Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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 22:17

I don't know what class you went to but the mothers at mine where a mix and a half!!! Grin

Nothisispatrick · 05/02/2019 22:19

I love our baby classes. They give us structure, I’ve learned songs and games to do with dd at home, they get us out, dd seems to love them and has a good nap afterwards.

Don’t go if don’t like them but I do wonder what people with babies do all day if they don’t go to classes. Don’t you get bored?

Bouncingbelle · 05/02/2019 22:19

Aww this class was the highlight of DS & I's first year together!

Butteredghost · 05/02/2019 22:35

Don’t go if don’t like them but I do wonder what people with babies do all day if they don’t go to classes. Don’t you get bored?

I go for walks, grocery shopping, chores, play with/read to baby. If I'm at home I put on a podcast while we play. I don't get bored but I'm not one that likes a lot of company anyway. I don't look down on classes though - each to their own, and if people enjoy them, great.

OP what did you think the class would consist of?

FormerlyFrikadela01 · 05/02/2019 22:37

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

There's nothing wrong with that but dressing it up as being mostly for the benefit of the babies development is disingenuous.

Don’t go if don’t like them but I do wonder what people with babies do all day if they don’t go to classes. Don’t you get bored?

Go to the park, visit family and friends, play in the garden, play at home, go to free events at the library, go swimming, go to soft play, go to free museums, go on long walks whilst pointing things out to the baby, do day to day chores whilst trying to involve the baby. There are a lot of things that people who can't afford or can't access these paid for classes can do to stop being bored.... but I guess if you don't already know that you must lack the imagination to come up with ideas. Hmm

Nothisispatrick · 05/02/2019 22:44

FormerlyFrikadela01

Charming. I am genuinely interested as when we don’t have an activity in the day I feel I am just running on a cycle of feed, play, read books, feed to sleep, then again and again. She’s only 4 months so playing involves shaking toys in her face and letting her grab them. Maybe singing some songs (all of which I’ve learned from my baby classes). I don’t have a local library, not near any museums plus she’s too young anyway, too young for soft play too. I can’t go for long walks as I have hip issues from pregnancy. So I guess I’ll do chores all day!

Butteredghost · 05/02/2019 22:49

Nothisispatrick I didnt play "with" baby the whole day at 4 months. We'd both be exhausted! If baby was amused by the play gym or jumperoo for a few minutes I would read.

SpeedyBojangles · 05/02/2019 22:50

Looked it up and couldn't believe how much it is!! It's absolutely extortionate! I'm lucky enough to have a children's centre nearby and lots of community groups so I go to a baby group which does the exact same thing for £1! And baby massage which is free!

Butteredghost · 05/02/2019 22:52

But it sounds like the classes work for you Smile

There is one thing I like about classes - you get to see a whole bunch of other babies. It's really cute to see them together, all different sizes and with their funny little expressions, hair, etc.

FormerlyFrikadela01 · 05/02/2019 22:52

Nothisispatrick

Fair enough if classes do it for you. But as I said upthread, I live in a very working class area of Bradford where these classes do not exist. I had to come up with other ideas as do all the other parents who either live in areas like me or who cannot afford them, to suggest they must therefore be bored without the classes is a bit short sighted. I would hazard a guess to say that the vast majority of parents are not attending baby sensory classes so we can't all be bored can we?

Nanny0gg · 05/02/2019 22:58

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

Normally not my thing but have been with various DGC and they did enjoy it.

and a place where the adults go to make friends with other adults.

Nothing wrong with that.

3in4years · 05/02/2019 23:00

I never went to anything I had to pay in advance for. Quite enjoyed doing a bit of everything but baby sensory seemed a bit pricey and poncey and pointless. Though everyone I know who actually did it seems to have liked it. I just thought I could do the same stuff at home if I wanted. But real, normal experiences seemed more... real and normal.

garethsouthgatesmrs · 05/02/2019 23:05

I miss going to that little class, My DD loved it and as she got older she would see us walking up to the building and squeak with excitement so believe me there are great benefits to the baby.

