Baby Groups? When/Did you start?

[FraggleRock77]

Me again. Just moved area and need to make new friends. DS 16 Wks old now 6 corrected. I really want to attend a baby group but I'm worried about infections. DS has been infection free apart from a small snuffle! Any advice/experience? X

I think DS (18 weeks) hasn't picked anything up as yet from a baby group, though I was really worried about that (he has neutropenia still so particularly prone to infection). Often people just hold their babies in their laps. I sometimes keep DS in a sling so he naps.

Hi we have been on a couple of surestart courses. Only one day a week. All fine but fed up with small baby comments.

Have you thought about looking on the Bliss website, they have family groups for parents whose babies have been on a neonatal unit in lots of areas.

I've looked Chips, non in the Oxford area. I even posted on the site to see if there was anyone local but no response. Going to eat worms!!! Lots of other groups in our area though, could do one a day if i wanted but i suppose I'm nervous! X

I do baby sing and sign with Oliver. All babies younger than him so similar size, plus as not crawling not sticking fingers/dummies etc in each others mouths.
Apart from that I go to neonatal coffee mornings run by the hospital - all ex hospital babies so the parents keep them away if snuffley as they get it.
perhaps ask your new local hospital?

Hi,
You could take a look at the local pages for you area, there's a local meet up page.

mobile.twitter.com/MNetOxfordshire
local.mumsnet.com/oxfordshire/things-to-do
local.mumsnet.com/oxfordshire

Hey FraggleRock - I'm sorry nobody responded. The number of people we have on the talk boards is increasing slowly, but slowly is the definitive word!

As Cambridgeshire suggested, you could try the Oxfordshire boards too. Alternatively, we're having an Oxfordshire meet-up next Tuesday, in Didcot, which you'd be very welcome to come along to, even if it's just to get out of the house and have a coffee with some others who've been through what you're going through!

As for Baby groups, I found them reasonably germ free, it's the toddler groups that seem to spread bugs like wild fire, so if you find a nice group in Oxford then your little one would probably be OK. (and if you do go along to one, could you leave a review so others can see what you thought of it?)

Hope this is helpful and keep an eye on the local boards - maybe there'll be someone to talk to next year soon! ;)

Doh - just realised why your name was so familiar - I've already given you all this info. Apologies.
Ignore the above post, except for the bit about Baby Groups being mostly germ-free, I skim-read and thought you were Oxford based. The joys of posting when only half-awake!

Thanks for all the feed back. No worries OxfordEditor. As noted i could attend a group each day and I've now been invited to a Postnatal Group by the HV which runs for six Wks. Also NCT sent me a planner of all the local groups and have been very helpful. Looks like i will be busy. Thank you for the Didcot invite but i won't have the car. Family car on its way. I will post about the groups though xx

Sorry i didn't get back about the Local Ambassador Role. I don't think i will have the time at present or the confidence

Hi fraggle,

I went to my HV six week baby group and am really glad I did because I met a lovely group of local mums with babies the same age and we all still meet up each week, sometimes at other groups or at each other's houses. They all know that my DS was premature and therefore don't ask me hundreds of questions about why he's little etc. I also did a baby massage course with DS which was great, and we go to a few other baby groups too. Hope you make some good new friends!

That sounds really positive Fraggle - glad you have a plan! And keep posting on the local boards, too - it's so nice to not be talking to myself :)

Will do. When we get the car sorted i will pop along to the Didcot group x

Thanks MCat. I confirmed my Postnatal course yesterday. DS is now 18 Wks and 10lb so hopefully there won't be too many small baby comments. X