Inexpensive trips out with 18 month old?

foreversomeday

Just to add the NCT groups sound great, I am going to my first one on Thursday and it is right on a local bus route so I assume they take this into account. It is going to cost me £2.50 plus the bus fare but the £2.50 includes tea or coffee so I think it is worth it for the chance to meet other mums as I don't know anyone around here with children.
You can find your local branch here: http://www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com/in-your-area/branch-finder

I will let you know how my NCT group goes on Thursday or Friday!

foreversomeday

Hi

Just wanted to let you know my NCT group was great and I will be going back next week as got chatting to a few different people and everyone was really friendly.

arthur_dent_2

As silly as it sounds, you sont have to be able to swim to go swimming. If your little one has armbands then you can either use the baby pool, or pull them along in the big pool.

squashy

Have you got a surestart centre nearby? What area are you in as someone on here may be able to recommend somewhere. Also I am a huge sling fan, just took my baby to london and tackled the tube just fine!

xxx

squashy

Have a look at https://www.slingmeet.co.uk and see if you have a group nearby, you can meet other mums, get sling demos and hire them for next to nothing.

wannabe_sybil

I'm just popping in to say thank you for all your lovely suggestions.

I really appreciate all the suggestions.

Poor little bear has had head rash all last week, so I haven't had the option of taking him out. I force myself usually to go to the newsagents or the chemists once a day as they are both a few yards away but that isn't much fun for a little bear. However his spots are gone and I am going to take him out - just to the newsagents today as I have been poorly all weekend but tomorrow I hope to take him to the park (weather permitting) with juice and a sandwich and possibly some stale bread to feed any birds around.

Thank you again for your help.

Savvy_Sue

Your Health Visitor should know about any local toddler groups, although many won't meet over the summer (because of older siblings being on school holidays). However it's worth finding out now, if you are able to get in touch with organisers they may have a few 'days out' you could join in with.

wannabe_sybil

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Your Health Visitor should know about any local toddler groups, although many won't meet over the summer (because of older siblings being on school holidays). However it's worth finding out now, if you are able to get in touch with organisers they may have a few 'days out' you could join in with.

Well, that was my first point of call, but it wasn't as helpful as it could have been. They are very nice, but I am quite clinically depressed. While I can do any amount of bus travel on my own at the moment the thought of travelling with my little bear on my own leaves me almost in hysterics. There are two buses that can get me to a shop for shoes for my little bear, I wanted to go to Clarks and I told them that this was very important to me, as his shoes were now seeming very tight. One of the buses is buggy friendly, one isn't. So they decided that what was appropriate was for me to take my little bear on the bus that wasn't buggy friendly to a park, very similar to the one within walking distance. I have health problems in that I can't do physical activity for more than a few minutes without feeling ready to pass out. Lugging a buggy onto a non buggy friendly bus did not appeal to me at all.

I don't want people to think I am trying to dismiss their kind suggestions, I am struggling at the moment but I will re-read this thread regularly and when I feel able I will snatch the opportunity and get my little bear out. Once I have conquered this irrational anxiety, we can go all sorts of places and I know he will do fine. The advice on here will be invaluable.

It is raining now and I am waiting in for a mattress but tomorrow I hope to go to the park with my little bear, a sandwich, some juice and a chance to run around. I can just walk there and back. I have requested a list of local mum's and tots groups from the council and I plan to start slowly going to them, one at first and then another. I am terrified of doing this but I know I need to do it for my little one.

I really do appreciate all the kind advice.

LizzyD

Hi,
dont know how to put this, but that sounds like a good plan for tomorrow. It is hard to take one day at a time sometimes when you want to feel better quickly so much, but every little helps I'm sure. As for buses,getting on a bus with a buggy is nerve racking - you are not alone in feeling this. I used to regularly take my first on a bus but now i dont go with the second, unless i absolutely have to ! take care keep going