Taking your child to baby and toddler groups

The Baby Club - Taking your child to baby and toddler groups

The idea of taking your child to a baby and toddler group can be rather daunting. What if they cry? What if I don鈥檛 know any of the songs or any other parents? What if they need feeding or they have a huge explosive poo?

Don鈥檛 worry! Baby and toddler sessions are great and a relaxed safe environment to go with your child 鈥� and it is ok if they cry, poo or need feeding. They are also a great way for your child to learn new skills and meet other children.

When you have a baby, it can feel rather lonely at times but going to a baby and toddler group can help motivate you to get out of the house and meet other parents with babies. Whether you have one baby, twins, triplets or even more 鈥� baby and toddler groups are for everyone. They aren鈥檛 just for mums; dads can also go and enjoy sessions, as can grandparents and child鈥搈inders.

1. Where to start?

There are lots of different types of classes you can go to: dance, music, swimming, baby massage, baby sign language, and even gym classes (which incorporates soft play and encourages your child to climb, roll and control their movements). Even if some classes seem a bit expensive, most communities will have a 鈥榩arent and toddler group鈥�, which can either be free or may charge a small amount.

2. Too shy to go it alone

If you feel nervous about going to a group for the first time then you can take someone with you such as your partner, friend or mum. Just having someone with you can at least get you out the house and at the group. Then next time you may feel brave enough to go alone. If you do go on your own, rest assured that parents at baby groups are usually very welcoming 鈥� it鈥檚 not long since they were in the same situation themselves.

3. Breaking the ice

It can sometimes feel awkward meeting new people, especially if you are shy. Luckily babies are a natural icebreaker - 鈥淗ow old are they?鈥� 鈥淲hat鈥檚 their name?鈥� You might have more in common with other parents than you think.

4. My child won't keep still

Children like to explore and if you go to a class where you are all sat in a circle to do activities, don鈥檛 worry if your child does wander off. They probably won鈥檛 be the only one. At some classes your child might even sleep all the way through! Remember that as well as it being a great place for them to socialise, it is also somewhere for you to go and meet other parents and carers.

5. Tears and tantrums

Toddler tantrums happen to everyone, so as much as you may feel embarrassed when your child has a full on melt down, you will be surrounded by people who understand what you are experiencing, and you鈥檙e likely to get some great advice about how to deal with this and other parenting challenges.

6. This group isn't for me

Don't worry if you go to a class and find that you don鈥檛 like it. There are so many different classes you could go to and it is okay to try them out. Also, don鈥檛 feel guilty if you think going to a baby and toddler class just isn鈥檛 for you. The Baby Club on CBeebies is a great way to to enjoy songs, stories and discovery play, all in the comfort of your own home.