NCT Classes - really?

[Colabottle10]

So everyone and their goldfish has told me that we should enrol on the NCT course 'if only to make friends' etc. I have just been online and found that the nearest one to me is in the local city (which I'm 30mins away from and never go to and don't 'hang out' with people from there). Looked at booking and it's going to be £200 for 6 sessions. They wanted payment upfront too.

When I emailed to ask about paying in instalments I was told they would split it in 2 payments.....one now and one in a month. I'm only 15+3, we aren't buying any baby stuff until after the 20w scan just in case. So I have politely declined.

I live in a remote place which has a lovey small town around 20mins away. It's in this town that I'll be going to mother and baby groups and meeting friends for coffee etc etc....

Are the NCT classes REALLY worth it if the only positive is making friends.....but these would be people I have nothing in common with and won't ever see again as they are in the city and I never go there? Seems daft...

I think you make a really good point BertieBotts. My nearest nct classes are in a much more affluent area of my town. Whilst we aren't exactly struggling for money I am very much of the working class ilk and would worry about having very little in common with the other mums. (And despite the fact I can afford a £200 car seat, my tight yorkshire upbringing means I'd really struggle to justify it over a much more reasonably priced one).

Oh don't get me wrong, they were lovely people. The support was great - for the first year or so. But we just had very little in common beyond the DC and it was really hard to stay in touch especially when I was struggling with depression and they (totally unintentionally) made me feel so inadequate.

I didn't bother with classes for the same reason as you - too far away, meet ups therefore unlikely to be convenient with newborn in tow! We have a local NCT group which is good and plenty of bumps to babes and mother and toddler groups to make mum friends. Have also found the post natal group on here great for middle of the night chats!