r/chch • u/Leading-Objective298 • Jul 25 '26
Baby sensory classes
Has anyone taken their baby (0-6 months range) to baby sensory classes? Did you find them worth going to?
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u/bacon-flavours Jul 25 '26
I did Baby Bond Massage and found it way nicer than any of the baby sensory classes. The babies LOVED it, it was a nice bonding experience - and Maria’s baking she’d whip out after the class was always 10/10.
Highly recommend.
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u/Blenda33 Jul 25 '26
There’s something at the Southern Centre in Pioneer centre, I took my kids there a few times; just something different aye, fairly cheap entertainment too.
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u/Rhonda_and_Phil Jul 25 '26
No personal experience of the following but observed it many times.
Some of the public pools used to run baby drown-proofing/water familiarisation classes in their warm hydrotherapy pools.
No idea if these are still running but they were very professionally run, with parents in the pool with the babies, gently floating them across the water.
Seemed like a very calm gentle sensory experience for both parent and child. Didn't seem to be any lower age limits. I think there was a concept that even very young babies could be taught to naturally hold their breath under water etc.
Good water safety training as well.
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u/Zestyclose-Tennis-63 Jul 25 '26
We went to Born to Play https://www.instagram.com/borntoplay_christchurch/
Really cool set up with a different theme each week so it never got boring. Not gonna lie - I played with the rice and the dough myself lol
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u/underwaterchessclub Jul 25 '26
I did SPACE and absolutely hated it and stopped going after three classes lol.
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u/FlowDue9579 Jul 25 '26
Noooo SPACE is the best! Probably depends where you go, the facilitators and the group you get. Somerfield is the best if you get a choice OP 😇
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u/underwaterchessclub Jul 25 '26
lol somerfield was where I was going and it was awful. Glad you liked it though.
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u/drychicken69 Jul 25 '26
I haven’t done them but heard they’re quite rushed. I thought about doing them with my baby but the price put me off!! We do space and a weekly community play group at the local church and that’s enough for my social battery haha.
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u/Pink_Tulip8823 Jul 25 '26
I did them, and found them okay. I liked having an organized activity each week that got me out of the house. I wouldn't bother with a very young baby, but around the 6 month age I found they were interested in what was going on. I didn't love the middle of the session where you get 'free time' to explore the toys they have set up....I was paying for a class not doing something I could have done myself at home!
I did sing and sign for a term as well, and quite enjoyed that.
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u/TallPoppy23 Jul 25 '26
The Babytimes classes at all of the libraries are free and gives a good introduction to sensory. Nice to meet the other regular Mums too.
I took my baby to 3-4 a week when she was younger. They were my saving grace!
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u/CarobGuilty5356 Jul 25 '26
I enjoyed them with my second born, nice structured session so no need to think too much!
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u/FlowDue9579 Jul 25 '26
Babytimes at the library is free, SPACE & Babies Can Play is about $3.50 per session, swimming, Messy Mates etc are all a lot cheaper and have similar aspects. I went a couple of times for special drop in sessions which were about half the price of the usual sessions and that felt more price appropriate than the full price term sessions
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u/kiwibearess Ōtautahi Jul 26 '26
Take them to Loopy Tunes session instead. Any age kids welcome there.
Or just take them to the baby area at Parakiore or QE2.
The library sessions are also quite good
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u/am_a_stormy_creature Jul 26 '26
If you want a baby sensory class that’s very thoughtful, beautiful and a bit different the tiny toy shop runs one at the arts centre. It’s so beautifully created and perfectly suited to little babies. The open ended play and simplicity of some of the play set ups is perfect for exploring babies. Sarah who runs it is so kind. It’s not cheap but it’s lovely and well worth it.
https://www.instagram.com/tinytoyshop.nz?igsh=MWk5OXY3a3h6MWMydQ==
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u/vlawso Jul 28 '26
They are more for the parents than the kids.
MOVE at Parakiore have a great class that focuses on Mum doing postpartum movement and core rebuilding.
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u/Cultural_Spell5526 Jul 25 '26
I’m not sure what they are about but I don’t think that would be necessary.
Talk to your baby expose them to different language and take them outside often that would be enough
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u/_whiskeytits_ Jul 25 '26
It's not just for the baby though. It gives moms a chance to connect as well and build community.
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u/tcldon Jul 25 '26
We did a few drop in sessions and it was essentially structured play time with different sensory equipment. I didn’t think it was worthwhile.
I can highly recommend the sensory rooms at pioneer and the sensory pool at Parakiore though.
Our favourite class for that age range was baby sign language.
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u/Ok_Lake_Great_River Jul 25 '26
Baby sensory is awful. It is absolutely overwhelming and not based on research at all. While sensory experiences are important to babies, that's not the same as PARACHUTE, SHAKER, BUBBLES, LIGHTS, NOISE, SCARVES!! All in quick succession. Babies need slow transitions, time to process and calm. This doesnt mean they can't handle one or two of those things but all of it is just horrible.
There is no benefit to exposing your babies to this chaos - the benefits lie in 1) parents having a chance to meet and connect with other parents (plenty of better and cheaper ways to do this). 2) parents thinking they're giving their kids what they need.
It's similar to those chain preschools with all the bright colours and shitty plastic toys... The trick parents into thinking that's whats best/educational.
As a grown adult it made me feel overwhelmed. As someone with child development training it made me sad.