Want some ideas apart from mum and baby groups

[Pluginss]

I need some ideas of things to do with my three month old now the weather has turned. I reached out in facebook in a local mums group asking for ideas because I am going spare at home. I specifically said I don’t want mum and baby groups, as we already do lots. I was wanting ideas of days out, things like aquariums (but we don’t have any locally), baby cinema that kind of thing. But all I got was local mum and baby groups spamming my post with adverts.

Whilst these groups are great, they only tend to last for a hour or two and they aren’t filling the days. What can I do to get out of the house? And am I being unreasonable for being irritated that as a mum I reached out for help on a mums group and all I got back was adverts

Honestly with a 3 month old, unless you really enjoy the mother and baby groups (which it sounds like you don't), don't waste your time on them at this age. You'll need them in a few months when your baby is active.

For now you can pretty much do anything YOU want - museums, hikes, cinema, whatever. A 3 month old isnt that bothered what you're doing although they may prefer to be on the move. Hope you find something to fill your time.

Also yes look up baby cinema events, most cinemas have them during the day

The reading comprehension of people nowadays appears to be in the toilet so YABU to not forsee the advert spam 😅 but I suppose some of them might have thought you'd not have heard of their specific group and might like it. At 3 months old though just take baby along with what you want to do and enjoy it, it doesn't last!

Tbh if there aren’t any museums or aquariums or indoor play centres what do you want?

Most cinemas offer baby cinema so worth checking out.

Some comedy clubs do bring your baby events.

However if the FB search didn’t return any results like that then they may not exist.

Just do whatever you want to do- cinema, national trust, pootling round shops, meeting for coffees- but baby comes along. They will never be this portable! Toddler groups are great when you have a 10 month old or 18 month old and it's pissing down like today!

Where abouts in the country are you, because there may be some hidden gems!

So far I've done: art galleries, museums, libraries (big city ones, as opposed to local)

Retail parks with a coffee stop (I'm a fan of dunelm 🤣)

Everyman mother and baby cinema is on my to do list.

Get public transport to take more time baby loves a tram ride amd we have been known to stay on the line 🙈

The problem is you asked for things to do with your baby, when what you are actually after is day out ideas for you, that you can take your baby along to. Try again, don’t ask for “with baby” and ask for local day out ideas.

Look up national trust and museums in your area. Take your baby with you. You probably only have a few months before it gets a bit harder, because they are mobile and want to be down on the floor, or having proper food not just milk etc. so then the mum and baby groups would be better. (Because often it’s easier to just do something for an hour or so, then home for lunch and nap.)

Baby cinema, loads of places do them so try a few and pick your favourite
Swimming
Museums/art galleries
I found a restaurant I liked that was baby friendly and used to take a book and have a drink (I had a sleepy baby)
Shopping centres, some will have their Xmas displays up which is always nice
Garden centres

We do some mum and baby groups, I just don’t want anymore!!
We go out for walks everyday, which is what I always enjoyed doing, but now with a baby if it’s raining I try to keep it to under an hour and a half. I’ve never really been an indoor sort and just need undercover ideas- I don’t really know where to start and the winter is now looking quite long!

Museum, art gallery, bookshop, meet friends on their lunch break maybe? Get all your Xmas shopping done! Read books and watch box sets.

I know what you mean, I ended up going to a few mother and baby classes as I couldn't stand being at home the whole time.

Without knowing your area it's hard to suggest much other than what has been suggested so far

You could try making a friend with a similar age baby and similar interests - try the Peanut app

You have about 3-4 months left to do what YOU want. Baby is portable and naps loads. Only you know what you like doing in your area. You can also do day trips, lots of socials etc.

Once they start crawling and napping less, your existence will be entirely dictated by what they want/need.

Instead of thinking about what is good to do with a baby, think about what you want to do, actually write a list, and then with a coffee sit down and think if you can/ would be willing to do it with a baby.
If you love walking, do the walking. If you do not mind the rain, and the baby is dry there is not need to cut it short.

As others have said, with a 3 month old it's about what you want!

My basic plan was to have something "Specific" planned for the morning, whether that was going to a baby group, or to the shops or to the library.
And then I tended to go somewhere outside in the afternoon (yes, in all weathers). I did a lot of walking round the local area checking out parks and playgrounds for when the DC were older.

