I Don’t Get Baby Sensory

[SlyAvocado]

And I’m not sure my baby does either

We spent twenty minutes thanking the sun for shining on us and the corn for feeding us, and everyone else seemed to know all the sign language.

I don’t actually like corn so I didn’t particularly want to thank it, but the other mums seemed to really be appreciative of the corn and the other things in the song. The only sign I got to grips with was waving.

My baby didn’t give a toss anyway and spent most of the class staring at a bottle of hand sanitiser.

Then we waved some scarves over our baby’s faces, while the instructor danced around blowing bubbles to ‘Morning Has Broken’

My morning was broken at 4am anyway by my crap sleeper of a baby, 10am is practically afternoon for us.

I am new to the area so I tried to be jolly and talk to the other mums but they weren’t interested, I don’t know if it’s because I didn’t thank the corn.

I wore my Tears For Fears t-shirt with a sequinned blazer which might have been an odd choice but I thought, sequins are sensory aren’t they? The instructor asked if I was off to an 80’s party and I said no, I’m on my way back from one.

We will finish the course because I paid £65, so it’ll be like that time I got drunk and signed up to Zumba classes and made myself keep going even though I hated every minute of it and was rubbish and was asked to stand at the back by the fire exit.

Is there something I’m missing, are all baby sensory classes like that? Do I need to learn all the sign language?

I’m not overly bothered from a friendship point of view because we go to a music class too in a different area which is held in a pub and the parents are really friendly at that one. The baby also loves to shake a maraca like Bez, so I think he prefers it too.

I like baby sensory. It's better value than the other classes in my v middle class yummy mummy area and decidedly less cliquey. I didn't really know many nursery rhymes with DC1 so it really helped with that (small family, no younger cousins etc).

I don't mind a stay and play when you've got a toddler but if you've got a non moving baby and don't know anyone you've just paid £2 for the joy of drinking a cup of instant coffee in a freezing cold church hall.

The corn can fuck off as far as I'm concerned.

The corn feeds you, so show some respect 😂

Haha this gave me a laugh! I have a 4 month old baby too and was due to go to baby sensory today but I cancelled, thinking I'll try when he's a bit older!

This sounds like my nightmare, are these songs a standard thing?!

God forbid I fed DS before we left to avoid him yelling for milk on the drive home.

You don't need to justify yourself for breastfeeding (or formula feeding) your baby.

The kind of person who objects to women breastfeeding at a baby group probably isn't quite as sociable there as they imagine.

You win the award for post of the week. Love this and couldn't agree more. I never bothered with any of that, always seemed like a complete con to me 🤣

Haha that's funny 😆

I'm the same, did a few groups with my first. None with my last.

I hated having to get somewhere on time. Having to make sure they're awake and not screaming. Having to make small talk, trying to make friends with people who seemingly didn't want to.

It's more for the adults. If you don't like the group's, don't go.

I've made most mum friends from a casual playgroup I went to.

@Ftm229

Haha this gave me a laugh! I have a 4 month old baby too and was due to go to baby sensory today but I cancelled, thinking I'll try when he's a bit older!

This sounds like my nightmare, are these songs a standard thing?!

Everyone is overblowing it for comic effect. It's a short, simple song with a few actions that starts off every session. No, it's not Tears for Fears, but it's exactly what you expect in an activity designed for new parents with babies a few months old.

If you're a "loan" [sic] wolf why would you ever even look up something like this, let alone sign up and pay, let alone go, let alone go again and again.

Some people love to act as if they are so superior to all the other mums there who are so lame and must think the class is brilliant. But you aren't forced to be there, from the other mums perspective you have signed up, paid, and are there happily singing all the songs. They are probably wondering the same about you.

Your reference to a pub based music class makes me think you might be in my area...? The other pub based sessions are pretty good, especially as you can (try to) hide from your baby to enjoy a hot coffee and brownie (although that was a challenge given my clingy baby just cried if she saw me).

I did that Baby Sensory class and never got to grips with the signs. I mainly just waved my hands around like a loon and got ignored by the other mums. I did like to sign the song to calm her for a little while until I forgot all about it.

