At home with a baby? Need to get out of the house but don’t want to leave your bundle of joy behind? Read on for YLC’s guide to taking a course in the capital with your baby in tow!
Despite all the prep I had done before the arrival of my first child, there was nothing that could have prepared me for the feeling in the pit of my stomach when I waved goodbye to my husband going to work, ten days or so after the birth of our son. What was he thinking? How was I going to manage this baby ALONE? The day suddenly seemed to stretch ahead of me – endless and empty. What on earth, I asked myself, was I going to DO?
A few weeks of utter chaos followed before I had set up a routine – not only a daily routine but a weekly one as well. The first few weeks of weeping secretly behind the plants in the window after waving goodbye and then shuffling my pajama-clad person (plus baby) to the sofa for some daytime TV and a self-pity session were exchanged for a new regime of getting out and about. In public.
I am not saying I became a fully-fledged Latte-Mum straight away (you know the type – they’re the ones with the neat-looking offspring becomingly asleep in the Bugaboo) but at least I got out of the house occasionally. There was the occasional walks with other mothers, play group, and sometimes a coffee in town. And I felt all the better for it.
When I had my second child, I knew what to expect and so baby number two was treated to both the joys of a weekly Mum-and-Baby Pilates class as well as the bi-weekly (at least) meet-up with my friends and their babies. I might have been less up to date with the latest intrigues of Emmerdale – but it was worth it just to avoid the unbecoming pajamas.
If you want a reason to get out of the house – or just want some inspiration as to what one can do while on parent leave in Stockholm, check out our guide below to some activities you can enjoy together.
MUM/DAD AND BABY CLASSES
Baby Swim Classes
Vattenhuset baby swim classes are held at various pools around Stockholm. Babies must be 3 months or older. Classes are held in Swedish, but they are very accomodating to English speakers.
Age: 3+ months
Locations: Vattenhusets baby swim class are held in Bromma, Huddinge, Infra City, Långbro, Märsta, Sfären, Sickla, Tyresö, Täby, Älvsjö och på Östermalm and at Astrid Lindgren children’s hospital.
08-798 50 88
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Baby Massage
Observatoriegatan 21 A, Odenplan, 113 29 Stockholm or at your home
Parents come and learn how to massage your baby! There are many benefits both for baby and parent including :
- connecting and bonding with baby
- developing mind, body, awareness and coordination through the power of loving touch
- helping to reduce the discomfort of wind, colic and constipation
- promoting relaxation in parent and baby
This class is suitable for newborn to approximately 10 months old and can be booked as group classes or one-to-one sessions. A 5 week block includes Yogabellies massage pack:(organic paraben-free massage oil, bag, soothing sounds CD & laminated handout)
Starts: Weekdays at your convenience.
Days: 5 x 1 hour sessions with complementary refreshments
Cost: 800 SEK (includes Yogabellies massage pack)
http://sthlmbabymassage.blog.se/ or contact Karen at 0708828773
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Baby Photography
Medborgarskolan, Hagagatan 23 A, Stockholm
On parental leave and want a chance to learn to take better pictures – focusing on your children? Bring your child to this course and you will be taught how.
Starts: Friday February 22nd from 2pm to 4.15pm or Friday April 19th from 10am-12.15pm.
Days: 4 sessions on Friday afternoons (Feb)/4 sessions on Friday mornings (April).
Cost: 1,795 SEK
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Creative Parents Group
Kultureskapaden, Stockholm
New creative activities and materials each week.
Age: 0-2 years
Location: Bäckvägen 90, Söderort
070-848 87 50
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Guitar – for those on parental leave
Folkuniversitetet Stockholm, Saltsjögatan 3, Södertälje
Are you on parental leave? Live south of the city? Take the opportunity to learn how to play the guitar and meet other parents at the same time! You are welcome to bring your child (up to 12 months old) along.
Start date: Monday Feb 14th
Days: Thursdays from 4.15pm – 5pm
Cost: 660 SEK
08-789 42 00
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Drop in Baby Salsa
Mosebacke Terass, Stockholm
Baby Salsa stimulates the rhythm and movement of small children through dancing, singing nursery rhymes, clapping and playing instruments together. In this class parent and baby can explore the world of music and movement together – with a stunning view over Stockholm.Just as much for you as for your baby.
Age: 0-3 years
Start date: May
Cost: 100 SEK per family (2 parents + 1 child) per class. Cash only, no cards.
Location: Mosebacke Terass, Söder.
08-642 30 30
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Singing – for those on parental leave
Pumpan, Färgargårdstorget 1
Tired of Incey-Wincey Spider? Bring your baby and come sing songs that YOU like! Pop, soul and gospel aplenty at this course which also gives some coaching on technique suitable for all levels.
Age: 0-1 years
Cost: 800 SEK for ten classes. First class free.
Location: Färgargårdstorget 1, Södermalm (Additional venues in Enskede and Hägersten.)
0733-10 30 34
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Learn to sign with your baby
By learning a little sign language, you and your baby will be able to communicate with each other. Babysigners run courses that consist of 6 themed classes, one per week.
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Babymassage
Södermalm, Stockholm
In this course, parents learn how to read their baby’s signals, help it to stimulate all senses. Contact, communication and respect develop. Massage stimulates both psychologically and physically – digestion, immune system, breathing and relaxation.
Cost: 850 SEK for five classes. Includes documentation and oil.
Location: Susanne Kindwall konsultation, Stockholm
070 483 62 60
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Mum and baby Yoga
A fun yoga class for mom and baby. They work on building rebuilding the body after pregnancy and childbirth. Children and their parents do yoga together.
0734-267 027
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