https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:15:59 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2051061 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 16:29:32 +0000 Zbug 2051061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started going to a weekly playgroup at 4 weeks (okay, it was more for me at that point). Started music class at 6 mo and started going to story time at the library around 1 year. DD loves getting out of the house! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2051053 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 16:21:54 +0000 miramira 2051053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is 4 months and we have just started going to "Bounce &amp; Rhyme" at the library - it's just a group of parents and kids singing nursery rhymes and songs together. It's sweet :)</p> <p>When he's 6 months, I'd like to start swimming lessons and I may or may not enrol him in kiddie Spanish classes later on.</p> <p>It often seems like a lot of the classes/activities for babies are actually more beneficial for the parents. It's just so lovely to get out of the house and talk to other mothers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2050996 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 15:53:58 +0000 jedeve 2050996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't do any classes! We went to library story hour a few times and I wasn't a fan. Seemed a bit overwhelming for him, I didn't feel like chitchatting with the other moms and I just figured I could read him a story at home. </p> <p>I do run an outdoor playgroup/hiking group though. And we will do play dates or go to the children's museum (and they have a playgroup). Or just go to the library to hang out. Although I avoid it there in the winter. So there is still plenty of stimulation and activities and opportunities for socialization. Paying for classes just doesn't appeal to me! Maybe if we had Gymboree around here. Although, tbh I have no idea what that is. Sounds fun though!</p> <p>Eta; swim lessons I wish I had done. No idea his to do them with two though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2050937 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 15:22:39 +0000 Bubbles 2050937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started taking him to a baby massage class at 6 weeks old, and he started swimming lessons at 4 months old. He still has swimming lessons once a week, and I also take him to a playgroup, a singing and story time group and a messy play session each week. Also soft play whenever we can get the chance. Both of us get very cabin feverish if we don't get out of the house and socialise most days! The swimming is the only thing I have to pay for up front though, everything else you pay £1 on arrival :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2050923 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 15:14:50 +0000 NurseDMB 2050923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS started gym class @ MyGym when he turned 1, Storytime at the library was around 6 months. Once he started walking we stopped going because he was all over the place (around 12-15 months) and it wasn't fun. But we go back again now (he's 18 months).</p> <p>I'm thinking of signing him up for a music class, too, and maybe a swimming class. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2016466 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 08:59:02 +0000 anonysquire 2016466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BandDmommy: 8 weeks??? What can I baby do at 8 weeks at a gym?</p> <p>She's going to start baby tumbling when she turns one. Well after she turns one and whenever she walks. We do a mostly weekly playgroup with her little friends that is good for her. And then we're out and about on errands everyday. For us this works! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2016452 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 08:43:39 +0000 looch 2016452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: The playgroup we attended was a specific language based one (we lived abroad at the time) and I happened to find out about it because a friend suggested it.</p> <p>I wouldn't have known otherwise. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2015849 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 19:09:08 +0000 littlejoy 2015849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started Music Together when she was 8 months old. It's been really great. During our first semester, she started clapping, and now knows how to dance a little. </p> <p>I have friends who do several activities at a time (like swimming, sign language, music, etc.), but with our budget, we've decided 1 class per quarter will work, I think she's still engaged. It gives me something to look forward to (out of the house) each Friday.</p> <p>If you have a local mom group on FB, I'd ask what classes are most worth it. I'm sure you'll get a lot of different answers, but it'll be a great source for recommendations.</p> <p>ETA: We also do free library sing-song/story times, and free story times at a local bookstore. There are also a few kid's musicians in town that do free concerts a few times per month. I wouldn't have known about them without asking a mom's group on FB. It's been really fun. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2015678 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 16:52:13 +0000 HabesBabe 2015678@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: All Level 1 (NB to 6 months) and Level 2 (6 months to 10 months) are unlimited classes for Play and Learn-- not sure about Music, but you should def hit them up for a free class and find out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2015671 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 16:50:21 +0000 Pirouette 2015671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Woolly Mammoth: ooh didn't even think about germs...yikes! </p> <p>@HabesBabe: oh that's cool, i think i'll check out the gymboree in our area. that kind of flexibility would work for us!</p> <p>@illumina: i can't wait for dance classes! must check into how old she has to be for that (and i have to do it on a weekend because i want to take her!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2015447 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 15:32:21 +0000 HabesBabe 2015447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: We're doing Gymboree because at this age (Level 2), you can go to any and all of the classes in Play and Learn, every week. So even if your "enrolled" class is on Wednesdays at 4pm, you can take LO to the class on any day of the week. This helps a lot because their naps are still all over the place.</p> <p>Harry is on 3 naps a day (sometimes 2), so it's nice that I can go up to 7 Gymboree classes a week, plus Open Gym. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2015435 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 15:27:42 +0000 Woolly Mammoth 2015435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did story time at the library and a mom's group from the beginning. We started Gymboree at 11 months and I highly recommend it once your LO is mobile. It's completely worth it for me because of the open gym times. We live in a small apartment, so it's really key to have someplace close by where he can run around for an hour a few days a week. There are cheaper places to go (community center playroom, indoor playground at the zoo), but Gymboree is so CLEAN. It was getting to where I felt like he was getting sick everytime I took him to an indoor play area.</p> <p>ETA: We do a music class at Gymboree. