MSE Parents Club Part 16

gizmodo_2

DD woke at 9:20 (interrupting OBEM USA), midnight and 1:30am I'm sure she's constipated again. I'm knackered and still debating whether to go to Rhymetime this morning as I really can't be bothered. Would rather veg out in front of the TV.

Metranil_Vavin

Bleugh I had next to no sleep last night either. Josh has gone from being a good sleeper to now waking every couple of hours I'm knackered and as a result OH and I had a bit of a tiff this morning before he went to work.

Was intending to go to a Babble and Squeak group this morning, but frankly I don't think I have the energy, so am going to pack Josh up in the car after his 10am feed and go and see my parents. My mum will watch him for me whilst I have a bit of a sleep, which is what I really need.

Quick question - does anyone think that these 'babble, Bumps and Babes, Rhymetime, Gymboree' etc groups are stimulating/useful in anyway to younger babies?

I feel guilty in that I should be getting him out all the time doing stuff, but sometimes he seems to find it all too much and just bawls his way through it!

I also find those groups where they mix babies in with toddlers difficult as toddlers have no spacial awareness and I have had to grab Josh away at times as he's nearly been trodden on!

So are these groups less important for younger babies do you think and more just for mums to get out of the house?

rach

mv i think it depends, L has enjoyed the library and singing type groups for a while, but we don't go to any toddler groups at the moment. probably will soon if i'm still not working. but yes I've had to be very careful with him too. I get a bit frustrated at the library group sometimes as its meant to be for 0-18 monbths and they have an older group too but there are a couple of much bigger ones who also come along (not with younger siblings though) and then we can't put the babies on the floor!

well L has only managed half an hour this morning. letting him play a bit then we'll head out for the library group and possibly lunch/coffee out with sir m.

pigpen

Metranil_Vavin wrote: »

Quick question - does anyone think that these 'babble, Bumps and Babes, Rhymetime, Gymboree' etc groups are stimulating/useful in anyway to younger babies?

So are these groups less important for younger babies do you think and more just for mums to get out of the house?

I think they are a complete waste of time until baby is about a year old and can actively choose to participate... they are about getting mum out of the house and teaching mum how to play and interract with her child. Mine didn't move off my lap until at least a year mostly.

Small babies want their mum for food, cuddles, chatting and playing dad will do if mum isn't about. they don't have any concept of friends or social clubs.

MERFE

MV I think the groups are good to an extent but there is no need to go everyday, once every other week is plenty for a young baby. Bob misses loads cos he is asleep and for me his nap is more important. When my other 2 were younger they didnt have quite the massive choice of groups there is now - there was toddler groups at the church but not the messy play things at surestart centres as they were only in deprived areas originally and now they are everywhere which is great but you shouldnt feel you have to use them.

I'm obviously alot more relaxed about the older ones in the group because DD and DS have both already fallen on Bob and some of the crawlers at group go straight for him - but he likes their attention its normally the mums taking them away and saying sorry, I just think they're saying hello. Ours is quite good though as its 0-2 and all the crawlers and toddlers go on one side of the room and the babies have the other side, separated by a row of chairs.

It might be worth staying home with him for a bit - just getting out to the park or to meet up with friends etc then trying the groups when he is a bit bigger. I'm planning on going to the morning toddler group and messy play once Bob drops his morning nap, he sleeps through it at the mo so we are stuck with Baby group which is the only afternoon one but that is often when he has his 2nd nap.

wendz86

I must admit i mainly go to the one i go to to meet people and get some time out the flat as i don't know anyone in the area. It is specifically for babies up to crawling so only small babies which is good. It is also a smallish group.

delain

I took Squeak to a music group at 6 months but we didn't go again because I felt like the poor relation The only thing she really loved about it was when the lady got the bubbles out at the end and we can do that here.

I do keep meaning to take her to the library one as there is a better mix of people there and a CM I know goes so I wouldn't have to go not knowing anyone. I keep forgetting when it is though!

I don't think it's necessary really. I take Squeak to feed the ducks (ie sit and watch them whilst she eats 'their' bread lol) but none of that today, it's chucking down with rain, really hammering. I think as long as you are playing with baby and they are not sat on their own all day they don't need all the groups really. Like MV says the babies can get overstimulted and grumpy and then mum gets stressed out too, and that's no good for anyone.

I have found out that my cat has been spending a lot of time with my sightly loopy neighbour over the road, I'm hoping that's where it is now so it's dry! Poor lady was talking to me yesterday saying how her hubby put it outside after it fell asleep on the chair so we wouldn't worry and it just sat outside her back door looking miffed until they went to bed and she felt terrible :rotfl:

Have said to her that if they don't mind it sleeping there then neither do I, especially as I know that's where she'll be. I get the feeling that if we ever moved far away the cat would prefer to stay with them lol.

Squeak has not been sleeping well, she keeps waking up and crying and I don't know why

gizmodo_2

Metranil_Vavin wrote: »

So are these groups less important for younger babies do you think and more just for mums to get out of the house?

Yes. I sing nursery rhymes to DD at home and she smiles, giggles, and cheers up if grumpy. At rhymetime she doesn't pay attention to me singing and seems to spend all her time look at the books on the shelves! It's totally for mums to get out and have a natter. I've been going about once every 2 weeks to rhymetime, as they have a coffee and a chat afterward. It's better when the weather is nicer as I walk there too so it makes me get some excercise (I have no motivation to just go for a walk).

I'm looking forward to when DD gets a bit older as they do petting farms at one of the sure start groups every so often. I've not gone yet cos I thought it pointless, but maybe next time as DD is starting to be fascinated by my rabbit.

I still think it can't hurt for them to be around other babies though. I think DD gets bored at home and a change of scenery seems to keep her happy.

gizmodo_2

Just read back - but most of the conversations have come to an end so I won't bring them back again

Trains - have no idea if they are old or new. I think mostly they are the ones with sliding doors. But I have been on the ones with doors that open and shut with steps up into them. But not for a long time I think. We generally drive when we go to the O2 (which covers most of our visits to london). Only get the train if it's a trip to Oxford street or the theatre.

delain

gizmodo wrote: »

Just read back - but most of the conversations have come to an end so I won't bring them back again

Trains - have no idea if they are old or new. I think mostly they are the ones with sliding doors. But I have been on the ones with doors that open and shut with steps up into them. But not for a long time I think. We generally drive when we go to the O2 (which covers most of our visits to london). Only get the train if it's a trip to Oxford street or the theatre.

There are very very few slam-door trains about these days!

There are ones which have a narrower sliding single door and not much space, but here about 5 years ago we got more new trains with large double sliding doors which are lower and wide enough to wheel in a small car

I'm not sure why they did that though, the old ones were servicable if not very accessible.

It's south west trains here though, and I only know about the Poole/Waterloo route really, it's been ages since I went to London, and since my brother and closest school friend are up there I sould really make an effort and go.

My brother has been given a large bull mastiff type dog... he intends to bring it down with him when he comes to stay. Felt a bit mean saying well then you can't bring it here - I have one (soon to be two) cats and a small child who is terrified of big dogs

Squeak has just had a massive lunch... Or so I thought till I went to lift her up and she was sat on a lot of it!

She always gets it down the sides so I look there to give things back to her but she's never sat on it before

I was looking for a baby signing group round here but can't seem to find one. I'd feel much less self conscious doing that than singing 'Humpty Dumpty' with a load of posh women