Baby groups

[Tlg21]

Hi all,
Just wondering what everyone's experiences are with baby groups.
I'm feeling a lot of pressure at the moment to take my 10wo ds to a group. I struggle with transport and I just want to see if it's worth attending groups. What are your experiences of groups? Did you make new friends there? Did baby enjoy it?
Anyone else feeling the pressure? I'm normally such a social person but since covid i've become a bit more reserved so i'm not sure if this will make that worse if nobody really talks at groups or better X

Why do you feel pressure?

My baby is 11 weeks. We've been to a baby yoga session and that was lovely. The women were lovely.

Plan to go to a baby and toddler group in a few days.

I'm reserved too but feel like I want to get out and do things now. Baby seems to enjoy it.

If you don't want to you don't have to.

I wasnt able to take my baby as he was born march 2020 so the first one we could get to due to covid and places available was june this year. I was apprehensive but my little boy absolutely loves it and its the highlight of the week. His development has grown so much. I speak to the mums in class but none so far out of class but thats more my choice.

I’m fairly outgoing. I’ve been to one group. I hated it. I’m going to persevere with something I think DS will enjoy (maybe music) for socialising but only one group. I thought once I became a mum I’d really value the groups. Turns out I’d rather go hiking with DS alone or meet with one friend than go to what essentially feels like a “bitch and stitch”. I walked (30 minutes) to the group and people thought I was insane, everyone else drove (shorter distances too). They’re not for everyone and that’s ok.

Thanks for the replies think it's pressure as I have friends who are taking their little ones and love it. Everyone asks me a lot of the time if i have any booked. Its just a struggle with transport for me but i do feel i need to get out and meet more mums. I have a great group of friends, i just worry i'm holding ds back if i don't take him to these classes x

You don't need to go to groups for his benefit at this age, he has no idea. I found groups a lifesaver for talking to other parents and getting out and about when they were earlier and building a support group. If you are happy with your own company and don't really want to do that, then there's no reason why you have to.

Maybe try going for a group aimed at young babies. The toddler groups can be very noisy and busy and not everyone has time to chat as they're running around after a toddler. Something like story time/song time at the local library, baby sensory or a breastfeeding support group (if relevant) might be good

Sorry cross posted. You certainly aren't holding him back he is too tiny to get anything out of those groups at his age. If you're planning to be a stay at home parent, or work very part time, then you'll probably want to attend groups when he is older for the social side but if he is going to nursery there's no need really, if you don't want to

@HungryHippo11 aww thank you, that makes me feel better. He will be going to nursery as I will be returning to work full time so I am sure he will get socialised at Nursery x

The only one possibly worth it at this age is baby massage and even then it's probs still for the social side. From 6 months they take an interest and from 10 months I could tell my baby was getting bored and it was really good to go to groups etc.

I definitely wouldn't put myself under pressure to go to groups at this stage

If transport is the issue is there anything in walking distance? There are baby clubs in two of the churches close to where I live.

• social side for you I mean!

I loved the baby group I went to. It was called bumps and babies and run by the NCT. Have a look on Facebook for your local branch to see if they do similar.

I didn't go for the babies at all. I went for me. I walked there most weeks (about 45 mins) and it was a chance to sit and talk to other adults. I even volunteered to run it. Last week was my last session (kids are now 4 and 2) and I'm going to miss going and helping the new mums.

That said, if it's not for you, it's not for you.

Not important at all for baby, but we did a lot of classes because I found it gave days a structure and gave me a reason/motivation to get out of the house, especially if I'd paid upfront!

I actually really loved baby massage and baby sign language. Not really for the social stuff but because they were genuinely useful and I got a cup of tea and a biscuit

Honestly, I hated them

It was the local children's centre run baby sensory and baby massage I enjoyed, but I find you get much more out of groups once lo is moving 7-8 months +. It can be a juggle with naps etc, is there a FB babies page, perhaps you can see if anyone else has a baby a similar age near you who would fancy an informal catch up?

We have been going since my little one was 3 months, that was the earliest we could go due to COVID. I did 2 a week both I could walk to as I don't drive one was private one was children's centre. My little boy enjoyed it but what I found really helpful is I could see what he responded to and enjoyed and then do it at home. One of the groups the mums started going for coffee after which was nice to. I don't have any mum friends so it was nice to meet new people going through the same things and share tips etc. It was also nice to have a routine I know twice a week I have something planned to get out of the house I really missed them over the summer, I think they have really helped my mental health xx