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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to no longer bother with baby sensory?

128 replies

jamiecooks · 05/02/2019 19:14

Have paid in advance for a term's worth of classes. Been to 1 and think there are about 5 left. Feel I should go because of that but I just find myself laughing all the way through it at the pointlesness of it and the grown women earnestly (and very seriously) singing "say hello to the sun" at their precious moppets and think "what the fuck am I doing here"?!!!

OP posts:
mayathebeealldaylong · 05/02/2019 19:56

Wasn't there a free taster class? I will only ever pay for one class before I've seen what is about, but then again this is my 3rd so I've learnt.

EmmaJR1 · 05/02/2019 19:56

You sound great! 🙄 just don't go?

My baby sensory class has a long waiting list and my ds and now my dd love it. I've made some great friends there and to be honest with 2u2 it's a great opportunity to spend 1on1 time with my dd.

SarahAndQuack · 05/02/2019 19:57

I never went because it just didn't appeal. Other friends loved it.

The thing to remember is that when people say 'studies show x benefits a baby,' they are looking at a tiny snapshot. It's very hard to isolate the effects of (eg) baby sensory from all the other things a parent is doing, and realistically, all you get from most studies is 'parents who are motivated/can afford this activity tend to be the kinds of parents whose motivation/income benefits the baby across the board'.

Sure, I imagine if you stuck a neglected baby into almost any class you care to name, he or she would benefit from the interaction, but that's just because babies need interaction. I am not convinced the specific type of interaction is so very crucial.

spugzbunny · 05/02/2019 19:58

Sounds like hartbeeps. You do need to swallow your pride a bit. Does your baby like it because it's for them not you

StepAwayFromGoogle · 05/02/2019 20:00

This is hardly an AIBU is it, OP? But to play the game:
YANBU to not want to go to Baby Sensory.
YAB a nasty piece of work sneering at the mothers' who do.

olicat · 05/02/2019 20:00

I blimmin love baby sensory! Is 45 mins where my baby gets super entertained. It's totally batshit but he seems to like it, although I will say I think it's better for slightly older babies, once they can sit up etc.

Say hello, to the mooooon

Lawm · 05/02/2019 20:02

I did baby sensory for a term and I spent a lot of time thinking about how ridiculous it was. I almost died laughing at the session where they were playing Michael Jackson's 'Earth song' while throwing around balloons and bubbles and ribbons, but the babies seemed to enjoy it (when they weren't being hit in the face with things!). But it was something to do and made for some great photos!

MummBraTheEverLeaking · 05/02/2019 20:04

I liked it, didn't go till DC was a bit older (waiting list) so most mums had already made friends therefore no one really talked to me in the break, finally got chatting with a mum in the penultimate week before I went back work, dammit!

But I found it great for DC so I kept it up, a lot of fun for them and a lot of the props and lights were brilliant. I think I still remember the signs too.

Maryann1975 · 05/02/2019 20:06

As the others have said, if you don’t want to go, don’t go. I’m of the belief that as long as you are doing something with your child, they will be fine. So let them ‘help’ you with the laundry (hide them in a sheet), with the washing up (bubbles on the high chair tray), in the garden, when you are cooking, anything. As long as you are talking to them, it’s great. But, if you prefer to have adult company or have no idea what to do with the tiny human you have complete responsibility for, baby sensory is probably a really good way of meeting other new mums and getting some ideas of what to do with your baby at home. When I had baby dcs, there were no baby sensory classes, but if there had been, I’d probably have gone for something to do.

kelly14 · 05/02/2019 20:08

Went for a taster session when baby was only about 3 months and hated it, not for me., too fake and cliquey. Luckily hadn’t paid for a term.
Baby now 10.5 months and we go to lingotots Spanish class where the lady is lovely and just sings songs in Spanish and games etc. It’s in a lovely large children’s centre with loads of toys and she says let the babies just crawl/ walk off and play if they want as still listening and learning. Older ones can do crafts and They get a snack of different fruits and things every week and it’s just nice and relaxed and I actually like going to this one.
Everyone is different , maybe try one more session and if you really hate then don’t go again.

PandaMa · 05/02/2019 20:08

Sounds like Hartbeeps, which while it can be a bit out there I found my LO really enjoyed it and is full of smiles when he's there. If you don't like it don't go.

GirlfriendInAKorma · 05/02/2019 20:12

I had totally forgotten about 'Say hello to the sun'.

