Daddy and DS weekend one on one time

[dal21]

Hi - my DS is only 16 weeks old but I am keen to find something for DH and him to start doing on weekends - a) to give me a little me time but b) to get DS used to time with DH without mummy being around.
There seems to be tons of mother/ baby things - but does anyone know of anything on weekends? We are London based and DS takes bottle happily so can send them off with bottle of EBM no worries.

Any suggestions happily welcomed!

Our swimming classes are on saturdays. These classess are for babies. Lots of dads there. Try looking on www.birthlight.com to see if they run in your area.

thanks yogimum - the swiss cottage class on sat mornings is 5 mins away! fab news.

I thought that the point of a lot of the mum/baby things was to give mums some company? Are you sure that your dh actually wants to go to a group as such? Is it actually necessary for dh to have to take ds out? After all you could always do something out of the house for some me-time? That said - swimming does sound good.

I would also suggest that whilst you thread very carefully about how you try to manage your dh's relationship with your ds -especially at this stage before ds is mobile or talking. By all means be explicit about your need for me-time - it is absolutely essential. Neither do you want to be in a position where your dh is incapable of looking after your ds is you're not around. But for most men there is a huge difference between looking after a young baby, and looking after a toddler say.

I'm probably reading far too much into your post!

My dh has been able to lots of activities with my ds as he get 3 months off work at a time. He has been taking ds to baby signing and funnily quite a few dads started showing up at the classes too.

thanks ladymuck - your post has (sort of) lost me.

DH is fab with DS. He wants to be more involved and yes a group thing where he may meet fellow dads would be fab. I dont really see where there could be a problem? I trust him completely with DS and he needs to have more time with him to build a relationship without me hovering in the background. Amd staying in the house is not fun for either him or DS. I wouldnt have posted if that was what i wanted them to do...he already does that.

Sorry but i really think you have read far too much into my post.

any other suggestions welcomed and thanks for the baby signing too yogimum will take a look at it!

I agree wholeheartedly that swimming is a brilliant weekend activity for dads and babies. My dh has done this since ds was a baby (he's six this year) and it's been invaluable. When ds was clingy to me it meant that dh had sole care of ds for a whole morning or afternoon and ds had to get used to that and cope without me which was a fantastic way of ensuring that the bond between dh and ds didn't disappear during that clingy phase that an awful lot of babies have.

As time has gone on, ds just loves swimming with dad because no-one else can throw him about so well or play sharks under the water or 'protect' him from the 'ticklefish' who live under the water, etc etc

DH didn't go to formal classes and actually I think that suited him and may suit lots of men more than a formal 'class'; when I go along on the odd occasion, I see LOTS of dads with kids at the weekend; so he will meet other dads for sure, without it having to be formal. DS and DH have loved the rough and tumble aspect of it which classes just can't provide.

I say go for it, ensure they go out. You're right, it's very healthy for your dh to have sole charge without you there.

I guess it was the wording that "I am keen to find something for DH and him to start doing on weekends" rather than "dh is keen to find something to start doing on weekends" .

What sort of things does your dh enjoy currently as that might stimulate more ideas?

When DS was this age I used to send him out with DH so I could get a bit of kip, usually only for 2 hrs or so as I was usually too lazy to express. TBH they didn't do classes/activities, more walks in the park, trips to B&Q with DS in the sling, that sort of thing.

Now DS is older (17 months) he and DH have a regular date in Sainsburys on Friday afternoons (as DH finishes work early). DS loves to 'help' with the shopping . DH really enjoys this time too.

I don't know where you are in London but Dh takes ds (now 3 years old) to one of these on the first Saturday of every month.

It is just a load of dads and children getting together once a month.
the one Dh goes to is in Kingston on Thames.
www.kingston.gov.uk/browse/community_people_and_living/children_and_young_people/children_s_centres/ surbitonchildrenscentre.htm
click on programme of activities and it gives you a contact number for that group though I'm not sure if there are any others in London.

It is run by dads for dads and dh and ds always seem to have a blast at it.

I also found this online
wholetthedadsout.org/Test_Frameset.htm
The website sounds a bit Churchy (may or may not be your thing)

Dh also takes ds to a local farm, the park, the science museum, and they also do what DH called his 'mystery tours' From when ds was about a year old they just would get on a train and get off at a random stop and explore at a child's pace. That sort of thing would drive me batty as I need to know where I'm going and what I'm doing. Ds on the other hand loves it as does DH.

Dh has been taking ds out most Saturdays since he was a tiny baby and is very good at it and more importantly they now both have a very close relationship.

Some of our local churches run dads and toddler groups, although these tend to be during the week.

I wish there was more stuff on at weekends for working parents (like me) in general - places like Wacky and so on are full of older kids at the weekend so not suited to little ones.

I would love to be able to send dh and ds out on their own, ever, but alas dh is wheelchair bound and ds is just too mobile. Dh lost ds in Ikea a few weeks ago because he went charging off and dh couldn't get through the crowds quickly enough to keep up (fortunately I found him in moments, thank god, but even so - we've realised if we want to do anything out that requires me to be able to concentrate on choosing things, we have to take an extra person with us).

lazycow, I love that idea of the mystery tours...that's so sweet. I think men can be so great at that sort of thing actually.

ah ladymuck - now i completely understand! DH has always been very hands on and over Christmas we were with family. Our niece is 2 1/2 years old and very clingy to mummy...and her daddy (DH's bro) is around during the week more than DH is. A discussion followed and DH wants some quality time with DS hence my starting to look for something they can do together.

the swimming is a real goer i think and he may ask a few of his friends who also live locally (also had bubs) if they want to go along....formal classes or non formal - is entirely up to them....

thanks hg for the positive feedback and others for more ideas...