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Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

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Original poster

Children’s centre

19 replies

Smellybears · 11/02/2018 23:15

Evening all!
I’ve a children’s centre round the corner from me and like the look of a couple of classes- under 1’s, a rhyme time musical class, sensory and there’s also a pool. My question is, how young is too young to take my little one?
Thanks in advance for your replies

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BackforGood · 11/02/2018 23:49

You need to pop in and ask them really.
Sadly CCs have ben cut massively since their first inception, and, anyway they have always run differently from one another, but, on the whole, they are there to support parents of children from pregnancey to school age, so it is worth you popping in and saying hello and asking them directly

Strippervicar · 11/02/2018 23:54

They should have a timetable on your local council website. They will tell you suggested ages on there. Usually they will specify the sessions exclusively for babies, they have to for health and safety.
IMO no age is too young. Use the CC before someone tries to close it.

I had bad PND, our CC classes were a lifeline and my only support network.

Also, loads of fun at messy play.

Original poster

Smellybears · 12/02/2018 03:05

Thank you both! I sent them an email on Friday so fingers crossed they should get back to me soon with the age.
Strippervicar-I’m desperate to get out the house and meet other mums. I haven’t got many friends so could do with getting out and about.

OP posts:

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mindutopia · 12/02/2018 15:15

Under 1's is what it sounds like, for under 1's. I would say normally it's somewhat geared towards babies who are old enough to be playing and interacting, so definitely from 6 months, maybe 4 is months if they are old enough to go on a mat. But totally depends on the make up of who attends. It's also just to get out of the house and it could be much younger babies too, depending.

I did rhyme time at the library and I would say it was definitely probably sitting up and older, so maybe from 6-7 months.

Baby sensory would usually be for younger babies though, so from 8 weeks up, probably not much past 8 months. But really just depends on who takes advantage of the classes and turns up.

If you have a little one, you might look into local baby massage classes. They tend to be more geared towards 2-4 months. It's the only class I did early on and it was a lifesaver just for forcing me out of the house once a week, which I really needed. You will have to pay usually, but it wasn't too much and I found knowing that I had pre-paid meant I wouldn't just give up and not go on a tough day, which actually was really important.

greathat · 12/02/2018 15:41

Just go. They are for the mums as much as the kids

Eeeeek2 · 12/02/2018 16:02

The babies under 1 will be for the mums as much as the little ones

Strippervicar · 12/02/2018 20:58

Get gone, OP and let us know. The staff will be nice to you and help. As it's free they don't give coffee/tea but they will talk to you. :)

Original poster

Smellybears · 12/02/2018 22:02

Thank you all for your advice! I got an email back, unfortunately they didn’t actually answer my question about the minimum age but I’m just going to turn up and hope for the best!
Thanks for the encouragement all!

OP posts:

Strippervicar · 12/02/2018 22:12

Well done OP. Really proud of you.

youlemming · 12/02/2018 22:20

Like others have said even if your LO is too young to really play go, it's a great way to meet other mums. The weekly HV weight clinics used to be at my local CC and there would be an under 1's session run alongside so from only a few weeks old we would go and it was more for me in those early days to chat and have a coffee.

Now my DD is at nursery and is with 2 others that we would meet up with during those sessions, not quite 3 yrs and they are pretty much been life long friends already :-D

Original poster

Smellybears · 13/02/2018 02:44

OP posts:

Original poster

Smellybears · 13/02/2018 05:46

Am I best waiting until he’s had his vaccinations then go?

OP posts:

soundsystem · 13/02/2018 06:12

I went to my local one from when mine were about 4 weeks. Obviously far too young to do any playing but it was more for me to get out of the house!

Happygolucky009 · 13/02/2018 06:24

Don't wait til immunisations, go this week and check out what's happening in your area

Original poster

Smellybears · 13/02/2018 06:26

Fab! :)

OP posts:

BikeRunSki · 13/02/2018 06:33

Just go! Don’t wait for vaccinations, just go. You are their target audience.

We had a CC, it opened tge nibrh DS was born. It was wonderful, it provide the support network, information, activities and friendship I needed as a new parent. I fit far more out if it than the NCT.

The CC closed down a couple of years ago, by which time both my dc were at school. It is a terribly loss to the area.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 13/02/2018 06:39

I've taken newborn babies.

fleetingthinker · 13/02/2018 07:04

I wouldn't take a newborn unless it was a postnatal group. They are germ fest, especially at this time of year. Nothing worse than a poorly new baby (I speak from experience here!).

Are there any postnatal groups running?

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 13/02/2018 11:17

I was very pressurised to get out with DS1. The others had to come because I was taking an older 1.

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