I desperately need and want to get into the gym and pool to get some exercise and lose weight but that means I need to put Miss A into the gym creche. I've been very fortunate to have never needed to put my kids into daycare, so its not something I'm used to or comfortable with. To say I'm a control freak would be an understatement and I'm not at all trusting of anyone else with my children, especially not out of my sight. Also Miss A is so very little. Has anyone used gym creches? Are they ok? Did you get used to them and get to be able to exercise and enjoy it without constantly worrying about your baby and just wanting to get out of there to pick her up?
If you think you need to tell me just to suck it up and deal with it because no harm will come to her then let me hear it
DS has been going to the gym creche since he was around 18 months old. DD goes too but usually only in school holidays as I mostly go to the gym when she is at kinder or in the evenings. Our gym has a separate little section for the little babies and their prams. Honestly I think the best way to decide is to go and visit during creche hours. Talk to the carers etc and trust your gut instinct. If you feel comfortable and the kids seem happy etc then I would definitely give it a try. Plus there is no reason why you can't go and check on her a few times during your workout (I used to peek through the glass door to check on DS until one day he saw me and told me to go away and do my exercising ).
I won't tell you to suck it up lol! But it will be so good for you and sometimes we do need to put ourselves first (happy and healthy mummy = a happy house!).
I only ever used the gym crèche once and it upset me too much and ds1 to use it again. He had never been left with anyone but family and wasn't treated the best :-(
Can you just go for a big walk with buns in the pram? Don't over do it cause your body as you know would still have relaxin in it. Xxx
I used one when my DD was 6 weeks old. I guess for me it wasn't really worth it b/c I felt that they were more like a babysitting service than run like a professional creche (DD has been going to a professional creche since 10 mo). I found that when she woke, they didn't resettle her, just got her up and put her in a bouncer. Another time an older child took her dummy off her & popped it, so she had a dummy that couldn't be used to settle her when upset (at the gym creche). I ended up being too concerned for her well being and stopped going during the day and went at night. (not that it lasted long b/c she wouldn't settle at night for my DH). I'd try either walking or a mums & bubs training session - there are a few popping up around now b/c of the demand for mums to want to exercise more than just walking.
Lulu, I used to assess my childcare students who worked in gym childcare. Some places are good, some are really lacking in trained, interested and motivated staff. I agree with sangie, go and check it out and ask lots of questions and trust your gut. Have you considered family day care as another option? They are registered, go through the same quality processes and checks that my kindergarten does and would be a consistent person to develop a relationship with that's not subject to shift changes or staff turnover. Oh and pretty inexpensive for what you get!
i think it depends on the individual gym tbh. my DS was going from when he was about 18months-2 & DD went twice when she was 12-14 weeks. my gym is tiny though. they don't offer a full time creche, it's just open twice a week while there is a mum's circuit class. the lady who runs the creche is the owner's wife, full qualified (and a kinder teacher so does fab activities with the older kids) and is more like having a trusted friend/family member to look after your baby/child. the class takes place right next to the creche & there are windows so you can see in. there are also not that many kids in there at any one time.
i haven't been back much because so many things seem to clash with the class & i've been enjoying going for walks now that i have a double pram. i think, like any time you leave your child somewhere, that you need to visit & feel totally comfortable. for example, i am anti-crying & i know that this lady will pick DD up within seconds. it also helps that i know the other mums & their children pretty well (as they're nearly all from my mother's group or playgroup).
do what feels right for you, trust your instincts.
If you wouldn't use daycare, don't even think about the gym creche. In my experience, they are unqualfied and often just trainees or the cheapest staff the gym has to babysit.
Why not consider finding occasional daycare or family daycare for an hour or two a few times a week? At least you can feel comfortable that they are licenced and accredited and providing quality service.
You get what you pay for really.
I put mine in the gym creche when they were 6 weeks old (they wouldn't take them any younger).
I could see them through their little glass window if I wanted and they came and got me whenever they needed feeding.
Depends on the crèche. I know one where the carer is an old colleague of mine, qualified and with years of experience.
I know another where the main carer is my sister who is, at best, a space cadet. I wouldn't be in a hurry to do it.
