Dad taking over

[Londonista]

Hi all, I'm going back to work shortly when my son will be 6 months old, and his Daddy will be taking over the full-time care role. He's very nervous that all the activities and groups etc are for mums only and he will feel like a freak if he turns up at them with the nipper. One of our friends has even inadvertently suggested other mums might think he's a pedophile!!! To try and ease his mind, I'm trying to make a list of activities that are more "daddy friendly" - e.g. swimming classes, so he has a few regular weekly gigs in his calendar where he might meet other dads (and mums). I've had a lot of support from meeting up with my NHS and NCT mothers groups over the past few months, and I'd like him to have the same help and support if he needs it.
Anyone got any suggestions of dad-friendly activities I can add to my list?

Nursery rhyme sessons in the local library? Sessions at Gymboree?

Could you ask any of your NHS or NCT groups who aren't going back to work if they can "adopt" your DH? If he can turn up to things with people he already knows he's likely to be viewed with less suspicion.

Yes, I think I'll have to ask my mums groups, those that aren't going back to work to adopt him, though mostly, being ladeez, we just meet up and chat, and blokes aren't so into that are that. They always want to be "doing" something. Good suggestion re local library, he already goes there a bit so it will feel like neutral turf. He went to Crumpet on Northcote Rd in Battersea last week by himself and was slightly shocked at the Mummy Brigade that's out in full force every day around here. There was only 1 other dad there - and it was Mark Owen from Take That would you believe???
I did ask why he didn't strike up a conversation with him, what a Dad's Network that would have been!

most playgroups have dads there too

thanks, I'll check them out - ok for a 6 month old do you think or are they a bit young for playgroups.

depends whereabouts you are - some local playgroups are for babies under 1 year only

my husband has looked after all 3 of our kids from birth and the whole mummy mafia thing here in the uk did freak him out initially. It was only when we moved to Malaysia and he got involved with running the PTA at the kindergarten did he pick up the knack of talking to absolutely everyone. So I would say best tip would be to get involved in the organisation of whichever kids' group he fetches up in (volunteer to be treasurer or whatever). Then he will have an excuse to talk to everyone and everyone will understand his place and know how to talk to him.