Starting out

The early weeks with a new baby can be a whirlwind. There's no rush to structure your days or fill them with activities. Take as much time as you need to rest, recover, and adjust to life on baby-time. When you do feel ready to start getting out and about with your baby, another nice group you can drop in to is Homestart First Babies group (for parents whose first baby is under 15 months old, Tuesdays 10:00-11:30am, All Saints Community Hall, Ladygrove, OX11 7LH). 

There are also community groups geared towards parents with younger babies at the Wigod Way Family Centre in Wallingford and GROW in Wantage, if you can travel. 

There are all sorts of paid for activities and classes around - baby massage, mum & baby yoga, family choir, music, sensory, swimming... (there's a good listing on Red Kite Days). Focus on things that you enjoy yourself and remember you are all the entertainment your tiny person really needs right now. If maternity leave funds are tight, committing to something feels like a pressure, or you just don't fancy it, bat away any pesky mum-guilt telling you they are somehow missing out on something that's crucial for their development. The BBC Tiny Happy People website has lots of reassuring info on baby development as well as simple ideas for things to do with them at home. Getting out for a coffee with a friend or long buggy/sling walk can be enough to help break up the day (and some days still call for PJs & TV!) 

Moving on

DBM is for newborn up to pre-crawling babies to keep it a low-key, safe space to feel comfortable putting your baby down (if they'll let you!) and enjoy a conversation and a hot drink. You don't need to stop coming the minute your little one starts to get on the mobile, but you will know when it's time to move on to another group with a bit more to occupy them as they start to crawl and want to explore. Time flies and it's always bittersweet to wave you and your not-so-tiny-anymore baby on your way. 

Here are some other low cost or free, drop-in baby and toddler groups in Didcot. Many of them also have baby areas set aside for the younger ones away from the bigger toddlers. 

Little Fishes - Mondays 9-11am, St Peter's Church, Newlands Avenue

Fledglings - Mondays 9:30-11:30am, St Matthews Church Harwell

Great Western Park Baby and Toddler Group - alternate Tuesdays 10-11:30am, GWP Southern Community Centre (same place as DBM)

Harwell Fun Club - Tuesdays 9:30-11:30am, Harwell Village Hall.

Stepping Stones - under 2's Wednesdays 1-2:30pm, under 3's Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9:30-11:15am, Baptist Church, Wantage Road.

Rainbows toddler group - Wednesdays 1-3pm, Fleet Meadow Community Hall, Sandringham Road

Ladygrove Church toddler group - Wednesdays 9:30-11am, All Saints Community Hall

Coffee and Kids - Fridays Baby Singing 10-10:30am followed by refreshments, then Big Singing 11-11:30 Didcot Methodist Church, The Broadway

Rhyme time - alternate Fridays 10-10:30 or 11-11:30, Didcot Library

Sutton Courtenay Stay & Play Group - Fridays 9:00-10:30am, Sutton Courtenay Primary School.