Top 5 baby classes please!

[jennyh]

Hi

Little one is 10 weeks now and im now looking for the ultimate activities in the areacwbs would love some suggestions, a top 5 of the best classes and activities. I'm thinking she'd be a good age for anything music related or anything to stimulate her senses but they do need to be quite short as her attention span I'd pretty short and her mood is entirely dependent on feed times! she's just starting to hit the toys on her playgym but is far off any coordinated movement! I know there are loads of threads about baby and toddler activities on the forum already but it can be a minefield searching page after page so im hoping people won't mind recommending things again. I'm happy to go on lists for classes starting in the coming months so if anyone can think of things suitable for 3/4/5 month olds as well as 2 months then would love to hear! Both paid and free things!!!??

Thanks!

Jennyx

[ClareC]

I found Baby Sensory really good, each class is different and they incorporate lots of different things. I started taking my daughter at around 4 mths until nearly a year but officially they are 0 - 13 mths.

[Mook]

I started to take B swimming when he was almost 4mths. It is an activity we still do now. We go to The Spa in Beckenham, they have lessons throughout (except for the 2 weeks over Xmas and NY) he's even got it tomorrow, bank holiday Monday, so you don't have thing of it not being on during school holiday.

[Fuschia]

Sing and sign from 6m

Lots of times and venues

Really worthwhile

[nylonmeals]

Bea's music above the Soup Dragon on Lordship Lane is lovely. The songs are great and the atmosphere fun for the little ones.

[Fuschia]

I must say the Most important thing us for you to enjoy yourself - I like swimming so that was always my favourite for eg

Classes aren't always the best Place to chat to other mums though - informal mtgs in cares etc or nct tea group are good for that

[Claire29]

I haven't been but I think there is a baby/toddler group at the plough on fridays 12-3, going to something like that would be perfect for little babies, as they dont crawl or run off and you can sit and actually have (and possibly finish!) a conversation with someone! i used to meet up with some mums when my eldest was a little baby in the pub and it was great we could have a catch up and a cheeky glass of wine!

[Fuschia]

Babies like the aquari at the horniman

Rhyme time at the library is free

[pmo]

Dear Jenny,

Congratulations on the first ten weeks with your daughter!

I don't know if you have seen our posts for a classical concert series for babies but it might suit you perfectly - our concerts are especially for babies and their parents and carers. The concerts last around an hour, the music is varied and the babies that we have met so far are very happy to listen/sleep/feed and crawl throughout and the mums are getting a chance to enjoy the music whilst tending to their little ones too.

Have a look at our website www.classicswithmybaby.com for more information.

Our next Dulwich concert is actually tomorrow (Tuesday 3rd May) at St Barnabas Welcome Centre at 10.30am. We aim for a monthly event in Dulwich but we are also giving concerts in Borough and Greenwich if you wanted to make it a weekly event together.

Good luck - and if you do make it along - come and say hello.

Philippa

if you can't make it to this one, email us at [email protected] and we can add you to our mailing list.

[Belle]

rhyme time (11am at Dulwich Library) is perfect for that age, we went weekly up to about 7/8 mths, didn't find it conducive to a mobile baby so pretty much stopped after that. It's great as you relearn loads of the old songs/nursery rhymes which you can then use to calm your little one down/entertain them.

[jennyh]

Thank you everyone!

[Fidgetsmum]

Is Rhyme Time at the library every day?

[buggie]

no, just wednesday's, but think there's a toddler/pre-schooler thing on a Thursday morning at about the same time.

[Fuschia]

different libraries do rhyme time different days

[srisky]

Baby and toddler sessions at Dulwich library are on Thurs both morning and afternoon (can't remember the exact times). However, it's not on tomorrow as the children's library is being used as a polling station for the referendum.

[MichelleT]

Swimming

Sing and sign

Rhyme time

Baby massage

[EmmaDoran]

I would really recommend an NCT 'Early Days' course. I didn't know any other mums in the area when I had my son 6 months ago, but I went on one of these courses and met a really nice group of other mums who I am still in touch with. It's also been handy as when one of us has tried an activity or class we've told the others so I've probably found out about, and tried things, I wouldn't have done otherwise. I'm not connected to the NCT btw - didn't do any of their ante-natal courses etc!

Music for Little People is a nice session (the younger babies all seem quite mesmerised by the singing and the noise of the instruments!), possibly for when your little one is a few months older though.

My son also liked baby yoga classes and seems to find watching my mums pilates group quite interesting!

[Belle]

oh yes sorry, meant to say it's wednesday at dulwich library for rhyme time. i think poss Tues at Grove Vale but wd need to c heck. All free!

[beababies]

Thanks very much for the recommendation! Details for my classes are below, would love to see you there!

Bea

x

Bea's Baby Bop

Drop in music classes for babies and toddlers

Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Fridays 3:30-4:30 pm

Saturdays 10:30-11:30

Family Natural Health centre above Soup Dragon

106 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich

?5, any additional siblings pay half price

Drop in (no need to book beforehand)

[Rebecca Vicary]

Hi Jenny,

I run Music for Little People classes on Wednesdays in the Goose Green Centre on East Dulwich Rd, with a 2-5 year class at 1.15pm followed by a 0-2 year class at 2.15pm. Please call me on 0208 852 0118 for more info or to book a free taster session. Best wishes, Becky Vicary. P.S. Here are a few kind words from one of my mums: Rachael says (June 2010, East Dulwich class) Don?t go anywhere else!! Becky is just fantastic; not only does she have a sublime singing voice and engaging acting talent (she?s a properly trained professional) but she is ebullient and warm ? without fail, every week! She never ?phones it in? and all the children absolutely adore her because she engages with and encourages, each and every one of them, at every session. We have been going for two years now and my son has flourished in her classes, learning all about music through singing, dance, storytelling, rhythm play, listening, instruments, puppetry and more, without being aware for a second that he's learning at all. It is such good fun, it's the highlight of our week. I cannot recommend Music For Little People highly enough. I would encourage you to try a taster session and find out for yourself how excellent it is.

[new mother]

Far too young for Bea. Try baby sensory which is designed for younger ones who cannot move much as yet.

[jennyh]

Yeah I heard that too, have done the one at the ceramics cafe which was lovely. Might try the goose green centre too. I don't really want to sign up to pre-paid courses yet as she is needing a lot of daytime sleep!

[Kimmy1080]

Aww Jenny, that would be Tippee Toes at the ceramics cafe. I'm glad you enjoyed it - do continue to come back and share more musical fun with us.

Best wishes,

Kim

Tippee Toes

0790 361 8432

[checkmeout]

when is the Tippee Toe class at the ceremic cafe?? Would love to go

xx

[jennyh]

Hey Jenny

You ok? Tippee Toes is tomorrow at 10am, think that me and Bess are going but not sure until tomorrow - depends on if she has a nap or not!!!

x