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2015389 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 15:06:16 +0000 gilmoregirl 2015389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started going to story time at the library at 4 or 5 months. He really likes it now that he's bigger (9 months). There are a couple of baby story hours at different libraries in our county system, and I live in pretty small, semi-rural area. </p> <p>I can usually make one work (they're at 10:15, 11:15 and 11:00) even on two naps, and I've been known to wake him a few minutes early so we can get to the library on time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2015377 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 14:59:01 +0000 mrsjyw 2015377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did gymboree starting at 8 months. We tried a music class at 9 months, but DS didn't really enjoy the loud noises from instruments. We started swimming at 13 months. </p> <p>We took a break from everything over the summer, nicer weather months. But we'll be starting swimming again later this month. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2015371 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 14:57:36 +0000 JerricaBenton 2015371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started at 6 months I think with a mommy and me type class. A few months later we started music and once she was 16-18 months we added a hiking group and art class. I always thought the classes were a good excuse to get out of the house. Lo loves and needs the socialization and so do I. We've met a lot of great friends that we socialize with outside of class now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2015264 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 13:48:37 +0000 illumina 2015264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Around a year-14 months, once she was on one nap and walking. We do music and gym. I'm going to take her to dance and messy play class soon when she's 18 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2015250 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 13:37:37 +0000 MrsRcCar 2015250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>N was just over 2 when we started tiny tot gym. The class is once a week either Wednesday or Thursday. Next session e and n will be signed up for swim lessons. I live in a small place so the y is our option. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2015236 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 13:26:22 +0000 Pirouette 2015236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: yea maybe i'll look into one that's flexible with makeup classes. i really do think she'd have so much fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2015001 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 11:32:09 +0000 lawbee11 2015001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: It's definitely a big commitment. And it's SO much easier once they're only on one nap. Usually the Gymboree-type places do have pretty good policies about making up classes if you have to miss some. I will say my LO absolutely loves it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2014997 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 11:29:14 +0000 jhd 2014997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our library has a story time for 1 year olds. We will do that when he turns 1 this spring. No activities yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2014992 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 11:27:05 +0000 Pirouette 2014992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nana87: exactly! yea, i think free stuff seems more manageable when they are still napping inconsistently. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2014991 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 11:25:44 +0000 fancyfunction 2014991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started going to library story time around 5 months. At 10 months she started a weekly gym class that we still go to at 24 mo and this fall we added a music class. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2014990 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 11:25:42 +0000 Pirouette 2014990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Radish: that makes sense - we just moved, so i think i need to make some mommy friends with kids her age! but it's hard in the wintertime. i guess the library is where it's at ;)</p> <p>@lawbee11: oh yea, I thought it would be a waste of money before she was running around. i like the idea of a gymboree type thing, i think she'd love it, but it just seems like a big commitment! but since she's not in daycare, she isn't ever around other LOs so i feel like she needs something to do, especially when it's so cold out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2014979 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 11:20:56 +0000 nana87 2014979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is in daycare part-time but I've started to think about whtehr to sign her up for music classes during the days she's home with me as well but had the same problem--her routine is consistent but her schedule isn't, so signing up for a class when it could overlap with nap time was too stressful! So instead I think I'm just going to try to get her to free/cheap classes when I can--like, there's a free story hour at a local bookstore near us, so if she's awake then we can go (we wnet yesterday for the first time), and there's a church near us that has an indoor play room with mats and balls and stuff for $6 most weekday afternoons. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2014964 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 11:13:46 +0000 mamimami 2014964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started Gymboree around 20 months. It was a good time and as my (then-) only child it really benefited him. His little sis didn't need anything like that... she gets plenty of stimulation from him! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2014958 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 11:11:38 +0000 lawbee11 2014958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is in daycare (so feel free to ignore this!), but we didn't sign her up for the Little Gym until she could walk...I'm not sure how much she would've gotten out of it before then. I took a 6-month maternity leave and took her to the library starting at 4 months. She always enjoyed that and it was free so I didn't worry if we had to miss it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2014955 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 11:08:58 +0000 Greentea 2014955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am not big on classes, haha! I know it seems to be popular on here, but it seems like torture to me, personally. I have done concerts for kids, library events, lots of parks... anyway, she just turned 19 months. Next summer she will probably do swimming lessons and maybe soccer (when she is 2). No rush for me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2014952 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 11:08:12 +0000 BandDmommy 2014952@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started at 8 weeks with gymboree. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2014947 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 11:05:06 +0000 Radish 2014947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: In my old city I just got to know the people at story time and the park and we all just started getting together at regular times - usually at parks. In my new city I found one on facebook. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-lo-is-not-in-daycare#post-2014941 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 11:02:04 +0000 Sparkler 2014941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started at 9 months. With my LOs, the morning nap was always the most consistent so I would schedule activities right after that period. I found 9am to be the morning nap time, so we found some activities that started at 10:30am that worked well with our schedule. We started with Music Together and story time at the library. </p>