What makes a great baby and toddler group?

[babyandtoddlergrwp]

And what makes an awful one?

Trying to set up a new group but I wanted to get ideas on how to make it somewhere people want to come back to.

I have 3 DC and I have concluded that I actually find baby sensory classes boring, you can easily do things like waving wands and bubbles in front of them at home.
I have gone to baby classes more to get out of the house than anything else, the better ones were classes where you could I chat to other mums with coffee and a cake.

Honestly, the best baby groups I went to were the ones that were mainly for me but with babies brought long too. My favourite was an exercise class where you wore the baby in a carrier and then there was a bit of play with them on the floor at the end. I think I did a couple of salsa classes too with DS in a carrier. Yoga classes where you could bring a baby were also good for this.

Once they're older, it's a bit different but DS was at nursery then so I didn't need to go to any groups.

The best ones I’ve been to are ones with really friendly staff who help with the babies or toddlers when mums need help. The church one I got to is lovely, it’s run by volunteers who are just so friendly and take the time to get to know the children, play with them, bring cups of tea, talk about their own experiences and yours and then do some nice interactive songs towards the end. Everyone loves it and it’s just every week.

@Overthebow I loved my local church playgroup for the same reason. The kids/babies played, mums chatted, then at the end there was a snack for the kids and songs and a story then we went home.

The main thing is that it has to be friendly, warm, and safe - a clean space to let your child play or crawl around is helpful. Oh and easy to park a buggy/pram helps!

Was going to say what PP said, the nicest ones and the ones I returned to regularly were the ones run by the kindest people. Some of the very structured ones can have people running them that tend to micromanage the whole experience. The absolutely best ones have been with kind, older ladies that make teas and coffees and make you feel at ease.

A Music group or sensory play can be lovely, but a supportive, kind environment is something I’d go back to more.

My favourites were always the weekly pay as you go playgroups run by volunteers. The absolute best one had a separate room for the physical toys like bikes, slides etc, and another room for train set, dressing up etc. We got a cup of tea and a biscuit after an hour and then group singing at the end for about ten mins.

When ds1 was tiny the best one was the one geared at mums making friends with a bit of baby massage. We would have a tea/coffee snack, talking about something on topic, massage the babies (who obviously all fell asleep!) Ans then another chat when the group lead would take a picture of us with our baby as mum's never had enough. All perfectly timed to go to the pub next door for a lunch. Made some brilliant friends that way and found there was no pressure for baby to "join in"

Now that mine are older pay as you go toddler groups with a mix of crafts/snacks/toys/singing is our favourite. Been placed on the committee for volunteers and see regular people each week. This one has the most amazing lead who knows the kids and doesn't mind jumping in when something goes wrong/someone needs help.

Least favourites are ones I pay for a whole term and have to drag a toddler to at 9.30 on a Monday morning. Feel resentful when we can't go as a lost £12 a week

When mine were babies, around 6-12 months, I quite liked Sing & Sign, as the babies enjoyed the songs and I felt we were doing something semi-useful. We did have to sign up and pay termly but it was worth it. Other stuff was hit and miss... I found a lot of it pretty excruciating.

However, far and away my favourite groups for age 1-4 are the church playgroups. There was one I went to for years (with both DC at different times) and I recently tried another group which seems equally good. The main thing is that the volunteers are always so lovely and welcoming and they make an effort to talk to people. Both groups I've been to have lots of toys and activities, and very little by way of enforced participation - just brief and optional story and songs at some point. The venues have plenty of space, one group is all indoors but big enough for an indoor climbing frame with slide and ride-ons, which is great in bad weather. The other group has a secure outdoor courtyard with play equipment and ride-ons, as well as a separate room with soft play equipment. What I like about both groups is the craft/messy play stuff because I'm too lazy and precious about mess to do that.

Note that I work part-time so I take my youngest to groups on my days off. Consider which days are most likely to be useful to part-timers; Fridays are probably a good bet.

Food considerations if there are babies attending with allergies.
We went to a good baby and toddler group, mums teas and coffee were in cups with lids reducing risk of spills.
After my daughter started attending they checked with me before having food based messy play. If they were doing decorating biscuits for the craft they checked if they were safe for my daughter ahead of the group. Often it was a case of saying rich tea biscuits from this supermarket not this one for example.
They discouraged feeding snacks in the play area to reduce risk of food contamination on the toys and crumbs on the floor - there were chairs around the edges away from the toys.

I have had friends with allergy babies that have had to leave groups because food contamination means their babies weren't able to safely attend.

