DD goes to other Mum at baby group and sits on her lap throughout

[Slobberdobber]

I take DD (11 months) to a singing baby group, and I now feel like I have to stop going. Every time we go, she crawls away from me, to one of the other Mums and stretches her arms up to be picked up and put on her lap. Once she's sat there, she ignores me for the rest of the group.

The Mum she goes to has a slightly older child who comes and goes from her, but occasionally gets annoyed that DD is sitting on her Mum's lap. So I have to take DD away, to much screaming and clinging to this other Mum.

It makes me so sad because I have to sit through the group singing to myself while DD is on someone else's lap.

There is nothing else unusual about DD's behaviour around me or her Dad or at home. She shows some separation anxiety if I leave and happiness when I come back, but I think that is normal. She doesn't have a nanny, I am a full time Mum.

What is going on?

I must say that in your shoes, I would have removed her from the start...rather than let her sit there...after all the other woman has come for her own child.

I wouldn't be waiting for the woman's child to get annoyed before I take DD away.

Don't stop going, just get past it.....don't let DD go to the other woman, distract her with a toy or just get up out of the circle and take her out briefly. Even babies need to begin learning social stricture.

Children are treacherous! Mine are always on the look out for a new and improved model of mummy.

Maybe miss a couple of weeks and go to a couple of new classes (many gave free taster sessions). Then go back after a bit of a break.

I would agree that its actually unfair to let her do this in the first place. Its unfair on the other mother and on her child. Your child needs to be picked up and taken back immediately and if she has a tantrum you leave until she's calmed down.

I'd also probably give the class a miss for a few weeks.

I've had this happen to me, it didn't really bother me too much, although I did wish the parent would have come over and took her daughter back, as people have said, I went to take my son and the child also wanted me to play with her constantly. I think it's up to the parent to take the child away, whether it causes a tantrum or not. She may just be too polite to say something, like I was. Saying that it's perfectly normal for children to do this!