Are you also gonna avoid playgroups, music groups, baby yoga and massage, swimming classes, library rhyme time etc. becase all of those involve singing to the baby. It's proven to have benefits for her but if you think you are above all us parents who go to these groups then just step away and laugh at us instead.

As a pp said it's not like you are going to make friends there.

babydreamer1 · 05/02/2019 23:08

YABU, if you don't like it don't go but don't mock people who do.
I go because DS 4 months loves it and smiles all the way through, there's new toys every week and the lady who runs it is fantastic. I love singing to my 'moppet' as it makes him happy and stimulates his brain. I also like talking to other mums.

Oldtiger · 05/02/2019 23:10

Oh op you’ve cheered me up struggling in bed with flu! YANBU - I had to book 6 weeks and in the end managed 3 before packing in.. im going to have that bloody “hello to the sun” song in my head now, and as for “and the corn feeds me” line 🧐😂
I found my favourite classes were Music Bugs and a really decent church hall play group. Don’t be put off all classes/groups though. A lot depends on who runs them and what you have in common with other Mums there

Oldtiger · 05/02/2019 23:13

3in4 you’ve hit the nail on the head there in my experience

Kittykat93 · 05/02/2019 23:14

Oh god this reminds me of baby massage classes, and what a tit I felt like having to lean down to my 8 week old baby and ask his 'permission' before I could start the massage BlushGrin

But back to the point, If you don't want to go, don't go op. Bit mean to look down at those who enjoy it though!

ChasedByBees · 05/02/2019 23:20

Oh you’ve just given me happy memories of singing ‘say hello to the sun’. I’d forgotten that song.

bookmum08 · 05/02/2019 23:22

My local library does a free singing session for babies with shakey noise makers and actions and lifting baby up and down and all that. Adults sing the songs, giggle when they get the words wrong, babies giggle and older ones excitedly join in. After it's finished many stay and look at the books with their babies, chat and the babies play with each other and the few toys that are there.
At exactly the same time in another part of the building is a Baby Sensory 'Class'. £10 for an hour or so. Music on a cd player - often volume up quite loud (you can hear it in the room next door). Some flashing lights and floaty scarves. Oh and the sound of babies crying because they don't seem to be enjoying it much.
When I see the parents going into the 'class' the thought in my mind is - suckers!!

LaurieMarlow · 05/02/2019 23:27

There's nothing wrong with that but dressing it up as being mostly for the benefit of the babies development is disingenuous.

I don't think anyone's dressing it up.

No-one's saying they're necessary or anything.

However all the activities involved, singing, physical play, rhymes, colours, textures are broadly 'good' for babies and what parents are encouraged to do.

Surely the beauty of these kinds of groups is that they work for mum and keep baby entertained and stimulated.

If you don't want to go, don't. They're not exactly compulsory.

LaurieMarlow · 05/02/2019 23:36

When I see the parents going into the 'class' the thought in my mind is - suckers!!

I was happy to pay for exactly what Nothisispatrick described above, structure, an 'outing', new ideas to try at home, a social outlet.

Given all that, I found them to be good value for what I was looking for. And the babies all loved the class, the instructor was amazing with them.

We went to the free library rhyme time too and got different stuff out of that. I wasn't wild about the 45 minutes I had to queue outside to guarantee a place though!

importantkath · 05/02/2019 23:59

I have never been to one and am now very curious (but my baby is almost four so I have missed the boat).

What is it you do? Can someone summarise please? (Off to google saying hi to the sun!)

Cattenberg · 06/02/2019 00:01

On 03/10/2017, I was in a room in the local community centre with several colleagues. We sat on plastic chairs, watching an instructor in a smart black suit give a presentation.

On 03/10/2018, I was in the exact same room with baby DD and other mums and babies. We sat on toodstool mats, watching an instructor in a purple Hartbeeps T-shirt sing Hello Little Sunshine. We then waved a gold sequinned cloth the size of a bedsheet with felt flowers dangling from it. You know what? It was great! And DD’s confidence has grown enormously since we started going.

halfwitpicker · 06/02/2019 00:29

Bit like baby yoga

Mississippilessly · 06/02/2019 00:43

So much sneering for other people's ways of parenting on this thread. It's so unpleasant. Just do what you want to do. Go, dont go - whatever.