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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:
FormerlyFrikadela01 · 05/02/2019 21:01

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.

I tried a few different baby classes and suspect this is the crux of it. The fact none of these paid for classes are available in my very working class poverty stricken area backs it up for me (we don't have any nct groups either). It a way for mostly middle class women to make friends with other mostly middle class women.

I did however love the baby massage and toddler group run by the children's centre. They were free and had a lot of emphasis on health and helping reach milestones and were run by midwives and health visitors. Sadly they are stopping them this year.

DaffodilsAreMyFav · 05/02/2019 21:02

I loved baby sensory and my DD really enjoyed it too - we still occasionally sing Say Hello to the Sun to each other and she's 10 now - years not months!

cantbeb0thered · 05/02/2019 21:09

My son loved baby sensory. The teacher was tall with crazy blonde curly hair and big blue eyes and the kids were mesmerised by her. She was always smiling and happy. Once my son could crawl he would crawl and sit at the front of the class and just stare at her and sway with the music.

I did go to a baby sensory with a regular looking person and I don't think it was as good. The teacher made it in my opinion. She was ace.

LaurieMarlow · 05/02/2019 21:10

I loved baby sensory. DS is 4 and we sang Say Hello to the Sun tonight, it's still a favourite.

It's one of the few classes aimed at the real tinies. I also made some lovely friends there. Smile

Am I remembering right, or is the action for corn slightly pornographic? I may be mixing it up with something else. Blush

CharlieandLolaCat · 05/02/2019 21:17

Oh god it was horrendous and my DS started to crawl really early so then I spent the entire time trying to keep him contained. Was a nightmare and a total waste of time. Give up!

sphinxa · 05/02/2019 21:18

My DD enjoyed it as much as a 6 month old - 1 year old enjoys these things. So that was nice.

I personally thought the song was quite crap and the signing bothered me but that's because I use BSL and Makaton in my work ... why invent signs when there's signs already out there.

Handprints2018 · 05/02/2019 21:22

I loved it, found it odd and uncomfortable singing along at first but after a couple of sessions i just enjoyed it. You have to find what's right for you and your baby.

Hartbeeps i didn't go back to after the trial or some of the playgroups- too much uncomfortable interaction.

LaurieMarlow · 05/02/2019 21:22

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'

What's wrong with a bit of zoom, zoom, zoom? My 2 loved that one.

Good tune, throwing in the air, its got it all. Total lies about how long this moon visit is going to take, but no matter.

I was a professional ftm too, but absolutely do not understand what's cringy about singing a song to a baby. Isn't that what you're supposed to do? Confused

polkadotpixie · 05/02/2019 21:22

YANBU. I hate my baby sensory class

It's super cliquey and everyone is painfully pretentious

I'm not going back either

ItsMEhooray · 05/02/2019 21:23

YANBU and this thread is very funny, all the mums getting annoyed because people are pointing out the ridiculousness of baby sensory Grin

EmUntitled · 05/02/2019 21:27

All the classes were a bit pointless for babies under 9 months old. We did 3 week trial of baby sensory and 4 weeks of baby massage. It was nice for me to get out but I don't think she gained much from it and was equally happy playing with her baby gym or me singing to her at home. And at £7+ per session it just wasn't worth it.

Once she was older and able to crawl or at least sit up and voluntarily play with things there are a lot more choices and they actially join in. We particularly liked music bugs and messy play.

theycallmebabydriver · 05/02/2019 21:34

I love how bat shit baby sensory is. There have been times I've laughed until I've cried. We all then clear off to the pub afterwards.

I can imagine if you were with a group who were trying to take it seriously it'd be excruciating.

Lighten up OP.

Frlrlrubert · 05/02/2019 21:37

I thought it was batshit but stuck it out (forced me to leave the house and interact with people). DD loved it.

I think they get the most out of it when they're at the sitting stage (then once they can walk it's all over, they just wreck the place and you're chasing them across the circle).

The classes where they're crawling age are the best, like a tiny zombie apocalypse slowly racing to grab stuff off the person leading it.

I tried hartbeeps but there was too much baby lifting and my back couldn't take it, plus she was unimpressed with the dressing up.

Sugarformyhoney · 05/02/2019 21:39

My local children’s centre ran a baby sensory which was free and had fewer gimmicks and props so you could replicate the ideas more at home. It was lovely and no stupid songs 😂

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 05/02/2019 21:41

Ahh, blessings to 'Say Hello to the Sun', floppy parachutes, light-up wands, puppet shows and bubble machines! Walking to the Baby Sensory classes with sunshine on my shoulders, all the way to the neighbouring village scout hut ... Singing the goodbye song for the last time ever and wiping away a little tear .... [gone all nostalgic].

OK so shoot me now ... :)

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 05/02/2019 21:42

NB. Batshit is good. Wonderful temporary respite from the oh-so-serious nature of the workplace ...

Karwomannghia · 05/02/2019 21:42

I did a trial and when the opening song started I thought ‘oh it’s a Christian group’ because there was a very evangelical feel about it and everyone seemed a bit keen. It was quite quiet. I went to a baby yoga which I loved though, I prefer things a bit chaotic!

LaurieMarlow · 05/02/2019 21:44

like a tiny zombie apocalypse slowly racing to grab stuff off the person leading it.

Grin

I remember that

Tink88 · 05/02/2019 21:47

We love baby sensory, I started baby massage lady delivering was a bit strange I thought then I knew it when she said breastfeeding during class was ok but bottle feeding needs to be done at the side 🤔 then at the end gave out fat free cakes because it sets a good example to baby.

MillieMoodle · 05/02/2019 21:51

DS2 and I did baby sensory. The first class I thought everyone was completely batshit and felt so awkward with all these women signing, singing and gazing at their babies. My class was run by an amazing lady who came to chat to me in the free play time and made me feel much more at ease. DS2 loved going - he went from 4 to 13 months in the end, and I enjoyed it too. Some of the mums were a bit cliquey but there was always someone to chat to. "Say hello to the sun" still calms DS2 down now!

I'd say give it another week or two if you've paid and if you still don't like it then don't go again.

tinkerbellla · 05/02/2019 21:56

I hated it too and got the giggles while everyone else seemed so serious and into it. The babies do seem to like the big star sheet thing though! Gymboree is even worse but totally worth a free trial for the experience. Grin

thisismadness77 · 05/02/2019 21:59

I did it and soon realised that the chocolate cafe next door offered a free bacon buttie with any coffee during the class hour. I soon learnt to take my DH as it usually fell on his day off. I enjoyed my breakfast and an hours peace...

Artesia · 05/02/2019 22:01

I’m with you OP- I went to 3 classes before I realised it really wasn’t for me. The epiphany came when the woman next to me (who was there with her sister- two adults waving maracas at one sleeping baby) woke her 6 week old baby up to show it a flash card of a cat and sign the word “cat”.

Excited101 · 05/02/2019 22:07

Hartbeeps? Felt like a bloody cult, I hated it. All the weird chanting and orders to kiss your baby. The insistent dressing up of a baby who has no clue and encouraging to take photos of them just felt like it was all for social media marketing and parental benefit.

Butteredghost · 05/02/2019 22:08

Don't go then OP. I wouldn't dream of going to a baby sensory class as it just isn't my thing. But if others like it, good for them.

People who go to baby sensory, nct groups, soft play etc and go on about how stupid they are sound like kids bitching about having to go to school. But unlike school these things aren't compulsory.

It a way for mostly middle class women to make friends with other mostly middle class women.

Whats wrong with that? People usually make friends with people who are broadly similar don't they?

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