I agree a group where the leaders are helpful and hold the baby to give the parent a break. Especially if they have a toddler too.

Another vote for church playgroups! The volunteers always seem like they genuinely love spending time with the kids and it’s lovely to have somebody sort out snack and tea/coffee for a change!

Ones where I can bring my older child. I stopped going because either I needed to be 1:1 or the group was for “up to 2s”. 23 months between my children, only one of me.

As others have said it’s definitely the people that make it and I’d also pick a relaxed church type baby and toddler group over structured classes any day.

But more specifically toys for all age groups and a specific area for non mobile young babies.

For me as well as what has been said by others about being friendly is clear information about who’s in charge and what the ‘rules’ are (how much, is it help yourself to tea, does everyone help tidy up at the end). I’ve been to a couple where I had no idea who was running it as no one approached me so I just muddled along feeling really out of place

i went to one which was really lovely. Had 2 rooms. One big one with a baby area at one end and a craft table at the other and a smaller room where there was tea and biscuits and a set songtime so the volunteers ciukd tidy the main room.

The main thing that made it was that someone was always on the Rita for meet and greet so that everyone was welcomed and shown things like where the toilets were and what time things like drinks and songtime happened.

The worst one I went to had all of the hairs lined up along one wall and everyone just sat in a like and stared at you.

Kind and friendly. My favourite one was led by a lady who remembered everyone’s name, and when a new person arrived she introduced them by name to people so that they were welcomed and had an in to talk to new people. Older women volunteers ran the tea and biscuits and bought them over in travel cups so you could relax.

it was just a lovely, accepting place

My favourite ones are the volunteer/drop in ones in church halls run by older women who are so kind and friendly and dished out mugs of tea on a regular basis. I remember comfortable chairs too! I personally prefer smaller groups that don’t get too noisy, although having said that my second favourite group was a singing group with toys and playmats for the babies/toddlers to entertain themselves.
Neither myself or DD are early risers and most groups are run in the mornings, which never suited us, so I didn’t managed to get to many while on leave.
I would check which days other local
activities are running, it’s good to spread them out in the week, in my area there were none on a Monday or Friday, as I went back to work PT Tues - Thurs that was annoying during the winter as summer there’s more options like going to the park etc.

I had really bad anxiety and never went to a baby and toddler group until there was one in my eldests playgroup so I took my youngest after much persuasion lol. The woman running it became a really good friend even maid of honour in my wedding she was so friendly and kind and I loved going every week. There was many activities including something specific each week Ie making Halloween paper ghosts or Christmas decorations etc song time, making cards depending on the time of year. It was very relaxed and I will always treasure those memories.

Been going to the same sensory class since LO was 8 weeks (now 1 year).

Went to a few different ones before. What I hated was:

• groups being cliquey (especially the organisers!)
• rooms being over crowded
• no structure (just a free for all and toys dumped everywhere in the room)
• parents not being challenged on children's poor behaviour
• organisers not showing any interest in parents or babies

The thing that's kept me going back to the same sessions for 10 months is the organisers. They're down to earth and understand life as a parent and as a solo entity. They want to get to know you, genuinely care and don't speak in that irritating fake happy everything is great voice (think Ms. Rachel!).
They have been supportive, laughed with me, cried with me and got right down in the trenches with me. I would consider them to be friends rather than organisers of sensory sessions.
They also encourage mums to talk and build friendships. They see everyone in the room and recognise who needs more support, who needs some space and which mums can help bring another mum out her shell.

I really will be heartbroken when we stop going, but I know I have made friends for life!

Sorry what do you mean by a poor behaviour for an under 1 year old?

I wasn't referring to an under 1 year old, that is just the age of my LO.

We have attended sessions that include up to 5 year olds (messy play, community events etc). In some groups, older children are allowed to join baby sessions with younger siblings during school holidays/ inset days as well.

That makes sense!
Out of interest, what do you consider a poor behaviour for the older siblings? Paranoid now!

"They want to get to know you, genuinely care and don't speak in that irritating fake happy everything is great voice"

OMG yes! I hate that with a passion - especially when sleep deprived which is frankly most of the time!

I always think I’m the only one on here who isn’t a fan of the church playgroups. Maybe it’s just that the ones round here aren’t very inspiring.

I honestly think most baby and toddler groups are much of a muchness with parachutes, bubbles, scarves and so on. It’s nice when you do have a bit of social time; most groups are 45 mins and then fifteen minutes social time makes it a hit

Literally makes my stomach churn and my ears hurt!