To bin off baby sensory

[autoclave]

Hi all, FTM posting for advice.

After a long time on a waiting list, I recently became eligible for baby sensory in my area. It's incredibly popular here and one of my friends raves about it.

I've now been to 4 sessions and I hate it, I'm just wondering whether it's important for development to go to the class. From what I've experienced everyone sings a song with matching sign language (which seems a bit culty to me but I admit that it could be my opinion clouding my judgement). Then the leader seems to go around the room handing out rattles. We listen to a song shaking the rattles, and then they're collected and we get given pom poms to shake while we listen to music, and the rest of the class follows in the same way.

I find it incredibly tedious to attend, but I'm not sure if I'm missing something as it's so popular! Baby doesn't seem to care about any activities and I'm just wondering whether doing things like rhyme time (free at the library) might be just as good as paying for the class.

YABU: Baby sensory is important for their development. Suck it up and do the class.
YANBU: sack it off and get a coffee instead

The main thing is to find Mum Friends. I never found them at these music classes: I would look around at these women blankly staring into space and singing about winding bobbins and think, We represent over half a million in university fees.

ANYWAY I found my mum friends through a breastfeeding group.

Find your tribe and stick with them. Baby doesn't give a shit about music classes.

It is not remotely important for their development. I found baby classes good ways to meet other mothers on mat leave, that was the only reason I went to any.

I liked them because they made me feel like a good mum when everything was new and scary. The song was always my go to when DD used to cry in the car.

god no just enjoy your time before you have to sit at soft play and playgrounds everyday! i enjoyed my second maternity leave so much more just doing what i wanted with the baby! we went shopping, coffees, cinema, relaxing, house stuff, did the free library stuff when he was a bit older!

He loved being out for walks and looking around!

It’s overpriced and often run by batshit people. I went during Covid and everyone had to sit miles apart. My kid usually slept through it. I binned it off when the franchise owner got Covid and refused to refund everyone for the cancelled sessions because it wasn’t her fault, apparently.

I loved Baby Sensory!

Rhyme Time made me want to curl up in a ball, though.

I hated it too 🤣 made me cringe. Wait until they are older and walking - then find something 😅

Thanks for all the thoughts, I really thought I should persevere and see if it 'clicked' or something.

We do baby swimming, mum and bub pilates, meet with the NCT group and do rhyme time already, so I think next term I'll ditch sensory and stick with the rest. Good point that I'll be back at work soon enough, don't waste mat leave doing things I hate. I can get my public singing out of the way for the week at rhyme time!

Yeah, as everyone's said... The classes are nice to meet other parents, have some structure in the day, forcing you to get out. Baby gets to experience new toys, and it gives you ideas of what to do with them at home. But I'm not going to see these babies age 40 and think "oh dear, you clearly missed out on your sensory experiences..."

If you don’t like it don’t do it…I think you know it’s not compulsory

I met 3 friends I still go away with 15+ years later - so that was a benefit

It was just a very expensive nap for DD (and the only time she would consistently nap!). So YANBU.

I loved our Baby Sensory class! Met a few mums I’m still friends with 10 years later. I hate the eye-rolly comments- if you don’t enjoy it, don’t go! There’s nothing cult like about it, it’s just singing some songs and chatting to some other parents, we usually would go and get a coffee afterwards. I never met anyone who thought it was essential to their babies development, they just wanted a catch up and something to do!

I went to a taster session and found it unbearably nauseating to be honest. So over the top and twee. I much preferred the local play groups, a cup of tea and a biscuit while the kids play is all you need I think.

I loved baby sensory! Sure the ‘say hello to your corn’ song is a bit weird and cult-y and some of it was a bit repetitive but my baby grew to really enjoy it and you saw all the babies in the class grow and change over the terms which was so sweet. they have some amazing little scenes they set up with lights and objects and blankets soft and it was especially fun once they started crawling and could go and cause havoc throughout the class. maybe give it a chance to grow on you

@NerrSnerr I'm so sorry you lost your sister. That must have been so hard to deal with on top of everything else that was going on in your life.

I remember thinking these sort of things were literal hell when my DC was tiny. Some of the women from my NCT group went to one and I just couldn't face it - hated sitting around in a circle singing and shaking bells and feeling a bit ridiculous. You absolutely don't need to do them, just interact with your baby, sings songs, let them explore different colours and textures, take them out and about when you can.

That said, I did kind of relax into toddler groups as time went on and my baby got bigger and more interactive, things like baby sign language were fine and once I got over the absolute cringe some of them actually became quite fun. My DC is now three and I can often be found merrily leading a sing song at whatever group we're at and I longer want to crawl into a hole. Funny how parenthood can change you!

Agree completely.

I found Baby Sensory ok... But it was not my tribe. I found them in a church group - that we all then left and met at the local café or each others houses. Still friends now mostly.

In my dark days a few months in to be a first time mum, these sorts of groups were invaluable. No-one else knew I was struggling (although chances are many of them were too) but a reason to get out, a friendly smile, small talk about nappies, and a cuppa and a biscuit really helped!

I doubt the babies cared a lot about wherever they were before they were toddling. But if it helps the Mum cope, then it helps them indirectly.

How old is your little one? My DD hated classes for ages, then around 10 months old started really enjoying them. She is 13 months old now and whilst I personally don't find them that stimulating, she has fun and they keep her busy. Totally depends on the child basically - but no, definitely not necessary if you're not enjoying at all!

I absolutely hated Baby Sensory and that bloody song. I did however love Hartbeeps if they have that near you. But my favourite was swimming which we have done since DS was four months old

YANBU. I did a couple of terms with my eldest because I liked going for coffee afterwards but I didn’t love it like some of my friends seemed to. I never even looked at it as an option with my second. Find something that suits you better, it’s not compulsory!

I found the class content a bit tedious but it was a great opportunity to try out some of the expensive toys we didn't have without spending money on them, and we got some good tips for making our own sensory mats and things. Mostly, it was nice to be out with other parents and go for a coffee afterwards.

We do have 5 senses - they are only doing 2 = ask fr a rebate.

Bin it. It’s mainly for the mums and if you don’t need anymore friends then don’t do it!! Happy mum happy baby ❤️

Obviously you can do whatever you like, since it's your baby.