What do you do to socialize your baby?

HarCoMommy · January 2011

I stay at home 3 days a week, and DD stays with my Mom at my house on the 2 days that I work. With it being so cold outside, DD and I stay home for the majority of the week, with the occasional errands here and there. She is 9 months old, so not walking or talking yet, so there is only so much that I can do with her at home during the day. Sometimes I feel as if she is bored... In the warmer months we are able to go to the park, take walks, etc, but I feel confined to the house in the winter, and I often wonder if she is suffering from a lack of interaction and socialization due to my decision to stay home with her. I do not have any friends who are Stay at Home Mom's, so when I'm told stories about their children doing various activities with other kids in daycare, I often wonder if I'm holding DD back from developing herself socially. Am I just being paranoid? I've looked into Mommy and Me classes at Gymboree and My Gym, and unfortunately, in my area the classs are rarely crowded or have more than 1-2 children in there at a time.

What do you do you be sure that your babies have interaction with others, especially when its freezing outside!? TIA

littlemermaid · January 2011

Personally at that age children really don't need the socialization as much as the mommy does. But she still would benefit from a mommy and me class at Gymboree. At that age I used to do mommy and baby swim classes and they loved it.

MrsBalletStar05 · January 2011

I take the baby to church a couple times a week and to the older one's activities. It gets us out of the house.

lms_bride · January 2011

I doubt she is bored. I think that is a label adults place on babies/kids. She probably doesn't need much to be stimulated at this age (blocks, books, whatever). As other posters suggested, take her to gymboree or swim classes. Try story time at the library (its usually free). Or just take her on your errands with you to the store or the mall or wherever. Her seeing you interact with people will teach her about meeting new people. Do the things that you enjoy and include her and that will be plenty, in my opinion.

My 2 cents here: I think most people worry too much about socialization. Our parents and grandparents were mostly raised by stay-at-home moms and were frankly probably more isolated than we are and they all turned out just fine.

JCM · January 2011

I agree that at this age she probably doesn't need much interaction with other babies. When DD was that age I attended a Gymboree class once a week & sometimes it only had 2 other mommy's and babies but 2 more adults to interact with/talk to was better than 0. It also broke up my day so I didn't get bored. When DD was a year old we started (indoor) swimming lessons but again that was more for my sanity since we have a pool in our back yard. She now attends Mom's Day Out once a week & I am part of a Mom's group with babies all born in the year 2009. I really like the mom's group. Maybe go on Meetup.com or Yahoo Groups to see if there is anything in your area that sounds good to you. Good Luck!

NathsPrncssD · January 2011

I think that even though the classes may be small, it's definitely worth trying out Gymboree or Little Gym. We go once a week and DD loves it! She does get to socialize with the other LOs, but I get to socialize with the Moms too. I actually made a nice friend and we take the girls out to lunch after class. It's neat to see what the LOs do with each other...touching hands, pointing at each other, etc. I don't think that it matters that there are only a few kids.

BeachM · January 2011

There aren't any "mommy & me" classes where I live, so his only socialization is playdates with friends who live about an hour away (we all have babies the same age). I'm not really worried about it at this point since he's not even 3 months old.

jesssy1204 · January 2011

I know how you feel. Ive been a FT SAHM since birth-and we get snow.. I just make it a pointo to get out of the house once a day,even if its to walk around the mall. It helps break up our day. At your LO age I would worry about holding her back

JOEBunny · January 2011

"lack of interaction and socialization due to my decision to stay home with her."

This statement just baffles me, as it has 0 basis in child development theory.

Moving on, I started a playgroup for DS when he was 1 month old. I take both kids to the park most afternoons, and have a strong group of other parents who do to. When I just had DD, I took her to library story time and library play time, in addition to her playgroup. DD started school at 2.5. DS won't start until 3.5 because I don't want him too.

We do a lot of things, go to museums, zoos, stores, visit friends, everything from voting to mountain climbing. I take DS along. He gets a lot out of everyday things. I just got back from the science museum, where somehow he has learned the names of all the animals, just by being around DD and I.

GingerSB · January 2011

similar to other pp's your 9 month old doesn't need to be socialized. No need until 2 or 3 years old, in fact.

mrsfirefly · January 2011

I think socializing is important thought not imperative at this age. We go to two playgroups (the babies are just starting to get to the age where they are interested in each other), a library program, a swim class, and usually one or two playdates or walks per week. My DD definitely recognizes the babies & moms she sees on a regular basis. She also loves playing with the other babies' toys since we all take turns hosting playgroups. And swim class has been great for getting her acclimated to the water and accustomed to another adult holding her. I'd suggest that you post on the local Bump board or on Meet Up to start a playgroup in your area.

mrsfirefly · January 2011

By the way, I should add that I agree that these activities are much more for me than for her. But I think it makes it easier for me to entertain her. She definitely naps better when we have outings and seems bored when we are home all day. Though I think trips to Target or the Aquarium could be just as stimulating for her as playgroup. I think social interaction with mommy & daddy is much more important at this age so I wouldn't worry too much about it if you are happy with your situation.

tabi_ja · January 2011

Miles and I do a lot, but it's because it makes me a happier person. He's just as happy to play at home, most of the time. That being said, several local community centers have a toddler open gym a couple of times a week, and it's actually turned out to be a lot of fun for both of us. Or, I just run my usual errands with him. He's usually happier if he gets to run around, but that's a recent thing. At nine months old, he was pretty happy with whatever.

babypuplove · January 2011

A baby doesn't need to be "socialized." A baby also does not get bored, unless of course they are stuck in a crib staring at the ceiling all day. They get stimulation from their everyday surroundings. At that age, I started a playgroup in my neighborhood, and only in the last six months have the babies really started interacting with each other. The first year or so was more for the mommies. I also did a music class with DD, which she loved, but she would have been just as happy if we had stayed home to sing songs by ourselves.

HarrietNJMommy · January 2011

babypuplove:
A baby doesn't need to be "socialized." A baby also does not get bored, unless of course they are stuck in a crib staring at the ceiling all day. They get stimulation from their everyday surroundings.

This.

I really think that parents overthink the "socialization" part.

At that age, I always did storytime and music class with the kids.........

susanmosley · January 2011

HarrietNJMommy:
I really think that parents overthink the "socialization" part.

or aren't thinking reasonably at all....

wesleysgirl1106 · January 2011

I'd try looking for a mommy play-group in your area. You can try Meetup.com or even Facebook. I had DS in the playgroup here until about 3 months ago when I had a spat with one of the moms. Hopefully, she'll move back to Europe soon and we can go back. I think it's important for our kids to have some kind of contact with other children. They learn to share and how to cope with "hitters". DS is wonderful around other children and I know it's because we started the playgroup before he was 1.

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