I literally only went to break up my day and see a friend for a moan about our kids’ diabolical sleep. DS was more interested in the fire alarms then the slimy stuff and the scarves.

I really enjoy the two toddler groups I frequent now DS is too old for baby classes, They are so much more fun. Sequin jackets would be highly encouraged as well.

I like the parent and baby classes that are mainly for the parent and the babies just lie on mats in the middle...it's still a fun activities for them just being on a different playmate tbh 😁

Baby yoga - mums did yoga, baby laid there cooing.

Baby boogie - mums did dance aerobics, babies bounced in slings and toddlers ran about dancing.

Your post made me giggle @SlyAvocado! I love baby sensory and really want to see your sequinned jacket!

@DrSbaitso

once the class was finished, practically the entire group felt the need to whack their boobs out and have an impromptu breastfeeding session.

I was with you until this. What was your objection to this?

Makes me wonder what they would have said about the session.

Just unnecessary. Not every baby would have needed feeding and there was far too much on show that I didn't need to see.

Yes, I have breastfed 5 children.

@WoodenReindeer

I love your description of it though. You write well! You could do a "mystery shopper" report for all the baby groups in a similar style and publish.... 😁

Me too! I know you hated it, but it made me laugh!

Totally agree OP. I stopped going to the classes after they handed out bowls of water for the babies to splash their feet in so they can “experience the sensation of water”. Do these people not wash their babies at home?!

Tried ALL the baby classes and baby loathed almost all of them, except to be fair Gymboree which she adored. And a random council playgroup that had a big sandpit.

But if you want baby sensory, take little one to a lighting showroom.

😂😂😂

I will not hear a bad word said about say hello to the sun! This song was my saviour at nappy change time when baby got to that annoying 'roll over and try to crawl away to spread shit everywhere' stage. Sing the song, do a few signs while wiping and presto! A baby that stays still and enchanted! 😂
We went to a lovely baby sensory group, I expect it depends a little on your instructor. And now we do toddler sense and have been going there for over 3 years!

I suspect I'd have felt similar if I'd gone to baby sensory and I'm certain DS wouldn't have given a shiny shit about it, but as he was born in February 2020 I spent nearly all of my first and probably only maternity leave in lockdown, so I'll never know. Believe me, when the alternative is no medical or social support at all, baby sensory classes can look awfully appealing.

Being sniffy about baby classes is a MN thing. If I’d listened to MN, I wouldn’t have done NCT (filled with cliques who judge mums who have c sections or choose to formula feed) and would have sat at home cuddling my baby and giving him milk for the duration of my maternity leave.

(After the age of about ten months all you need is a puddlesuit and go outside. Even if cold and dark.)

As it is, I’m glad I didn’t listen. My NCT class are amongst my closest friends and both baby and I enjoyed a variety of baby classes. Can’t wait to do it all again if and when I have a second baby.

All the PPs getting upset that others didnt like something they did - PHEW.
You liked it? Great! No one is mocking you.

Christ this site is so spiteful sometimes.

Much better to take baby to pets at home. stand in front of the fish tanks and pretend to be looking at stuff whilst baby sits there fascinated with the fishies and water. Bonus if there are rabbits haha

I love a baby class, have done baby massage, swimming, baby yoga and postnatal yoga. I'm an early years teacher so also not averse to singing and turning at babies but I went to one Baby Sensory class in my friend's place as she couldn't make it and it wasn't my cup of tea at all, too many participants, music too loud, signs done too quickly so I wouldn't have a chance of picking them up and DD was totally overwhelmed. The nail in the coffin was the teacher saying it was one of the more sedate sessions, I thanked her and vowed never to return!

I did baby sensory with two of my children and the one where I had friends also going was great fun, the other sessions not so much. So my advice would be to go out for some cake with friends and leave the baby sensory well alone!

Gurning at babies that should say

Ahh… babysensosy… I’ve spent around 5 months signing to the air, since my DD couldn’t care less and was just interested on the baby lying next to her!
Still we did about 3 terms.. the teacher and other mums were lovely.. actually that and swimming were the only 2 classes/groups where there were no cliques…. So it was nice to go out, have some playtime and coffee and cake with the other mums after