Watford Mums & Dads?

[charlene1981]

Hi all!

New to mumsnet, but wondering if there are any other Watford or near Watford mums and dads out there? My partner and myself had our first son in June 2013, although we have attended some baby play groups and courses in the local area when I was on ml, we have found it difficult to really connect with any other parents with children of a similar age. We both now work full time during the week, so is even more difficult, so just want to reach out to anyone in that same position who may want to go on the occasional weekend play date, etc. I have lived in Watford for the last 3 years and my partner has only lived here for the last 2 years so we don't have many local friends here yet, we are both originally from London and were living in West London before we moved here.

aww bless a reply, thank you. My son is a little full on at times, my partner's friend fiancé has a baby around the same age as yours, a little girl, are you a first time mother or do you have other children? Hope all is going well for you and your lo

I am sorry to hear your lo came earlier than expected, hope things are OK for you both now. My lo was born full term just came one day early than his due date, but was born with an infection (have no idea what caused it), so that was a bit unexpected, but we both were treated and he is fine. However, felt a little isolated after the birth as was put in a side room due to the infection so didn't get to really meet many of the mothers on the ward at the time. Been to some baby playgroups when he was younger run by the Westfield Children Centre and another at St Johns Church in Central Watford, which I believe has relocated to Tescos community room. My mum takes him to a playgroup once a week for me at Beechfield Children Centre as I work, and we try to get to a weekend stay and play/activity session that has just started up at Asda once in a while and sometimes take him Gambados (free for under 1's, although a little on noisy side during peak times). I really enjoyed the baby massage and baby yoga courses I have been on offered by the local surestart children centres in the area, just never really get to see the same people regularly, what hasn't helped me as I had a summer baby and the playgroups don't run in the summer, one of the playgroups I went to relocated to a different venue due to building work going on at the children centre and the numbers attending started to be on low side, and the playgroup leader there decided to finish things up a month before the term ended and I had to go back to work 8 months after had my lo. Anyway, where abouts in Watford do you live? We are quite Central, altho we don't have a car, so always on foot or by public transport everywhere for us. I hope you have found some good playgroups/support groups to attend in your area, it's just good to get out of the house sometimes :-)

Well do what you can fit in, I heard about the baby sensory classes that you go to from another woman at one of the playgroups I use to go to, but didn't know where the church was at the time, but she said they were really good. Do recommend trying to get yourself on a baby massage and baby yoga course offered by the children centres, tbh the baby massage didn't help with my lo's naps as he was tinker and a catnapper, but helped with his colic/reflux issues and was a good bonding experience

Also not sure what your nearest children centre is Beechfield, Berrygrove or Leavesden, but all their websites can be found on Google and has their contact details and timetables of what is going on in the area. My official nearest one is the Sunshine Children Centre, but my mum goes to one of the Beechfield playgroups as it's more convenient to get to. Take care

Just like to add tried out a really nice weekend playgroup in Watford a few weeks ago, Messy Breakfast held at Christ Church off St Albans Road, runs between 9.30am-11am every 3rd Saturday of the month, think they have another one at a church called St Marks ever 2nd Saturday of the month. Anyway hope to make it to that group regularly now and to the Asda one when I can, so just thought I would spread the word as these groups are quite handy for full time working parents