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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think no baby groups until 2022 at the earliest?

29 replies

MrsCremuel · 08/02/2021 13:32

I have a toddler and another due in October. I desperately want baby and toddler groups to reopen by the time the new baby come along, but i just don't think it will happen. Feels like it's not a priority on anyone's list and there has been a lot In the media about restrictions lasting into next year to some degree.

YABU - you're being pessimistic
YANBU - you've read the runes right

OP posts:

Turtletortle · 08/02/2021 13:33

The baby group I go to was open even into tier 4 so I don’t see why not? It was considered a support group. It was only going into lockdown that it was closed.

Scottishskifun · 08/02/2021 13:34

Certain baby and toddler groups did open up in the pandemic as they are treated as educational such as baby signing or swimming.

Some things will probably still be limited but there are some which are possible.

Catchingfire123 · 08/02/2021 13:34

I’m hopeful for aug / sept for toddler groups. I think baby groups will be sooner (there were some running upto Christmas face to face). Problem is babies and parents can stay atleast 2m away from each other where as toddlers are rubbish at socially distancing.

Original poster

MrsCremuel · 08/02/2021 13:35

We hardly had anything here. One outside group that got cancelled in bad weather and a few over subscribed swimming classes. All the stay and plays and baby sensory type stuff was stopped or online only.

OP posts:

Same4Walls · 08/02/2021 13:36

None of the group near me have reopened since they closed their doors in March so unless anything drastically changes by the summer I can't see them reopening any time soon sadly.

I'm also very sceptical that any of the soft play centres near me will have survived and reopen.

RoseAndRose · 08/02/2021 13:36

Support groups might open, but I think you're right that it'll be some time before ordinary turn up and play type groups can restart, especially those which encourage lots of mispxung of adults. I think rule of 6 will be around firnquite a long time

JammyDodgersandPeas · 08/02/2021 13:36

I really hope not or I'll be seriously short of money! I'm not getting much turnover in my online baby classes, there's only so much Zoom we can take! Baby classes were clear to run in Tiers 1-3 as long as they were secure (families spread out on mats, no shared equipment, one way systems, very strict cleaning regimes). Church hall free flow playgroups might be a while away from reopening, but classes will hopefully be back soonish - and. I'm sure it'll be this year

MolyHolyGuacamole · 08/02/2021 13:38

They'll open in line with schools. We've been to baby groups and playgroups outside of full lockdown.

Turtletortle · 08/02/2021 13:39

I think in lockdown 2, the one I go to was allowed to be open for babies only - as you can socially distance with a baby, not so much with a toddler! Then it was open completely in tier 4, the numbers were more limited to allow for social distancing but sensory classes, social etc were all open. Then lockdown 3 the local council decided that it could be done online. However very hopeful that if we go back into tiers or such like, that it’ll be able to open back up again straight away!

Devlesko · 08/02/2021 13:39

Of course it's not a priority, something nice to get you out of the house but not necessary.
For hundreds of years we didn't have these groups, parents and babies managed quite fine.

NaughtipussMaximus · 08/02/2021 13:45

@Devlesko

Of course it's not a priority, something nice to get you out of the house but not necessary. For hundreds of years we didn't have these groups, parents and babies managed quite fine.

You can't compare what we did for hundreds of year. Society was very different then. Most people lived near their extended family, saw cousins/sisters who also had babies daily, had many children who would entertain each other, were a SAHM in a street full of SAHMs all with several children. It's apples and oranges.

SillyOldMummy · 08/02/2021 13:47

@Devlesko what an absolutely ridiculous thing to say. So ridiculous I can't even be bothered to pull it to pieces.

I just hope you are practising what you preach and living like it's the 1800s. Enjoying having no electricity, no car, no central heating, no modern medicines, are you? I mean those things are not a priority, people managed just fine without them for hundreds of years.

OP, I would look for some of the groups that WERE able to resume previously - swim classes, forest school toddler groups etc. Those are likely to resume first.