But I had DC that barely slept so I was too knackered to do much more, and I absolutely would recommend doing things for yourself if you've got the energy.

Your baby is at his/her most portable right now. Go out and do whatever you fancy, with the baby in a sling.

I went to galleries and exhibitions, long walks, meeting friends in cafés, lots of stuff I liked to do.

Once a week we went to the baby pool. Afterwards, he'd zonk out for a good hour and I had a lovely coffee and a bit of peace in a café.

Agree, at 3 month do whatever you want.

I completely agree with the others that 3 months is the goldilocks zone of parenting because they are so portable.

I used to take my son out in either his buggy or sling - depending on where we were going - and just exactly what I wanted to.

Day trips by train to another city, museums, art galleries, walks (even in colder/wetter weather), quieter family versions of things I'd have gone to anyway. They don't really care what they're doing as long as they can hear different sounds, smell different scents, they're moving and you're talking to them.

They dont really get much out of mother and baby groups at 3 months, so thats really more for you anyway. Baby swimming always went down well (and set him up for a good nap).

At that age I took dd to places that I liked to go on my own - so we did lots of museums and galleries, photography walks, window shopping, cafes, zoo, tourist attractions, exploring different neighbourhoods of London and thinking about if we might move there.
There were lots of events for adults where they could bring a baby - cinema, comedy, theatre, guided walks, yoga and fitness. Most places are OK with a baby in tow, though I'd only take one to a specific baby-friendly performance or cinema in case they cry, and I wouldn't expect to bring one to a normal exercise class as you couldn't supervise safely and it would probably be noisy. Some places would be awkward to go with a buggy but if you have a sling it would be fine.

I remember this feeling. I had never not worked until I was on maternity leave and used annual leave to go away, so it wasn't even like I could think - what would I normally do if I was off work for a week?

I used to do baby cinema, various baby groups, library, retail parks (the McArthur Glen types are dead during the week), and National Trusts. We also had Longleat passes, but I was still bored.

I agree do things you want to do. In a sling (poss outward facing now) or pram (maybe propped up on tummy) the whole world is a sensory experience for them.

I agree with as much time outside as possible, in appropriate clothing.

whereabout are you? people will have ideas.

is it that you are a bit bored and want some adult company?

I found there were lots of things scheduled in the morning but not in the afternoon, and that the time after nap til DP got home (shifts) was REALLY long with the nights drawing in. So nice big open spaces or conservatory/big windows or somewhere high up to catch the light at the end of the day.

Swimming (general open sessions) is a great activity too. Can you team up with some other mums to mind the babies poolside while you take turns to do lengths?

Agree with PPs, do what YOU want. Swimming is always good too. Something random you could try is seeing if your local universities do any kind of Baby Lab type things where you get invited in to do unobtrusive research experiments on your baby. I did a couple and it was a nice morning out.

The best advice i ever had about hobbies was too go back to things we enjoyed in childhood.
I was v lucky when my daughter was a baby as the local gym had a nursery open in the morning.
There are times you'll just be stuck inside the house, I did window gardening ( its bulb planting season) and a bit of sewing/ knitting for you it may be something different?

If it's actually your own mental stimulation that you're missing, I did a diploma through the OU just for interest on maternity leave to alleviate the boredom.

That gave me something else to do.

Definitely look at baby cinema! It was the highlight of my week, I absolutely loved it, baby napping on me, coffee. Until he turned 5 months and wouldnt sit still again, but i know many were able to enjoy it up until 12 months.

At 3 months I was doing lots of meals/coffees out with family and friends, play cafes, garden centres, walks, visit national trust/country houses you like, farm shops, museums (my local has an aquarium), free places to see animals, ie animal sanctuaries. I did love playgroups too.

I would just do what you enjoy and take baby with you, art galleries, lunch out with your partner/mum/whoever.

I know what you mean about playgroups/classes, but if you time it around naps it can be a decent chunk. Ie nap, playgroup, home so baby can nap and you can relax, then a walk etc. See it as something to tire baby out.

Also, have a look at the children's centres/family hubs around, they often do great groups, as does the library.