When did you start taking your kid to classes?

[sarahsas]

Brought to you by me seeing an ad for Kindermusik and one for the Little Gym, both which start classes at 4 months.

When is it really worth it to pay for this type of thing? At what age do kids get something out of classes like that?

[bowies]

We took DS to a Kindermusik class at around 7 months. It was the dead of winter so we needed something to do. He didn't really dig it at that age. I think he'd be more into it now at ~13 months. We will likely check it out again when it gets cold.

[pugz]

we did Kindermusik at 6 months. DD really enjoyed it but the one we went to was 13 weeks long which was just too much for us. We tried Kindermusik again when she was like 18 months and she did not like it (I think it was the teacher we had for that one that expected toddlers to sit the whole clsss.) and decided after that to only do shorter classes or drop in classes. Music with Mar is a great mixed ages music program that is drop in, way better fit for us.

[spankswife]

DH started DD, and will start DS, at 3 months at the free ones at the library. It was good stimulation but really just helped pass the day. It was almost more for DH's sanity. Funny thing we are still friends with that group of babies 5 years later.

We started the paid classes at more like 10 months, kinder musik, little gym etc.

[cricketwife]

We started swimming at 8 months, but it was really just exposure. We are still (again) doing swimming this summer at 18 months and I do feel like it has benefitted him when compared to those who are having their first experience at this age. that said, we did it because it was fun, not to "get ahead" or be advanced at swimming as a toddler, lol.

We did Music Together this summer as well, which he loved. At your baby's age we did baby storytime and Stroller Strides. Storytime was free and he liked it (well, he was probably more like 5 months when we started) and the exercise class was for me.

I would definitely not pay for a class at that young age, and if I did it would be music, not Gymboree (well, not the gym class). I would do lots of free storytines if you want an activity. 

[Jalapeñomel]

Mine is 22 months and we have yet to go.

[Deleted]

I took DD starting at about 8 weeks

[nessness]

I started Book Babies at the library at 5 months, though she didn't get much out of it before 7-8 months. She's 9 months and I don't plan to start paid classes for a while.

[ssmjlm]

We started swim lessons at 8m. Most classes are during the work day so they're out.

We tried a My Gym class this summer since we take a break from swim, but it sucked.

[cincodemayo]

I took DS to Music Together at 9 months. It was fun and he still knows some of the songs.

We did swim at 16 months, and a art/reading/physical activity class at 19 months.

[jewel]

We started a baby music class at 6 months. I don't think he's really learning anything, but it gives us a change of scenery. He can play with new toys and I can hang out with adults. We also just started swim lessons at 10 months, and I'm hoping that it does help make him safer in the water.

[krystee]

We started swim at 12 weeks. Basically it's for me. he is not a fan of being held and snuggled, but enjoys it in the pool! Also, I love the water.

Our library starts baby story time at six months, so I'll take him to that then. No plans for other classes until he is three, and then we'll do T-ball.

[ilikedonuts]

Both kids started Little Gym at 4 months. It got me out of the house with DD1. And my kids had as much fun as a 4 month old can haha

[Deleted]

18 months for DD. That's when ECFE classes at the school start. We did Mom and Me swimming after that.

DS is 18 months now and starts swimming next week.

It was a good age. I had enough going on "for me" prior to that I didn't feel the need and my kids didn't care.

[missbella]

We started Baby Storytime at the library at 3.5 months. It's free and we both have enjoyed it. 

We are looking at starting gymnastics in the fall when he is 15 months. That will be our first paid class. I think it will be good for him to burn off some energy and be around other kids.

[starlily]

We did library storytime at 2 months. But that was it.

DD1 started dance at 2, but that was through daycare.

[greycat]

Our library system has a ton of great kids programs. I started DS at 3 months at their baby time program (mostly singing with a quick board book at the end). We didn't do any formal programs until a few months ago when we started going to a music class (that we know from a free demo at the library).

[curbsideprophet]

We signed DD up for Kindermusik and Spanish when she went into the three year old room. We could have done the music sooner but Spanish did not start until three. If they were not an option at daycare they probably would not happen.

[magpie]

Our city's park and rec has motor development classes for babies (and one parent must attend w/the baby). It's basically an indoor gym for kids (air conditioned, padded room!) and they do a combination of circle time and fun, open play activities where the babies get to run around on the obstacles and stuff. We started going when DD was 4 months and have religiously signed up for the Saturday morning classes for her age group since because she loves them so much.

[ilikedonuts]

To add on to my post above, about my girls both starting Little Gym at 4 months, since I'm on a computer now. DD2 has been in baby storytime at the library since she was 2 weeks old (2nd kid! lol) DD1 was like 6 months when we started.

My kids just really liked to be active (even as babies they were constantly moving around) so LG was perfect for them. And I do know seeing the older kids moving all over and doing stuff helped my kids learn to move around as early as they did.

[meltoine]

We started taking DS1 to gymnastics at 2. We started DS1 at 18 months because he showed an interest after watching DS1's class for a while. Both of them did well and enjoyed it from the beginning. I think 18 months was a good time.

[matildasun]

I started Music Together with A at 18 months. Due to having a big sister M went to his first music class at two weeks, and then started going regularly at 3 months. For the first few months I mostly wore him, but once he was 6 months or so, he seemed to enjoy it.

[jorja]

We started music class at 3 months. I'm not sure how much she got out of it the first few months, but she absolutely loves it now.

[speyedr]

We started Kindermusik at like 6ish months and DD still loves it now at 16 months. We have an amazing teacher though!

[brooklyn]

We started classes really early, but I'm a sahm that needs stuff to do everyday, so they were totally more for my social interaction at the beginning.

We did mommy & me Pilates and yoga starting around 3 months, and have taken many music, gym, language classes since then.

[moopoint17]

DS1 started gymboree at 3 months. DS2 started swim at 14 months.

[felicity]

I took DS to his first free library music class a couple weeks ago. He is 7 months. I really only did it because he cries any time a stranger so much as looks at him, so I thought it would be a good socializing activity. He did great and was fascinated by the whole thing. I plan to keep going or see if my mom can take him when she's watching him during the day.

[ryry]

We started taking DD1 to music together classes at 9 months. She did that pretty consistently until she was about 2.5. She also started gymnastics at around 2, and swimming (without a parent in the water) at about 3-3.5. Dd2 (just turned 2) so far hated swim class and was a holy terror at music class, so she's not in any.

[abs]

We started The Little Gym at 7 months. It was way more for me than he but she did get something out of it--she saw that other babies did in fact crawl and then walk and it helped tremendously with her core strength.

We also started music at the library around that time, too.

[Deleted]

Yeah it was around 4 months with DS1 but that was mostly for my benefit rather than his to get us out of the house and meet other parents. With DD, I didn't enroll her in any classes until she was 2! Poor third kids, lol.