To take baby to classes at 4 weeks old?

[elm26]

I've signed up for a 6 week course.

Each week is different from baby massage to baby first aid to tummy time and sensory.

It says anyone is welcome to bring their babies from birth but they recommend 4 weeks and upwards.

It says on the welcome pack that they are laid back and if baby is crying, needs feeding, changing etc it's all part of the group and we can do what we need to do.

I thought this would be a great opportunity to mix with other Mum's and get my baby involved in some developmental bits and bobs.

Told some friends who told me it's ridiculous I've paid £65 to take a 1 month old to classes that she won't gain anything from.

I'm a first time mum, DH thinks it's great especially as I would have never done this before as I don't like to go somewhere unfamiliar without somebody I know.

Should I cancel? I can get my money back if I cancel tomorrow latest. I'm questioning now whether it seems too much.

I think you should go. If you don't enjoy it you can stop attending.

I attended a similar class from when Dd was 10 days old. The other babies were between 6 weeks and 6 months old. The public health nurse recommended it and I was on autopilot so I just did what I was told! I made so many friends and got great support. I'm so glad I went. We still all meet up every week.

I didn't tell anyone so I had nobody to put doubt in my mind!

Congratulations on your baby by the way!

I've just completed a baby sensory class (6 sessions) with my baby. She is my second and I did it with my first. It's a lovely way to bond with them and spend time with other parents. You can share ups and downs etc. One baby in the group was only a week old. Mine was 6 weeks as I had a csection. Definitely go for it!

Your baby will probably sleep through most of it. At this age you’ll get more out of it than she will but I’d still go for exactly that reason. It’ll be nice to meet other Mums.

I took mine to classes from that age both times. Baby massage in particular is really lovely. I used it with DD1 for a long time and now again with DD2.

Baby classes at that age are for you, but that doesn't make them a waste of money. Quite the opposite. Having a reason to get out of the house was crucial for my mental health with both babies. I signed up for loads of stuff because it forced me to get up and dressed and get out of the house, and I did enjoy it. Especially when you get a tea and biscuit!

Enjoy your classes!

Baby classes aren't necessary, but I think it will be a good way for you to get out and discover new things with your baby. You may find some new friends, maybe you won't, but it definitely can't hurt. How you choose to spend your money is none of your friend's business.

Go! I missed all that in COVID. If anything the baby will benefit from massage techniques and sensory that will help their development and health and most importantly these are great for you as well OP! Building relationships with new mums and advice from the person leading the classes. And just a nice exercise and bonding time with your baby in a new setting :)

Go if you want to. It’s irrelevant to your baby, who is still a way off the ‘developmental bits and bobs’ stage.

Take a look at your local libraries for rhyme time stuff too. In Scotland we have Bookbug, which I've taken both my girls pretty much from birth to. It's free and I learned a lot of songs with actions I could then use at home with both of them. DD1 got her first library card at around 6 weeks old!

It's more for you than baby but if you want to go then definitely go.

I never did any classes, just not my thing. It's a personal choice.

Those classes are a great way to meet people, get out of the house and build your confidence as a mum.

It sounds lovely and will get you out of the house. Baby won’t remember anything about it, but you will and may find some new mum pals. Take every opportunity you can, you don’t have to go back if you dont like it or are whacked from baby being up all night

@elm26

congratulations on your DD & on signing up for something you wouldn't have before!!

4 weeks is pretty young, but the course seems very laid back. I think it'll be good for you to go & mix with other new mums & learn some techniques you can use at home to relax or settle DD.

The worst thing that'll happen is that you get stressed getting there in time. Accept that you might be late or might not make it one week, take the pressure off yourself.

It won't do DD any harm & if it helps you, it helps her.

maybe your friends are more like me? 4 week old baby being a good reason to stay home & not have to go out!! 😂

My baby was 2 weeks old when I started. She was the youngest on the course but we both enjoyed it!

What you think is irrelevant - your baby will be the one dictating whether you can go to these classes! My eldest loved baby massage and we went religiously for ten months. My youngest hated it and absolutely screamed the place down so I couldn't take her and that was the end of that. You don't know what your baby will be like!

Go! These classes are for you not the baby. They'll give your days and weeks some shape and if you're lucky you might even make friends. I'm still in intermittent touch with some mums from baby sensory and our babies are five now.

If you don't like this class, don't let it put you off trying others, they're all different.

I think it sounds great! It's for baby and you. Your friends are rude. 🤷‍♀️

Go. It's for you rather than the baby but there's nothing wrong with that at all.

My son went to his first music class at 9 days old (just along for the ride with big sister) and 15 years later I still meet up with some friends I met there.

Your friends sound incredibly rude. I wouldn’t dream of telling my friends what to spend their own money on or what to do with their baby, especially if they’d already booked on to the course! If you and baby feel up to it, go! Hopefully you’ll meet some kinder friends than the ones you already have.

I started taking my DS1 to baby music classes when he was 2 weeks old. He slept through the entire first class but I got a lot out of it - I had to get us both ready and get out of the house and be somewhere on time, plus I met other mums and learned some songs to sing with him. It was great!

The baby will gain from it, they're just misery guts. Go, you'll enjoy it and if you don't you don't have to continue

Definitely go, who cares what your friend thinks! I started with my baby when she was 9 weeks and she didn’t really know what was going on but it’s great to get out of the house and meet other parents. Go for it!

Whereas at 18 months, of course, your DD would be there with pen and paper taking notes in the baby first aid class Any younger, and there's clearly no point at all attending, as she won't meet any learning objectives at all.

There can't possibly be any other reason, beyond direct immediate gain for the baby, that you'd take your baby along to a low-pressure class for parents where everyone accepts babies will cry and feed and shit, with varied activities to try out to see what you like, opportunities to learn the odd useful thing, and other parents to meet.

Baby "classes" under age 1 are really all for the mum. The babies couldn't care less, loads will sleep through it etc

The whole point is for you to get out and meet people etc. Enjoy!

Ps there are cheaper ways to socialise. Most church halls will have a cheap baby & toddler playgroup. These are where i met my best friends, rather than the expensive classes that often pretend to be providing some skill/teaching you shit.

I really disagree with this, I did baby sensory, music and swimming with my DC when they were around 4 months and they actively enjoyed it