk drivel until they admitted defeat and befriended me! Just one person though, the way into any clique is to properly befriend one person in a clique

I drove a stupid distance to go to a better sensory class with a fab leader. I enjoyed the structured activities and my little girl did to.

However the other mums made it a horrible experience. No one spoke to me, shut down any attempts at conversations, one memorable moment one even turned her back on me to shut me down . The free play part was torturous every week and I couldn't wait for it to end.

I was even asked to move places by a group of mums when the circle was already pretty cramped as she was running late - I shuffled a few cms!

It made me feel like I was back at school and be excluded by the popular crowd -many a week I drove home in tears.

I wondered if it was me but didn't have the same issue at other classes I went to! Did make me very aware of including / chatting to newbies at classes though..

If you didn't enjoy the activities go for a refund - I did so sucked up the women. For the last 4 weeks one lovely mum did start talking to me and still friends a year on.