Mother & Baby Groups

[lindseylou]

Hi everyone

Just wondered what your experiences are of mother and baby groups. Can you attend when baby is any age and do you feel like a loner the first time you go? etc

If anyone lives in the Bromley/Orpington area and can recommend a group that would be fab.

 

[Sandi4Paul]

Hi I am not in your area so can't recommend specific ones, but i attend three ones in my area regulary.

One is my NCT group, most of us still meet, to be honest this is my least favourite, most of the mums are pretty cool and yes there is the one competitive mum who doesn't seem to be able to say congratulations when someone else's child reached a milestone before her wonder child. But the real disadvantage of this one is that all our children are the same age so you can't get advice on new thngs as either we are only doing it ourselves or haven't done it. But it gets us out of the house one day a week so keep going.

two: Bumps and babes run by the NCT (but you don't have to be an NCT memeber to go), i enjoy this the most as the children range in age up to about 16 months at our one. So you can get advice, the mums at this one are pretty down to earth and it gives Logan a chance to see children of different ages.

Three post natal class meet up. Not sure if all NHS trusts run these clases, there are about 5 classes covering weaning, teething and massage. Some of us meet up after we finished this, it was driven by social mums who didn't join NCT so want to get out and we have a great time, Most of the babues are the same age again, but there are some second time mums so still get advice.

On Monday i thought i might go to a Netmums meet up in our area, can't comment on it yet as this is the first time, but hopefully some of these things run in your area so you could join your local branch.

It is a bit like being the new kid in shcool wehn you first go to things like bumps and babes, but everyone is friendly always ready with advice and you soon make friends, i did find it easier the earlier i went and there are age guideliens, for example B and B you should stop when your child is starting to walk as then it gets dangerous for other smaller children, but there is then a follow up group to attend.

Hope that helps a little.

Sandi

 

[lindseylou]

Thanks for that. How does everyone hear about local groups? Is it worth joining NCT or should I have done that whiel pregnant?

 

[abcd1234]

i dont personally go to the groups but Tally attends 3 a week, tuesdays is in a local youth centre and they all play and have coffee and chat, thursdays is in a local church, run by my childminder, mostly the same people and they do similar things, she also gets a photographer in every year for professional photos we can send to family and they're having an xmas party 2mos. the friday one is at a different church, again same things, same people, and apparently they're seeing Santa on friday.

The firsy few times i went in it seemed a bit clicky but everyones really nice and i know if i decided to stay one day they'd all be really nice and everyone looks out for the other kids not just their own. Tally is the youngest there though i think

 

[GBLiz]

i havent been to any yet but i got details on local groups from the doctors surgery. Im going to try one out after xmas

 

[BabyMagic]

At the moment we go to something called Monkey Music which has these lovely activies for babies with loads of singing and music. LO loves it (she learnt to drum there a while back). I think it only takes place in North and West London though, but maybe they have something similar to where you live.

We also do babyswimming and gymboree (ad hoc) and will start baby signing in January.

I found out about Monkey Music and gymboree from local mums, babyswimming on the internet and baby signing at the baby clinic. I know these aren't the traditional mum and baby groups but I haven't had time for them. My local area also has a mums website which is pretty good.

The most useful networking for me has been meeting up with the mums from my NCT antenatal class.

I often find that knowing babies of different ages is nicer as then there is none of this competition which Sandi referred to (I have my own experiences of it). C

 

[Becky&Willow]

Again cant comment on your area but we go to 2 a week one on a monday afternoon which is run by surestart and have been going since willow was about 3 months she has moved groups now to the older one and one on a thursday afternoon in a church in term time willow loves them and they had there xmas parties this week they can e very clicky but everyone is friendly and watchies out for each others kiddies.

id be lost without my groups there my social life at the moment

 

[lindseylou]

Thanks girls. Will see what I can find in the New Year.

 

[Sandi4Paul]

NCT can be joined at any time, but the main part of them work is the antinatal classes whihc yes you need to join when pregnant. Other things they offer (like bumps and babes) you don't need to be a member to join. just ggogle National Childbirth trust and see what's in your areas.

Other good website is www.netmums.co.uk, it is local for your area but you have to register as a member (which is free) they have a local meet-a-mum board when you can post looking for other mums close by that have similar age children.

Also do you have surestart on your area? they run loads of things as well, try googling that to see.

Sandi

 

[lindseylou]

Other good website is http://www.netmums.co.uk, it is local for your area but you have to register as a member (which is free) they have a local meet-a-mum board when you can post looking for other mums close by that have similar age children

Thanks Sandi that's really helpful. Have just signed up to netmums which looks good.

 

[Sahara]

Hiya,

I go to tumble tots in Orpington and that is from 6 months upwards (maybe something for the future). My daughter is 26 months and she loves it started when she was 8 months. A couple of my friends go to a group at St Nicolas church of tubbeden lane Orp. Its every other week, not sure what ages etc, but I can check it out.

I live in Knockholt just outside Orpington (1o-15 mins) and if you can drive there are 2 groups up here I can let you know about.

My daughter doesn't eally enjpy them that much, so I just try and hang out with friends who have kids (and thats not many ) I mean I have friends, but only 2 of the have kids

pm if you want and I will try and help.

Sarah

 

[Jade89]

I started going when I was pregnant as my sister ran it and most of my friends took their LO's and i'm still going now...

It's so good for you and LO to get out of the house and meet other people too.

There are loads of Mum's at the one I go to who take their newborns!

 

[Julie84]

Try ringing/emailing the Children's Services department of your local authority. I emailed a few random people at the council as I know no-one in the area that we now live in and wanted to meet other mums in the area.

The council have been so helpful and have sent me loads of information on just about every group or club available in the area - from tea and toast mornings to baby massage and baby gym etc. Also, they all state the rough sort of price so I don't end up turning up at a very expensive one (there are quite a few free groups where I am, or very minimal contributions like 25p per family which is very nice! )

There are also some mother and baby type groups for pregnant mums and I was also invited to the Christmas party so I could meet people for baby turned up (although I'm still waiting for baby! )