Baby groups, how often

[Freckledcupoftea]

My baby is 3 months old and wondered how often is normal for mums to take babies this age to baby groups.

I currently take my baby to a small teacher led swimming group (has two other parents) and a non structured sensory group which she seems to enjoy.

DD seems sensitive around too noisy groups, I have tried a local bounce and rhyme but DD could only handle 15 minutes before she started crying and took seemed agitated even when we were home later that day.

I'm not fussed with groups as I am an introvert and see friends/family on weekends but didn't want this effecting DD's social skills. I may be overthinking this but the mum guilt is real!

However often you feel like it. At this age and for a fair while, groups are for the parent rather than the baby. Baby gets aa much stimulation going to the supermarket or park

When they were bigger, maybe 9 months+, I went to something every other day, and a walk on the days I didn’t do something. Just to make me get dressed I think!

At 3 months I used to go to clinic, children’s centre for a breast feeding group (they offered free baby massage back then too so that when it was on) and my friends houses. Library too. So a “class” once a week and chilling out with friends maybe twice a week. I’d sign up for things like baby sensory now though, they won’t be any good at the moment but for when baby is bigger they are very good and have a waiting list in some areas. Messy play at the church had a 2 year list!

Whatever you want. I went to lots in the early days because I needed out of the house. Less as he got older. At 3 years old we haven't been to any in nearly a year. Nursery is enough and the rest of the time he just wants to play at home or be outdoors.

I loved them in the early days and made many good friends meeting other mums at BookBug, church playgroups and the like.

Baby groups are pretty much just for you to meet other Mums, babies that age are easily entertained by watching you abd the world around then and don’t need socialising. I went to 2 groups plus swimming from around 9 months but didn’t bother before that.

At that age, they’re for you, not your baby. Babies don’t really need interaction with other babies. Frankly, they can barely even see them at 3 months!

I did 1 class a week to get me out of the house to talk to other adults up to about 6 months and none after that.

As often or not often as you want! I don't really bother with the baby classes, I go to a lot of coffee groups in church halls, purely for the adult socialising, and I go to things like cinema and pub quiz where you can bring your baby!

Thanks all this has really reassured me! It's so tough trying to gauge what's best but I guess each mum and baby is different and you have to go with what works for you 😌

I did a class every day (or twice a day when older) and I felt my baby got a lot of stimulation out of it rather than it being a way for me to meet other mums (we did structured classes rather than groups so not much opportunity to chat, which I preferred). We had lots of classes taking place locally (in north London) and it was fun to check them all out. Baby would have been fine indoors every day but I would have got bored!
Both of mine were happy with all sorts of groups including busy and noisy ones.

I went to one and never went back. Didn’t really get on with it, my baby was asleep for most of it. It really is for you though at that age. I lived in London so had a wealth of free things on my doorstep. Gave me a chance to see all the galleries, museums, films (highly recommended the baby sessions they do at the cinema), etc., that I only ever did when I when people visited. I felt my baby had lots of stimulation and more importantly happy parents!!

I started 1 group a week at 3 months and built up to 3 a week by about 8 months? They were for me to meet people and get out of the house but I honestly believe they benefitted the baby as he very quickly became used to loud noises / groups / other children, where my friends' babies who had not been taken to groups got easily scared and upset

I have a 3 month old and we're starting baby sensory 'for him' in a couple of weeks, but I've been doing post-natal Pilates, community buggy walks and a Mum club meet up for about a month or so now. As he gets older and more mobile there's lots more in our area for crawlers and up, I'm looking forward to trying them.

Never at that age. DD did toddler gym from around a year old. DS did a multi sports thing that he enjoyed, from 18 months. Before that it’s for your benefit, to socialise, not theirs so stop if you’re not enjoying it. They like stimulation and stuff to look at but doesn’t have to be at a baby group, a museum or a trip to the supermarket is as exciting! Look up the six stages of play- super interesting and shows that they don’t even really notice each other until about 2, there’s no interaction until 3 and proper playing together isn’t actually until aged 4.