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 'Baby and Me' group (for parents with babies under 15 months old, Tuesdays 10:00-11:30am at the Playroom, GWP District Community Centre, Gentian Mews, OX11 6GR). 

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!) 

On the move

If your little one is outgrowing DBM, there are lots of low cost or free, drop-in toddler groups in Didcot and surrounding villages. Many of them also have baby areas set aside for the younger ones away from the bigger toddlers. 

Harwell and Chilton Churches Fledglings

St Matthews Church, Church Ln, Harwell, OX11 0HL 

Mondays 9:30-11:30am 

Chilton Field Community Room, OX11 0UE 

Wednesdays 9:30-11:30am

Great Western Park Baby and Toddler Group

GWP Southern Community Centre, Sorrel Crescent, Didcot OX11 6HQ

Alternate Tuesdays 10-11:30am 

Harwell Fun Club

Harwell Village Hall, High St, Harwell, Didcot OX11 0EX

Tuesdays 9:30-11:30am

Stepping Stones 

Didcot Baptist Church, 43 Wantage Rd, Didcot OX11 0BS

Under 2's Wednesdays 1-2:30pm

Under 3's Tuesdays 9-10:30, Wednesdays & Thursdays 9:30-11:15am

Rainbows toddler group 

Fleet Meadow Community Hall, Sandringham Rd, Didcot OX11 8TP

Wednesdays 1-3pm

Ladygrove Church toddler group 

Ladygrove Community Hall, Tamar Way, Didcot OX11 7UQ

Wednesdays 9:30-11am 

Steventon Baby & Toddler Group 

Steventon Village Hall, The Green, Steventon, Abingdon OX13 6RR

Thursdays 9:30-11:30am 

Didcot Library 

197 Broadway, Didcot OX11 8RU

Stay & Play - Thursdays 9:30-11:00am

Rhymetime - Alternate Fridays 9:30-10am or 10:30-11am

Coffee and Kids  

Didcot Methodist Church, The Broadway, Didcot OX11 8AD

Fridays - Baby Singing 10-10:30am, coffee 10:30-11am, big singing 11-11:30am 

Chilton Toddler Group

Chilton Village Hall, Chilton, OX11 0SH

Fridays 9:30-11:30am