I second walking. I also had a bike trainer, I could put baby down next to me and smash out a few ks while she plaed. Keep a skipping rope near your clothesline (or somewhere) and do 2 minutes every time you see it.
I think it really depends on the gym. I looked at a couple and didn't join because if the creche, however the one I settled on is fantastic, the girls are qualified childcare workers who want more flexible hours and the instructors put their kids in there too while they are working. If there's anything wrong like bubs is upset, they will come and get you. We have to bribe DS to get him out lol!
DD1 started when she was 6 months old there and DD2 went from 8 weeks - the workers there are qualified and it was only for an hour. If the kids got upset they would come and find me straight away. In general though I had no problems at all. One of the mothers from my original mothers group with DD1 works there though so I have always felt comfortable with the place. DD2 still goes once a week and she loves it - she distinguishes it from long day care and always wants to go.
You can always try it and see how you feel but I think it depends on the creche, the carers and the child.
Obviously I have different standards, but I'll tell you my experience anyways.
I go to a very small gym that only has creche for an hour over the 9am class of a morning. It is run by mums that go to the gym (including me). I don't expect proper creche activities (though we do do activities and sing and read with the kids) or that they know and adhere to my kid's sleep routine etc. All I expect is that my kids are happy or asleep. If they cry either sooth them or come and get me. And that's what happens. I just want them looked after (babysat) for the hour I need. Holly has been going since she was 9 weeks old.
Depends on the gym. The main gym here is run by the council (which runs 3 childcare centres), so the gym childcare is properly run. I use to use it not for actual workouts, but for occasional care (I could book 2 hrs). Some of the same staff would also help out at the council run playgroup.
Like others have said above, I think it depends on the gym, and the child. I was keen to go back to the gym when DD was 6 weeks old (min age for the crèche). The first time she went there they were all excited since she was by far the youngest. After a few visits I got the impression they didn't like having her there. I agree she was demanding due to colic and reflux - but they only needed to entertain her (read hold her) or put her to sleep, and it was only for 45 mins....in the end I just stopped going because I didn't like their attitude. BTW - I'm a person who has had DD in childcare since 6 moths due to work and have no trouble putting her there. I still wouldn't go back to my gym creche even now though.
I'm not sure where in Perth you are, but I used to walk Bibra Lake (it is just under 6km) and a lovely walk with the pram.
The creche at the Aqua Jetty in Rockingham is good too, and left DD2 there when she was 4 months on. I would have left her there earlier, but I wasn't using the place before then.
I had a bad experience with the women's gym creche in Mandurah, with DD1, but she was about 18 months old and could see me from the creche, and it was too much for her.
I think it really depends on the baby and on the creche. Most are only open from around 8-12 anyway, but if you can work your workout around their naptime, then maybe they won't notice anyway? If they are used to doing it form such a very young age, I suspect they will be more comfortable there as they get older and not be stressed you aren't around.
So maybe give it a go, and try and let go your reins a little and see how she responds. You can always go and get her - they will come and tell you if she is inconsolable.
I had no issues with the gym creche I sent DD to but she was almost 18 months when she started there. She was always very happy and the ladies became our friends. I knew that they all worked at other kinder's and creche's as well. I no longer go to that gym because my trainer moved...but if I were to go back to that gym I'd have no issues with sending baby #2 there from 6 weeks (the min age they take them).
Thanks everyone. I guess I can just go and see what its like - its a centre run by the council and they say they're trained child care workers so maybe we'll get lucky. I don't care about activities but just want her happy so babysitting is perfectly fine by me for such a short period of time - I won't make longer than 3.5 minutes in the gym anyway /I'm so unfit ;-) Boomba - your poor little guy. Something like that is what worries me - I still haven't got over how my DD2 was treated by my MIL nearly 4 years ago and haven't left my kids with anyone except my folks since.
I already walk with Miss A and the dog, but I want something more than that too if I can make it work with DD3 still being happy.
Lime- that park at Bibra Lake is lovely if its the one I'm thinking of. We're in The Vines though so probably a little longer walk than the dog and I could cope with ;-)
Gym creches for very young babies??
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