Has anyone taken their little one to Gymbabies???

[Bevspooner]

Hi

My little boy (6months old) is booked in for a trial a gymbabies tomorrow, and I was just wondering if anyone has been and whether it was any good?

Seems quite expensive at £5/hour so I have high expectations.

Any feedback would be great

Thanks

I've been taking dd since she was 7 months. We have our last gymbabes class tomorrow as she's moving up to be a tumble tot, having been walking for a few weeks now (she's 1 next week).

Although it is quite expensive (you have to pay £20 joining fee too (can't remember if that's one off or annual)), it's on a par with most music or activity groups, and they do have quite a few staff there, so I don't think the price is unrealistic.

DD loves going - she's very sociable so it's a great opportunity to see other children, and she's got very good at climbing etc with their help.

DD started crawling just before joining. What stage is your ds at at the moment? I don't think he'll get as much from it if he isn't looking remotely mobile yet, but if he's already crawling or seems not far off then he'll probably love it.

Ds2 has been going since he started crawling at about 7.5 months. He loves it as he's very active. Ds1 went to Tumble Tots from walking through to 3 yrs and really enjoyed it.

I think babies get more out of it if they're mobile and active, as CSWS says. It's pretty much a free for all - you take them round the equipment as you please and the staff are milling about chatting to the mums and babies, and showing you how to use the equipment etc.

Hope you enjoy it!

he's not crawling yet, but did manage to do the whole rolling over thing yesterday....Yeeeeaaah!!

Thanks for the feedback.

I'll let u know how it goes.

(Good luck to your little one, hopw she enjoys Tumbletots)

My DD did Gymbabes (part of Tumbletots) from 6 months, pre crawling. However she was able to stand and cruise at this time. She loved it - lots of singing and action songs, help through some gym equipment activities, toys to play with and every so often the parachute. She also enjoyed being with the other children. She then moved onto Tumbletots when she started walking and continued there till wshe was about 2 IIRR.

After this Gymboree started near us - even dearer! But it was better too - more structure, more equipment and in a purpose built room. DD did that for about a year and loved it.

So we've been and I think you were right, he will enjoy it much better when he can crawl.

It didn't help that the class was on when he normally naps, but we soldiered on and he loved the singing and a little bit of the playing until it all became too much.

(Me and his daddy enjoyed it though)

So all in all the verdict is:
Very good, loved the structure with a song and a little warm up, then a bit playing and then a relaxing bit, but definately for crawling babes.

Thanks everyone, I knew I could rely on Mumsnet for advice you never fail