To expect more from a sensory class?

[Mags1993]

First time mum here so please just tell me if my expectations are way too high! I have a 2 month old daughter and booked a sensory class course local to me. It's the first group I have been to other than a free library sing song as she's still very little. It cost £10 for one hour and the course is 3 weeks long (one hour per week). When I booked on it said it was suitable for 0-18 month year olds and each week had a different theme but that each time there would be messy play, tuff trays, toys, sensory things and song time to match the theme. When I got there there was 3 mats out around the room, one with some soft toys, one with a painting activity and one was a photo opportunity. There were paddling pools outside as the theme was Water Splash and these had various toys and kitchen utensils in. I hadn't realised that with it being the school holidays older siblings were also allowed to come so there were about 4 older kids there but nothing for them to do so they were just running around the hall and kept having to be reigned in by the mums and told to be careful of the babies. I totally get it must be hard for parents with babies and older siblings in the holidays but it was quite disruptive and I did feel for the older kids as the activities were for babies and so nothing for them to do. Surely if older kids can come there should have been something for them too, and I feel it should have been advertised when I booked? The main problem was that the woman running it had her own son there who looked about 4 and was running her ragged, turning the music off, asking her questions during songtime, running off when she had asked him to sit down and generally just going a bit wild in the hall. Is it not a bit unprofessional to try to facilitate a class whilst also trying to look after your own child? I don't want to sound off but it did ruin the experience a bit for me as at one point I had to ask her child to be careful as he nearly fell onto my baby! It just felt like she didn't have control of the class at all. Her speakers didn't work so she was playing the music through her phone, the activities seemed half-arsed and there was no introductions or anything despite me being the only new person there. I'll go again as I've paid upfront but should I express my disappointment to her before next week. Is this normal for a sensory class in the school hols or should I expect more?

We had the same messy play franchise round our way I think, but it didn't run outside of term time. Ours was pretty great once they were mobile- they had about 7 tuff trays a session and things like dry pasta and pots, baked beans, coloured foam, sand and sand toys, cooked spaghetti, paint they could stick their hands in... My toddler would drive straight to sit in the beans. They had a blast honestly, but I would be disappointed at this one. Usually a sensory class for the little ones is more soft music, rainbow parachutes, balloons, ribbons, massage, bells...

I have always thought baby sensory was load of tripe someone dreamed up to extract more cash from well meaning new parents. Babies get all of their sensory needs met from the wild around them. However I have been where you are and went along to baby sensory when I was a new Mum. It was utter nonsense but I did not have to compete for the instructors attention or worry about the safety of my child. I would be asking for my money back for the next two sessions (or even all three). Throw in the H&S card if there is pushback.

Sounds shit. I’d ask for my money back as it wasn’t as advertised.

I've done baby sensory with both of mine and it's a similar price point and a lot more structured. So YANBU.
I know it's not necessary but I enjoyed it and babies did too I think!

This sounds poor to me, I don’t think your expectations are too high. I did baby sensory classes from about 6 weeks old and yes, they are about meeting other mums but for £10 per session, I would expect it to be well run.

I started doing classes when DD was 6 months, but not "baby sensory" - that's just marketing nonsense. Everything is a new sensory experience for a baby - feeling sand and grass for the first time, listening to music, hearing their mother read them stories, feeling the wind on their cheeks, baths and splashing. Activities like peekaboo, or giving them household objects/things with different textures to explore, feel, bang. That is more than enough.

when DD could sit up and was interacting with the world more classes were great. Interactive stories with puppets, music classes , rhyme time at the library, that sort of thing. They gave me ideas for activities, games and songs to sing with DD. I made "mum friends" at a time when I was feeling more relaxed and getting used to motherhood so it felt like the right time. A class was usually followed by a coffee. After 12 months, I switched to things like messy play, dance and toddletics.

In my opinion, classes before 6 months are a scam, especially the franchised sensory classes. If you want to meet other mums,check out the library, stay and play groups,children centres etc. a lot of that is free or low cost.

