When can you start going to baby classes? Will a tiny baby enjoy them or should you wait until they are a bit older?
Whether you’ve got a newborn or a non-stop toddler to entertain, getting out and about has massive benefits for both you and your child. It is an exciting task to look through what sort of classes there are, and seeing what you and your little one might enjoy. But with so much on offer, the world of baby and toddler classes can sometimes be a bit overwhelming for busy parents.
We’ve done the hard work for you and compiled suggestions for each age and stage of your baby’s development in our handy guide – including what’s on for you. Find something that suits you and your little one’s interests, get booking, and enjoy!
What’s On For Parents?
Yes, yes, we did say that this is a guide to baby classes. But being a parent doesn’t mean you can’t have fun too! There are tons of activities where you can be entertained or learn a new skill with your baby in tow, especially in the early stages.
We recommend a bit of laughter therapy from Bring Your Own Baby Comedy or catching the latest releases with baby friendly cinema screenings. When you feel ready for it, a parent and baby fitness class like Buggyfit or Sweaty Mama can give you a real boost.
Have a look at postnatal fitness classes near you, or for dads, have a look at our activities just for you!
Best For Newborns (Up To 6 Months)
One of the best things about starting a baby class when your baby is little is that you can meet other parents and make new friendships. You can potentially feel pretty lonely when you’re home alone with a tiny human all day. Finding a baby class gets you out of the house and helps you find other parents in your area. So don’t worry about starting early.
When you feel ready to start baby classes, baby massage is a perfect (and gentle) introduction. You can find loads of baby massage classes on Happity.
Once babies begin to take more notice of their surroundings, a specialist music or sensory class can help you to get maximum pleasure from those early interactions. Happity faves include long-established Baby Sensory classes, and Hartbeeps for its fun and funky music classes. Also look on Happity to see what local and independent sensory play sessions are near you.
You can also start baby swimming lessons from birth. Check out your local leisure centre’s schedule or sign up for a course with Water Babies, Turtle Tots or Aquatots.
Best For Babies (From 6 Months)
From around 6 months babies are becoming mobile, starting to explore the world, and making early attempts at language. There are lots of classes that can encourage development at this stage.
Marvel at how much little ones can communicate using baby signs at Sing and Sign and Tiny Talk classes. If they are on the go, watch your little one try out their wobbly motor skills in a safe environment such as a Gymboree or Tumble Tots class, or your local soft play centre.
Best For Toddlers
Entertaining a fully-formed little person who is full of beans (and endless questions) can be fun but exhausting! Lining up a few activities can really help to take the pressure off you for a while, with added developmental benefits for them.
Toddlers love to move about so encourage them to burn off some of that mischievous energy at a dance class. Try BabyBallet, Diddi Dance and Eos Dance for classes suitable from 18 months. An under 5s trampolining session at your local trampoline park or leisure centre will help to improve balance and coordination. Or you can promote eye hand coordination at a sports class like Little Kickers or diddikicks.
Children this age are also finding their voice, if not their volume control. Being loud is positively encouraged at music classes like Boppin’ Bunnies and Monkey Music.
Looking to develop foreign language skills? With Lingotots or BilinguaSing you can learn a new language alongside your toddler – see what languages are offered near you, or on online classes too!
For the budding adventurer, encourage your little one to enjoy the great outdoors. They can learn about nature (and get muddy in the process of course) at a forest school.
Booking Ahead (Or Not?)
Whatever you choose, bear in mind that some classes need to be booked as a term or course in advance, whereas others accept drop-ins. If you’re worried about committing yourself (and funds), ask if the provider offers a trial session so you can see what’s what and gauge your child’s interest before taking the plunge. Happity has search filters for both ‘drop-in’ availability and ‘trial offers’.
You might find you try a few things before settling on a schedule of activities that works for you and your baby, and often classes that were enjoyable at one stage can go on to clash with a change in your baby’s nap or meal times. Don’t be afraid to change it up, there’s always something new and fun around the corner at every stage!
Want To Get Out And About, Have Fun With Your Baby Or Toddler, And Meet Other Parents?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for the under-5’s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
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