What else is on in Didcot
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!)
Moving on
Time flies and it's always bittersweet to wave you and your not-so-tiny-anymore baby on your way. 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 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. Here are some other low cost or free, drop-in baby and 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 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
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
Rhymetime
Didcot Library, 197 Broadway, Didcot OX11 8RU
Alternate Fridays 9:30-10am or 10:30-11am
Chilton Village Hall, Chilton, OX11 0SH
Fridays 9:30-11:30am