Having a baby is tough, there is no doubt about that. And knowing what to do with yourself day-to-day between the naps and feeds and endless washing of babygrows can seem overwhelming. But don’t panic because we’re here to help. All over the country and in almost every town and village are baby groups and classes that are available for anyone to join. And for a lot of new mums, these places keep them insane during the first mad year of becoming a parent.
I tried to squeeze something in every day if I could – and doing that helped me to find my mum tribe. The groups are not only great for the development of your baby but also for you as a way of getting yourself motivated to leave the house and talk to other mums in your area. And who knows, you could make friends for life.
But where to start? We’ve broken down some of the best franchises around the country.
Hartbeeps
From your teeny tiny newborn until they’re confident toddlers, Hartbeeps offers classes for ages up to three. I loved Hartbeeps personally, and so did my son. The classes are fun, interactive and silly plus also great sensory learning experiences for you and your baby. What they do in the class and the songs they sing you’ll take home with you and keep doing. Plus you’ll be treated to endless great photo ops with the funky fancy dress the babies will no doubt thank you for when they’re older. The classes run on a termly basis, find out how to book here.
Baby Sensory
One of the best things about the Baby Sensory classes is the music. This class is all about, you guessed it, sensory – with different equipment like colourful feathers and flashing lights, textures, sounds, movement and more. The class is broken into two parts, with a break for play in the middle, and equips you with plenty of ideas to do at home too. Their theme ‘Sunshine’ song saw me through many a bad night, just the first two keys and my baby was soothed back to sleep. Genius! Find out more about them here.
Monkey Music
Another fabulous class, this one is all about the music and instruments. Throughout the class, you introduce your baby to different sounds using instruments like the drum or maracas, with the instructor singing and dancing with her monkey buddy throughout. Another great sensory party for babies and toddlers! Find your nearest class here.
Splat Messy Play
If you’d rather keep as much of the mess of play out of your home as possible, then treat your little one to a class at Splat. From 6 months and up, these sessions are exactly what you’d expect – messy. But so much fun. Your baby gets to explore wet and dry textures and discover so many ways to use their hands and feet. Find out if there’s a class in your area here.
Tumble Tots
If you’ve got a baby or a toddler who doesn’t ever sit still then Tumble Tots is for you. They can run, jump, balance, climb and run around til their heart’s content here. Almost like a soft play but designed for little ones and far less crowded. Great for getting rid of any energy. For details visit their website.
Sing & Sign
Our babies are a lot smarter than we think, they might not be able to communicate with words just yet but they can tell us what they want through sign. Sing & Sign groups are up and down the country and teach you and your baby sign language you can use every day – including milk, nappy, finished, drink, hot and so much more. Check them out here.
Swimkidz
I started swimming as soon as I was allowed with my baby and truly think it was one of the best things we did. The class teaches them skills for life but also, for most, is a comforting and relaxing way to spend half an hour. The classes are nice and small and follow a routine that you and your baby get used to very quickly, with fun songs, toys and games. Visit their website on locations.
Rhythm Time
Another one for the music fans, this class is also a lot of singing and bashing instruments with your little one. Definitely a great way to spend an hour. Check them out here.
Local Groups and Libraries
There will be endless other options in your area if these don’t take your fancy. Plus local libraries up and down the country usually have a baby rhyme time session in the week that is free for everyone. For other ideas, check out your local community centres, town halls, village halls and social centres for what they have coming up. Churches also often have mother and baby groups weekly worth checking out. And if you have another nationwide recommendation, please let us know.
The Joy 