Water Babies or Baby Sensory?

[boba82]

Not sure if this is the right topic for this thread?

I have a new baby and want to sign up to some classes to help with his development and also to meet other mums. Does anyone recommend either of these classes? Not sure which one to go for. . .

Depends on his personality a bit - one of my twin boys hated swimming (just council run classes though), but they both loved the sensory room at nursery. They were, and mostly still are, quite laid back babies who didn't really need to burn off energy. Another thing to consider is which class fits in best with his routine - swimming is quite tiring and I'd be aiming at some food and a sleep immediately after. Sensory classes in the late afternoon crazy time (that may just have been us, and an unlikely time anyway, but I'm sure you get the idea) might not go too well.

DS has been swimming with Waterbabies since he was 12 weeks. He loves the classes, and they have been great for his water confidence, but they aren't really social. Your full attention is on the babies while they are in the water, and once they are out it's usually a mad dash getting both yourself and baby dry, baby fed and often down for a sleep.

If the social aspect is important, the sensory class may be better.

never done baby sensory, started waterbabies when DD was 8 weeks still going strong at 26 months, I love it and would thoroughly reccomend the classes, not very social though - why not do waterbabies and try an NCT coffee group

I had a free taster of Baby Sensory once and was very glad I didn't waste my money. What a load of rubbish. Buy some juggling scarfs, glowsticks and some gamalan music and do it yourself. Sign up to classes to meet people for sure, but don't think it will help with his development. Time with his mum and dad will do that better than anything else. (On the basis of my experience with Baby Sensory I'd go with Water Babies).

I have done both, starting at around 5mo Like someone said already , there are taster sessions for baby sensory. So you can try before you buy.

Personally. For development, I don't believe you need any classes. You can do it yourself free or with very little cost.

It is probably harder to go swimming with your LO. My DD cried when I took her to the local pool because it's too cold. Waterbabies are taught in warm pools. Also it's amazing to see after 2 mo DD can already swim a short distance to me. But I do know of one mum who taught her toddler to swim herself.

DD really loved The baby sensory classes. I think you need to be a bit older to appreciate them. She was fascinated by the puppet shows, the blinking lights, the bubbles etc. It's a good hour of activity for her and I think the effort they put in is worth the money. I have been to way worst classes.

For meeting new mums waterbabies aren't very social. It could be I am doing a weekend class and it's mainly dads. Baby sensory has a 20min breakout session to chat with others. If you want to meet other mums, have you looked at your sure start center? Or community hall? They might run baby groups. You pay a minimal amount for these because there aren't any classes per se.

I'm meeting my baby sensory group still even though the classes are finished. Just started baby massage too and hope we'll keep in touch as well. The babies all seem to enjoy both - DD2 was 6 weeks when we started so still very young.
If you want to meet other mums these classes are great. All done through local sure start centre which is worth its weight in gold IMO.

When my lo was born we went to both Baby Sensory and Puddle Ducks (like Waterbabies) and really enjoyed both. When he reached 1 though we stoppped baby sensory because it wasn't available for older children, but believe that's different now. He definitely enjoyed it and got loads out of it, in fact the opening song was one of the only things that would get him off to sleep. I didn't find it that social though, but it could have just been the group.
We have always loved Puddle Ducks from when we started and still go now - the confidence and skill he now has in the water is incredible! I'd imagine you'd get something similar at Waterbabies, so I would recommend doing the swimming. I remember our teacher telling us how swimming helps brain development and helps babies to learn more easily later in their childhood, plus of course the exercise is great! Lessons are only half an hour long so not too tired at the end, but he always sleeps well which is worth its weight in gold!
I certainly couldn't have taught Teddy what he knows now with swimming and it's a totally different environment going to a normal pool. Plus you get the reassurance of being with other mums in similar situations (8 babies max per lesson) and with a highly qualified teacher - mine have always been amazing!
For social side, I go for a coffee with the mums after swimming as its in a leisure club with a cafe/bar, but that may depend where your pool is. I certainly found it to be sociable and the fact that he has an incredible life-saving skill now is just brilliant! Like minicorrect says, local SureStart centres have brilliant sensory rooms that are free to book - we went to a local one a few times and it was brill!

Have never done swimming, figure that can happen later (I learnt to swim at 3/4 and am very good at it ).
Baby sensory - no, no, no. Did a term of this and very unimpressed. nothing I couldn't do at home.
Our favourite has been a music class. We will keep going to that until school time I think.

I've done baby sensory with both dds and am now enjoying it with ds. All three have loved it and the 'Say hello to the sun' song never fails to calm an upset baby. We do swimming at the local pool in a special baby session so the pool is warm. I looked into waterbabies and imo it was expensive. I can do baby sensory and swimming for the same cost as waterbabies.

Thanks for all the advice ladies, still trying to decide, at this rate he'll be 21!

waterbabies is great did it with dd - but look at other local companies doing similar as with ds we now go to www.baby-splash.co.uk which is local to us and MUCH cheaper than waterbabies and i feel the quality of the teaching is much better and more personal to each individual baby :) do look around! Agree baby sensory seemed a bit dull and DS wasnt interested at all!

I'd pick swimming. You can figure out how to do the sensory stuff yourself.

Booked us for waterbabies - thanks for all the advice!