Joining a baby or toddler group when you have your first baby can be one of those life saving moves!  Just as you are getting over the extraordinary experience of your first birth, and you are trying to return to a normal life, but suddenly find this dependent little thing everywhere you turn, life can become a little overwhelming.  Find a local group and start meeting and mixing with other mum's and baby's, and you will find a supportive community and quickly make a host of new friends.

There are bound to be toddler and baby groups in your area - you may never have even considered there existence, but they really are all around you!  Here are some ways to find a group near you:-

• Contact the NCT, they run groups all over the country and you may not have to be a member to attend
• See whether there are any groups in local church halls and community halls, you'll spot notices in the halls and they should have contact details with them
• Search on the internet to see if you can find a group near you
• Look for a local childminding group and then ask the organiser or members for information, they will most likely know what goes on locally to you
• Contact your local council for a list of local groups
• Make enquiries at hospital before you leave or ask your midwife - maternity wards usually have a noticeboard with information about local support groups and other services on offer to new mum's

If you really can't find a group near you, or you can't find one that suits you for whatever reason, you could even start your own!

As your little one approaches their special day of the year, it is very easy to get carried away by throwing extravagant parties at play barns or hiring lavish halls.  Then comes helium play balloons, piles of food, prizes, party bags, decorations and all the other bits and pieces that go with it.  However, you can still have a great party without it costing a fortune and with a bit of thinking, the kids will still have a fabulous time!  Here are a few party themes to get you in the party mood.

• Fairy Party - feature flowers, fairy wings, fluffy clouds, sunshine
• Pirate Party - feature pirates, treasure, ships, islands
• Under the Sea Party - features fish, mermaids, sharks, dolphins
• Circus Party - tight rope walking, clowns, juggling
• Dance Party - make up a dance and teach it to the children
• Princess Party - features princes and princesses, crowns, jewels, thrones
• Superheros - Star Wars, Spiderman, High School Musical and any superheros
• Traditional fancy dress party - with musical statues, musical bumps, Oranges And Lemons, Duck, Duck, Goose, and lots of fancy dress

Ideas you can adapt to make the party really unique!

• Invites: Try and theme your invite to match your party.  Make fairy party invites into the shape of flowers, or pirate party in the shape of a ship.
• Decorate: the simplest shapes like stars or flowers or car shapes in bright paper and stuck to a dull church hall wall can really bring the room alive.  Try making bunting or hanging glittery curtains to make it feel special.  Try hanging cut out shapes or pictures from the ceiling or by the window so they blow in the wind.
• Have a colouring session as the children arrive.  Prepare colouring pictures and lots of crayons on a big table and invite the children to colour a picture while you wait for everyone to arrive.
• Balloons are great to play with and look fun hung about the place.  Tie one balloon to each end of some ribbon or wool and hang over any pictures on the wall.  Give each child one to take home.  You could also place a piece of jewelery or sweets inside each balloon so there is a treat inside when the children get home!
• Make something like an edible necklace out of cheerios or popcorn and thread with string or wool.
• Throw a tiny bit of glitter over each child as they arrive: magic dust to make them have a great time!