Even if cost isn't an issue...your baby is going to enjoy being with you more than listen to some stranger singing a couple of songs and have some plastic toy thrust into their hand and some bubbles blown in their face..

It sounds badly organised and older children shouldn’t be allowed.

Also OP, don’t take too much notice of the posters insisting these classes are a waste of time and you can get the same experience at home. I think they may be forgetting a lot of mums join these classes to get out the house and meet other new mums. Sure, I could sit my baby in front of the washing machine and she’d probably love that too, but I’d much rather find a nice grou and chat to other mums over a coffee whilst also giving baby some play time and socialisation

I took my DC to lots of baby classes and I found them beneficial. I started baby massage when my DC was 4 weeks. I didn’t do any sensory classes but there weren’t any available.

I think it’s unprofessional that the person running it bought their child. I appreciate these jobs don’t pay that well but they are a job and most people can’t rock up to work with a 4 year old. It sounds like this impacted the class.

All the paid for classes I went to were well run. The church based free ones were more chaotic but still useful for meeting other mums.

I don’t think you would be unreasonable to email to ask for your remaining money back but not for the session you attended.

Ok, it’s not great, but it’s not disastrous. Certainly not worth, and I wouldn’t pay, £10/session for it.

And I don’t think you can blame the lack of things for older children on the organiser, it wasn’t advertised for older children, that’s on the parents who brought them along.

P.S. if you live in a big city, it’s worth checking with the local council to see if they run free playgroups. My council in London does.

It does sound a bit crap. Baby classes can be really hit and miss. I went to some that were great and others that were awful. The best thing is to look for ones that don't require a financial committment upfront,ie they offer a trial first or at least only pay for a bundle after having done one.

I have a 2 month old daughter and booked a sensory class course local to me

I don’t get it. I’ve had kids and have known many babies over the decades. What is a class for a 2mo? All a 2mo does is feed, sleep and go to the toilet and if you are really lucky they may work up to a smile. They don’t play with toys, play in water or play on mats, and I really doubt they have defined musical tastes at 2mo. This all sounds utterly bonkers. Maybe just push them outside in a pram where everyone gets the benefit of fresh air, until they are actually of an age where they can do any of this.

I don’t think your expectations are too high - if it was advertised for babies that age then you’re within your right to expect suitable activities. I started baby sensory when my daughter was around 4 months, she got more into it a few months later so your little one may be a touch too young atm.

Older siblings can be so annoying, especially when their parents don’t do any parenting of them. I get it’s school holidays but the class leader needs to have a much firmer hand.

I think I’d go to the next session and give it a second chance. But would be fully prepared to leave at any point, politely pointing out my reasons for not staying.
£10 is a lot for one hour so I’d be expecting way better too.

It does sound completely crap and I would have been disappointed too. We stopped going to one class as the leader would turn up as the class started, often with wet hair and very ill prepared. It all sounds very unprofessional.

Can you ask the other Mums if they’d like to go for a coffee and swap numbers but don’t be offended if they say no.

What do you think a 2 month old can get out of any lesson?

I'd cancel the other sessions and book again when the baby is crawling. And outside school holidays.

Mum and baby yoga is a nice one to do with very small babies, the classes or often for 0-6 month old babies. We did that when DD1 was 2-4 months. You'll both get something out of it.

I think I would contact the teacher and say, very nicely, that you totally understand why older kids are there but you hadn’t expected it as a first time Mum and felt it was a bit chaotic for your 2 month old. Would she mind if you transferred your remaining classes to September when the older kids are back at school? Then you can at least enjoy your remaining two! X

I don’t think your expectations are too high, but this might just not have been the right thing for you. There are classes designed for babies 0-6 months which are structured. The one I did had us all sit in a circle, babies on mats in front of us, and then there was singing, different sensory toys they gave us to wave around, lights..,and everything guided so all do the same, which I think makes more sense for small babies. Have a look at providers and their websites, there are often video clips that give an idea what to expect, and find one that suits you and the little one.