Where do all the Mums go??

[Lou1976]

I started my maternity leave today and apart from getting a horrible cold I also started to feel quite anxious about how I'm going to fill my time for the next 9 months I plan to have off work. There is only so much police, camera, action I can watch but with the days drawing in and it getting colder outside I can see that it would be very tempting to hide away at home with the baby. I was wondering what kind of groups are around in the Streatham/Balham/Tooting area - any leads would be appreciated.

Try one o'clock clubs e.g Brockwell Park, children's centres (lots of these) and libraries near you for info. on play sessions, toddler groups, baby massage, that kind of thing. NCT tea groups can also be good.

2littlekings & I are trying to meet up soon in Streatham Hill (but have had some delays due to illness) if you are interested?

How about this...?

Gas and Hot Air is an hour long, daytime comedy sketch show about pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood. Performed by new mums Helen Rutter and Natasha Joseph and written over breastfeeding, sleepless nights and copious amounts of weight watchers cake. Babies under 1 are welcomed with open arms as long as they can't move much and don't mind a bit of fruity language.

Where? The Hob, 7 Devonshire Road, Forest Hill, SE23 (opp Forest Hill station)

When? Every Thursday at 2pm from 29th Oct - 26th Nov

How Much? £6

Contact: 020 8855 0496

Email: [email protected]

Once you've got the hang of the buses up to Clapham/Brixton the Watch With Baby cinema sessions at the Picture House/Ritzy are brilliant (Thursday / Friday mornings I seem to remember). I watched more films during my maternity leave than the previous 10 years put together.

If you sign up with the Babylab at Birkbeck college they'll ring you to ask your baby to help with research on development, and send a black cab to collect you. Sounds a bit wierd I know, but when you're stir crazy after a few days stuck indoors it's a lifeline to get out with door to door transport to a really baby-friendly environment with other adults to talk to (the babies normally really enjoy the experience).

Singing groups are a good way to entertain your kid and meet new mums, and it stocks up your own store of lullabies and songs to sing with them. I used to go to Jane Ruby's classes (www.rubyrhymes.co.uk/, she does classes in Brixton and Streatham), but you could also try the Monkey Music franchise or there are many more - google for them once your baby is about 3 months old.

Your local NCT branch probably runs playgroups in your area (there's a postcode search on www.nct.org.uk/home. You normally don't have to be a member to attend playgroups, but if you are then you will get invited to post natal tea parties, which is a good way to meet people and form peer groups (sometimes for life).

Members of ante-natal classes often have regular post-natal get-togethers - that's one of the best reasons to attend ante-natal classes I think.