feel like a bad mum just because i dont take dd 1yo to any baby groups

[lovelysongbird]

i do take her to water playgroup at the swimming pool once a week but thats it.

luckily i have a few friends that also had kids, althought they are toddlers really.
and dd has 3 cousins under 2.
and grandparents she sees everyweek

am i really not doing the best for her just beacause i dont take her music, gym, and baby groups.
if i took her to everything at about a fiver a go that would be 25 quid a week.

ive taken her to rhyme time but she didnt really seem that interested.

i will probably take her to play groups when shes older, and can actually play with the stuff.

people keep seeming shocked/horrified that i dont take her to any organised groups

It's not compulsory you know!

Sounds like you're far to busy to bother!

I took dd to a couple but that was more for my own benefit - I got out of the house and met mums with babies the same age as mine as I didn't know anyone with children when dd was born.

At 1 year she won't know the difference

If anyone tells you any different, ignore them

thanks tigerfeet, if say none of my friends had kids are my mum and dad where not around, im sure i would go to make a few mum friends.

that what i thought dd, doesnt know.

seriously , it's money wasted at organised groups at their age.
She sounds like she has loads of lovely stimulating things to do.
save the money

I agree with Tigerfeet. My DD has been to quite a lot of baby groups one way or another and I have discovered 2 things:

1. The free ones are much more fun for both of us
2. All she really wants to do is play with other children and toys and eat stuff which has been all over the floor therefore the only benefit to them is getting me out of hte house and meeting other mums.

Save the money!

lovelysongbird we can be bad mums together - I don't take ds to anything either. Maybe we should ask MNHQ for a "bad mum" emoticon

Groups are for the mums - babies don't need them. I did go to a couple and met some nice mums that I keep in touch with. That's really what they are for. When she's older she might enjoy playgroups - although my 3 yr-old doesn't like groups.

thanks so much, im welling up here.

i was feeling so shit, went out with a few friend that i used to work with the other week, one of my friens was taking about her daughter who does everything with her grand daughter, she was saying oh yes my daughters v good, she does everything with x.
and strarted reeling off all the things they go to.
something everyday.

then at the drs this am, a mother seemed horrified when she asked me what groups i go to and i said none really, forgot to mention swimming.

then i just felt, all these mums are doing everything with the babies.
but i know deepdown in my heart dd is having a great time.
like yesterday i took dd to the park on her trike, we went on the roundabout and swings, she always sits on my lap.
got chatting to another mum and her baby and a nice lady with a dog.
so even if its just a home day, i do, do things with dd.

agree with acinonyx - no-one takes their 1 yo to a group for the child's benefit - it's all to do with mummies - either from a competitive parenting pov or to keep you sane (and believe me, sometimes i needed a group to go to!)
don't feel pressured - if you don't have the need of them, your dc certainly doesn't.

just keep one or two in your back pocket that you can pull out in an emergency!

that's the key thing, isn't it?

It sounds like your DD is having a lovely time - she's seeing different peple, interacting, having new experiences, etc. which is what she needs to do.

I took my DD to organised baby groups at that age, but only because I was lonely. DS is now 13 months and we don't go to any organised groups, but we go to the park, play with friends, go to a soft play area, etc which I think is absolutely fine.

thanks
your are all so right, and nice to take the time to help me

anyway mn is my vitural mums group anyway !