The Pros and Cons of Toddler Groups

Shortly after bringing our girls home from hospital after their extended stay due to being born early, I started to look into local baby and toddler groups.

There seemed to be quite a few of them around, but it would be another 7 months before I managed to pluck up the courage to actually go to one.

I was nervous about being on my own with our twins in a room surrounded by other mums and their children. I thought up all sorts of things to worry about.

What if no-one talks to me?

What if no-one likes me?

What if one or worse, both of the girls start to cry and I can’t console them, will people judge me as a terrible mother?

I’m pretty sure these are things that many other mums have thought about before making the brave step into the world of baby and toddler groups. Yes, some groups are wonderful and friendly, but sadly there are some groups that aren’t so great. As such I thought I’d put together a list of the pros and cons of toddler groups, as well as a few ‘must do’ and ‘must nots’.

Baby and toddler groups are great for getting you and your little ones out of the house. Being a mum can feel exceptionally lonely at times. Play groups are a great way for you to meet new people, have some adult conversation and a change of scenery.  

Your baby will get the chance to play with some new toys which is always a good thing in my opinion. New toys mean new stimulation, plus also helps me to think of things to buy them for birthdays and Christmases etc!

Baby and toddler groups are great for wearing kids out which in turn may make it easier for you to get them to nap!

Children can learn to share and develop some social skills

You’ll usually get a cuppa and some biscuits – be sure to drink it before it goes cold!

Some cons…

If the group has been going a while it’s possible that mums have already formed friendships which can mean the group can be a bit cliquey so forming friendships or conversations can be hard. Don’t let this dishearten you though. Keep going because other new mums may well turn up and be in the same boat as you, which means you can then talk to them.

Not enough toys – This was a major problem at one group I went to. It was so busy, that we ended up just sitting and waiting for a toy to become available. Not much fun for the kids.

Cleanliness – I always wonder how often the toys are cleaned. Trying to make sure your babies don’t put things in their mouths can b hard, but if you can stop them then do it!

Tips

I always like to do a little research before I go to a new group. When my girls were babies, I had a double buggy, so I would look at things like how easy it would be for me to get a double in, is the group on the ground floor, is there a lift etc?

Always make sure your changing bag is properly packed with everything you need from wet wipes, to drinks, plasters, tissues and snacks, as well as nappies and nappy cream.

My girls are five years old now so no longer go these groups, but I have made some wonderful friends from them. Do you go to these groups? I’d love to hear your experiences.