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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Baby sensory just too much?

23 replies

BigMama32 · 15/09/2022 08:50

I paid in advance to take my three month old to baby sensory classes. It was awful, he screamed the whole time and was totally overwhelmed.
There was about 20 babies in our class, after the sun song the activity consisted of loud music (so loud the instructor had to shout over it), banging upturned metal bowls with spoons and having disco lights on. It just felt too much, even for me I reckon I would’ve happily accepted some ear plugs!!!

anyone else has a similar experience? We’re due to go to another one tomorrow and have decided if he gets very upset again I’m just going to have to ditch it!

OP posts:

YellowTreeHouse · 15/09/2022 08:52

All babies are different. My daughter loved it and still gets a lot out of sensory classes now she’s a toddler.

nachoavocado · 15/09/2022 09:47

I think I'd find that too much for me!

Needmorelego · 15/09/2022 09:50

Urrgh - that doesn't sound fun for a 3 month old.
Go for a walk in the park instead and let him looks at the clouds and trees and find a nice rhyme time at a library instead.

luxxlisbon · 15/09/2022 09:52

I think 3 months is too young for sensory classes and really any proper baby aimed classes, they are barely awake for an hour at three months by the time you have factored in feeding, changing etc.
I 3 months I would stick to calmer classes, walks, coffee mornings with other mums and babies maybe a baby yoga or baby massage class if you need the opportunity to meet people.

mumofbun · 15/09/2022 09:53

Doesn't sound like my cup of tea but as you've already paid i'd give it another go like you said. I found at that age the babies in classes tended to take turns in being the ones having the meltdowns so he might be completely different x

LT2 · 15/09/2022 09:57

Sounds too much at 3 months. My nearly 8 month old would probably enjoy it.

luxxlisbon · 15/09/2022 09:57

Also I agree, since you’ve already paid just give it a few more goes. Honestly with these termly classes the babies all really so take it in turns to have meltdowns! Don’t let that be what puts you off.
I think baby sensory has a really small window anyway, it gets difficult once they are walking and crawling and the host wants them all to sit nicely in a circle!

BeanieTeen · 15/09/2022 09:59

It wouldn’t be my cup of tea. I never took mine to anything like this at that age, just easy going baby groups where you could sit and chat with other mums (and nice older ladies volunteer and bring cakes and biscuits and make you tea 😄) at that age it really doesn’t make any difference where you take them, everything is new. You may as well do stuff that you will enjoy while they are yet to care, they’ll be pestering you to go to soft play and the play park soon enough!

Original poster

BigMama32 · 15/09/2022 10:02

Thank you for this, we just happened to be the first meltdown then I expect!!! i felt so bad for LO, he was inconsolable! I’ll book some calmer classes anyway I think.

OP posts:

Etinoxaurus · 15/09/2022 10:05

I’d give it one more chance but if it’s the same, leave giving feedback. What on earth is the rationale behind over stimulation for babies?!

Mrsjayy · 15/09/2022 10:05

I think 3 months Is a bit young maybe find something gentler for now and go back maybe when your baby is sitting or can be propped up so they can take in whats going on,rather than it just being a noise.

Madeintowerhamlets · 15/09/2022 10:06

I paid for a course of baby sensory when my daughter was 6 months as my NCT group was going. It was a total disaster for us, my daughter cried the whole time too. I put it down to experience & didn’t go again as it wasn’t even that local to us. I think don’t worry too much, it’s definitely not essential for them. My daughter is 4 now & still hates that kind of thing!

Skinnermarink · 15/09/2022 10:14

I hate the BS classes, it felt like a cult with that awful song about saying hellllooooow to the sun and thanking a piece of corn. and my four month old wasn’t wild about having a pink feather wafted about in his face either. He couldn’t see the point and neither could I really.

I discovered the local children’s centre had a sensory room and that was lovely, all bubbles and lava lamps and cool lighting and a floor that went squidgy when you poked it. He loved that.

Montague22 · 15/09/2022 10:50

I found the speed too fast.
Rushing through props so it looked well planned.
Ignoring babies cues and just waving things at them.
It could be lovely if slower and calmer and about 1/3 of activities.

SnarkyBag · 15/09/2022 10:54

Sensory baby classes are a load of bollocks run by people who don’t know Jack shit about the development of babies and the sensory system!

PennyPinkPineapple · 15/09/2022 11:09

@Skinnermarink I'd forgotten about that awful song 🙉

I took my baby to BS when she was about the same age and she hated it too so I didn't go back. I'd recommend Hartbeeps (if you live near one) when they're about 8/9 months

carrottbaton · 15/09/2022 11:13

I hated BS. Babies just don't need that kind of sensory overload. Try something like Heartbeeps but honestly, really little babies just need attachment to you, food and sleep for their development.

underneaththeash · 15/09/2022 11:13

BeanieTeen · 15/09/2022 09:59

I agree, do what you enjoy. I hated non-structured baby groups, much preferred structured things like baby sensory and gymboree where you see the same faces each week.

TenThousandSpoons · 15/09/2022 11:17

I enjoyed Baby Sensory and remember it being quite gentle and calm rather than any bashing metal bowls. Hopefully it was a one-off “noisy week” theme and the next class might be more chill. If the leader always has the music so loud she has to shout over it I would feedback to the leader that it’s too loud. If you decide to stop, maybe ask the leader if you can transfer your sessions to next term when he’s older - he might love it in a few months.

Calmdown14 · 15/09/2022 11:17

I think anything for babies that little is basically bollocks.

That's not to say they should exist. I loved Tiny Talk as the woman made toast and tea in the break and was great at getting people together.

More don't put yourself under pressure for what your baby gets out of it. These classes are more about whether you have a nice time with your baby, get out of the house and meet other mums. If it doesn't meet any of those for you then it's not worth it.

I would give it another shot though as your baby could be in a totally different mood this week

Skinnermarink · 15/09/2022 11:20

Yeah, the themes. Ours did Valentine’s Day and you had to slow dance your baby round the room to Stevie Wonder. Odd. I lasted two sessions I think, then found a baby music class at the local pub.

Ijustcametosayhello · 15/09/2022 11:28

Skinnermarink · 15/09/2022 11:20

Yeah, the themes. Ours did Valentine’s Day and you had to slow dance your baby round the room to Stevie Wonder. Odd. I lasted two sessions I think, then found a baby music class at the local pub.

😂

Lokidottir · 15/09/2022 11:35

We went to Baby Bells (by Hartbeeps) this week and my almost 5mo hated it. Sobbed all the way through and was absolutely inconsolable. I also found it WAY too loud, especially considering some of the other babies there couldn't have been older than 4 weeks.
I've paid for another 3 sessions but if the next one is just as traumatic, I think we'll give up.

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