SummerBaby2020 · 08/02/2021 13:47

Agree @NaughtipussMaximus

edgeware · 08/02/2021 13:51

Check with your local sure start centre - I was surprised to get a call from my local one that they are organising a small baby group for parents with newborns in the area. Yes, now, in lockdown. They said it is definitely allowed. Catch is toddler can’t come but for me it’s ok, husband can look after him then.

Nellephant · 08/02/2021 13:56

We had classes here (London) when in tier 4. They only stopped for lockdown. I suspect they'll be back open when lockdown ends.

BogRollBOGOF · 08/02/2021 14:02

They have been allowed in the autumn in far less favourable circumstances than we will have through the spring and summer.

As to whether individual groups restart is a different matter, but as a category of activity, yes they will resume at some point in the spring

Original poster

MrsCremuel · 08/02/2021 14:12

I think we were really unlucky here. Very very few classes reopened. I really want toddler or soft play to reopen, only when safe of course, for the sake of my toddler and my sanity. Another winter of wet cold walks and being cooped up but this time with a newborn, agh. It is what it is I suppose, just really feeling it now and the joy of expecting is being somewhat tarnished by anxious thoughts of next winter.

OP posts:

NotFabulousDarling · 08/02/2021 14:21

Ours all closed last March and never came back. I had just got out of the fog of PND, gone to a couple of classes, found ones I felt comfortable in, then it all got taken away again and my PND just got worse and worse for months on end of just sitting in the house breastfeeding by myself. A lot moved online but it was a waste of time for a five-month-old baby who (even almost a year later) is very developmentally behind. I do hope they re-open.

Chasingamy · 09/02/2021 09:22

We’re in Scotland and loads of groups seemed to close in March and have never returned. I think, particularly for those running as businesses, rules around maximum adults made it financially unviable for them to reopen. Due no2 in the summer and really hope some have made it back I enjoyed taking baby 1 to lots of different classes and having some adult company. Mat leave could be pretty lonely without it and not able to see family and friends. Who knows what will happen though!

Chasingamy · 09/02/2021 09:24

Soft play has also been shut in Scotland since March 2020 and never allowed to open. Deemed non essential. Scotland is not a great place to be relying on outdoor entertainment in winter

Angel2702 · 09/02/2021 09:28

I think the class type baby groups like baby sensory, sign and sign, little kickers will resume as they are spaced out, no sharing equipment etc.

Playgroup style Mums and Toddlers will be a lot longer I think. Children playing freely sharing toys, putting things in their mouths even if they do open I think people will be hesitant to go back to them.

Same4Walls · 09/02/2021 09:29

Mat leave could be pretty lonely without it and not able to see family and friends. Who knows what will happen though!

I really hope some do reopen for you. As someone whose first child was only a few months old when the first lockdown started I can absolutely confirm it's a very lonely experience.

ThisIsMeOrIsIt · 09/02/2021 09:40

I run outdoor toddler sessions. I haven't run in person since the end of October but I'm hopeful, with spring on the way, I will be able to run in person soon, perhaps from Easter.

If I have to wait until 2022 then my little business will close. Every time I have people sign up for online sessions, the numbers get less and less. Soon, I'll have to look for something else to do because I just won't be making any money.

Dreambigger · 09/02/2021 10:24

We have had nothing open here OP since March with the exception of a baby music class. I relied on the library /soft play and local toddler groups and they are a lifeline for many mums. Totally agree that they have been absolutely forgotten about. In our area you are only eligible for sure start classes if you live in specific postcodes ...so thats no use. Can't see it improving anytime soon sorry

Chasingamy · 09/02/2021 10:29

@Same4Walls so sorry to hear that. We made the choice to go try and get pregnant anyway (due to age meaning we were running out of time) knowing there was a risk of this. It must’ve been a lot worse for first time Mums who wouldn’t have expected it at all and been looking forward to doing all of the ‘normal’ things

@ThisIsMeOrIsIt really hope you’re able to open soon. Such a shame that hard working people with otherwise viable businesses have been pushed to this. These groups are important for toddlers and parents too. I’m getting a bit concerned about my toddler lack of socialising (nurseries up here closed too) she’s terrified of anyone who isn’t a parent! Hopefully being outdoor based there’s a good chance by spring you’ll be able to open.

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