No interaction with other children

iris2717 · December 2012

LO is our first. I dont have any friends with chidren. My older sister has two children that are 6 & 5 and dont really want to interact much with a 9-mo old. I work fulltime and the mommy & me classes around my area are either WAY too expensive ($250 for 10 classes, really????) or are only during the week. I feel like my son needs to have some interaction with other babies his age. On weekends, I take him out and about but its always only me, him, grandma and daddy.

I feel guilt-ridden about him not having any little friends but I cant seem to find any way to get him little friends! Is it important for him to interact with other children at this age or am I over-reacting?

mamayo26 · December 2012

I say it couldn't hurt...that's part of the reason they have mommy and me classes (and I agree that is pretty pricey). Have you tried your local (city) board on the bump, to see about play dates?

Do you have a community center that might have classes or a chance for your LO to interact with others?

My DS is at a sitter with another LO that is 3 weeks younger than him, and then 3 4 year-olds and he loves interacting with the other kids, even if it is just watching the older kids play and laughing at them.

It could also help to him get used to other people in general.

aeh72 · December 2012

I work too and feel your frustration about the mommy & me classes being predominantly during the week. I know the hospital near us offers some single session mommy & me type classes. That might be a good way to meet people with babies the same age. Also, you didn't mention your LO's daycare situation. I'm guessing he's not in a group daycare situation or you wouldn't be having this concern. Is enrolling him in a group daycare part-time (even just 1-2 days a week or a few hours a week) a possiblity?

wedsept · December 2012

What about Gymboree?

tjkdlhb · December 2012

I'm not super religious, but I'm considering bringing DD to Sunday School to be around other kids... Also think about swim classes, library reading hours, we have a resource centre here that has a play group once a week... but for the past two weeks I've been the only one to show up! So, I totally get your frustration... I want DD to be around other kids, but I'm having trouble finding places to go to! When the weather warms up, LOs will be a little older, and the park or playground might become an option as well. Most of the baby classes are 45 mins away from me, so for me to add in the cost of gas to the cost of enrollment just isn't feasable.

megann831 · December 2012

I did Gymboree w/ DD when she was 6 months and it was such a great experience. It was great bonding time and something I really looked forward to on weekends. We made a few friends and one really close friend, we had our 2nd ones 2 days apart and still see each other about once a week. By the time the weather was nice DD was able to walk well so we dropped it and spent alot of time around kids at the park. If you can swing it I'd definitely do a mommy and me class, you could do it as a Christmas gift.

Nel11 · December 2012

Try the library or rec center and see if they have Saturday or Sunday story times or classes.

Do you have a children's museum in your area? You could get a family membership and go on the weekend.

When it is warmer out I bet it will be much easier as you can take him to the zoo, playground, park, etc on the weekend or even in the evening because it will be lighter/warmer out.

I'm assuming he is not in a group daycare setting, so could he go 1 or 2 times per week? Or if grandma or a sitter is watching him 1:1 could they take him to story time at the library or sign up for a rec center class? I do story time at our library on Monday mornings and there are several grandmas with their grandchild there.

JuliaJAG · December 2012

The only way we have friends with LO's my baby's age is through church. Our church has a weekly playgroup where he gets to play with other babies (and watch slightly older LO's play, which he gets a huge kick out of).

He's also played (once) at a Chik-Fil-A play area (yes, I freaked the whole time about germs) and LOOOOVED it... he laughed so hard seeing other babies play there. I second the idea of children's museums, parks (when it gets warmer), etc. But really, our church has been the best way for him to "get to know" other babies and play with them, learn from them, etc.

skibunny59 · December 2012

At 9 months I wouldn't worry about it much. My DD also doesn't get a lot of interaction with other babies. Most of our friends don't have babies yet, the ones that do live very far and we don't see them very often and my sister in law who has 2 children also lives 5 hours away. I work full time but my mom takes care of her. I do take her to Music Together on Saturday mornings though but even there she is the only baby (it's a mixed age class) and most of the kids are between 2-4 years old.

Honestly, I think Mommy and Me classes at this age are more for moms to meet other mom friends. Yes, these classes benefit the babies and are good for their development but I don't think it's so important that babies have "friends" at this age.

megperk72 · December 2012

At 9 months, I think you get way more out of it than your LO. I wouldn't worry about it too much in regards to your LO, but it would be nice for you to find a mommy and me class.

FWIW, DD didn't really start interacting with other kids until a few months ago. She is 2 1/2. There is alot of parallel play until then, but not much interaction. So don't be too hard on yourself, babies mostly need mom and dad at this age!

Socialworkgirl · December 2012

Another vote for not worrying too much about it. I recently read in a healthy sleep habits, happy child that social interaction with other babies really isn't needed at this age.

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