I haven't heard it in about 6 years but can still remember every word and will no doubt be singing it to myself all day tomorrow. Thanks ;)

Mmmhmmm · 05/02/2019 20:15

You should always do a trial class first and the classes aren't that helpful imo until around 5 months.

snowball28 · 05/02/2019 20:16

I hate the one I first went to, with the song you sing but eventually found one nearer to me that was more up our street. Still singing but more lights, bubbles and textures etc you’ve probably just not found the class for you yet.

We now just do a toddler group at our local church which is nice and DD loves it!

firsttimebabybirther · 05/02/2019 20:17

If your DC enjoys it I don't see the harm. I think I'd be more concerned if you'd said you thoroughly enjoyed it and it really appealed to you.

DS loves it and I think it's quite a nice class for him.

ColdCottage · 05/02/2019 20:20

Don't go - pass it on to a friend who might like it then it's not wasted and you look like a generous friend. Horses for courses, we all enjoy different things.

Wittow · 05/02/2019 20:24

OP you sound like a woman after my own heart!!!

God I remember that feeling of 'what the f**@k* am I doing here'??? so well... Are you a professional woman on maternity leave with her 1st baby by any chance? I think it's a big leap from world of career woman independence to baby singing and dancing classes...

I still cringe at memories of lifting my DD as if she was a rocket launcher, singing 'zoom zoom zoom, we're going to the moon, zoom zoom zoom, we'll get there very soon' WTF??!!! Hmm

You need to find some friends who think it's as daft as you do and mutually eye roll at each other followed by grown up coffee whilst the babbas nap.... Wink

LeSquigh · 05/02/2019 20:24

YANBU. Wasting money on any sort of activity for a baby of this age is pointless. They get all the stimulation they need from you and the rest of their family. These sort of things have only existed in the last few years and from what I can make out are just a nonsense money making scheme and a place where the adults go to make friends with other adults.

Wowzel · 05/02/2019 20:27

I thought it was awful - we only went once, even though everyone else we knew seemed to love it

HoustonBess · 05/02/2019 20:29

Find something to complain about and see if you can get your money back.

These classes are fine if people are nice and you enjoy yourself socially, but I get really wound up by the 'this is beneficial for your baby' element as if your baby's development will be held up by not going. Babies develop their senses by encountering absolutely everything. You might as well use a bit of tissue paper and an old scarf and lamp at home.

Baby sensory is also run as a franchise thing I think - so the people running it just spout whatever pack they've bought into and have to flog it on to parents to cover licensing costs. It's a pile of crap.

IsItBiggerThanTheBoxItsIn · 05/02/2019 20:32

I knew it wasn’t for me (I know it’s for the baby not the adults) and didn’t do any classes until 10 months. I met up with family and friends and their babies until 9 months or so and played lots at home, did massage as part of bedtime etc. I still don’t like playgroup but I do really like a local music group much to my surprise and DD seems to really enjoy it. I think when they get a bit older and interested in things it’s worth trying a few groups to see what you might like/be able to tolerate. It’s worth it for the nap when they’re tired after!

RainbowWaffles · 05/02/2019 20:37

All those kind of baby classes seem batshit crazy to me and I couldn’t think of anything worse. Most classes with young babies are more for the mum to get out than for the baby. I have friends that also love and loathe them in equal measure (mainly loathe I am pleased to report). Each to their own though, we all have very different non baby interests so it stands to reason people want to do different things with their kids. I doubt those mothers that enjoy singing about the moon to their moppets dripping in spaghetti would want to trade places with me either. Horses for courses and all that.

SnuggyBuggy · 05/02/2019 20:39

Mine absolutely loves sensory but I guess it's not for everyone.

edwinbear · 05/02/2019 20:47

Didn’t work for us, I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole when they started that song with all the actions. But each to their own. We tried lots of classes until we settled on a few favourites. Let’s be honest, they are all a bit pointless other than it got us out of the and engaging with other people.

LivLemler · 05/02/2019 20:53

Oh I loved baby sensory. Usually I hate organised fun, but it was an hour a week with other people, and gave the day some structure. And it was next door to a bakery and I could walk home along the seafront. I liked that it was different every week. Love me a bit of parachute action.

I did have a moment during sing and sign when I looked around the room at all these professional women making ooo-ooo-ooo monkey noises and wonder what had become of me... But it passed, because - hour of entertainment for baby, adult company, structure to day.

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