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Today was my first session at Mumbaba with my baby Eve. I was a bit concerned that I might have to sing, but my friend Sara assured me it was fun and she was so right! The Mumbaba leader sang so well, and sang so many songs that I remembered from childhood, that I found joining in was no problem at all! Eve and I had a brilliant time. And Eve was so worn out by the music and dancing that she slept very quietly on my lap as we had free coffee and yummy biscuits. I will certainly be making this a regular date in my diary. from Charli and Eve

My  baby Sam and I have just discovered Mumbaba and think its great! I wasn't sure if he was too young, but he loved every minute of it.The half an hour of singalong fun enthralled Sam, even though he's only 4 months old! He was gripped and hardly blinked the whole time.! We went with all our friends from the nct group and were pleased to have  plenty of time to chat over coffee and fab biscuits after the singing. All for £3.70. What a bargain! We'll certainly be going every week from now.
From Sam and his mummy Jo.

Becoming a mum , I soon discovered how difficult and sometimes lonely this phase of life can be. I soon heard about Mumbaba. This was such a turning point for me, because through Mumbab I relaxed into motherhood and enjoyed meeting other mums and babies. I could see how much the babies benefit from the stimulation and how the isolation of being at home disappeared when I walked through the door and was greeted with such warmth. Both my boys have loved Mumbaba and I'm sorry that they are now at school so we haven't time to go any more.
Thank you Mumbaba for 5 years of happy singing together
Debby , Charlie and Jasper.

I am new to the area and was a bit nervous about meeting other mums with children. I got the details about Mumbaba from my doctors surgery and am so pleased that I did. Johnny and Suzie loved the Mumbaba singing from the first moment, and I've loved it because we've met so many people there.We've been invited to so many things by the other mums there that I can't thank Mumbaba enough.for bringing us together.  Mumbaba is a great place for music and singing (Johnny's so good at the Hokey Cokey now!) and its a great place to meet people and make friends. Thank you Mumbaba!
From Ruth, Johnny and Suzie

My son and I went to Mumbabas at Baffins in Sept 2005. I knew no one, but will speak to anyone. We made a lot of friends through this group and Jonathan thoroughly loves it. In Jan 2006; living round the corner from the Drayton group, we ventured there one day (although still going to Baffins on Mondays) a few months later as Jonathan had dropped his mid morning sleep. There we met someone and her daughter who recognised us from Baffins, who we still keep in touch with twice weekly to this day. So over 2 years later, we're still going, admittedly not always with my son, as he's decided to take himself off to pre-school, but now with my 6 month old daughter. She loves it and doesn't stop smiling! A fantastic 'organisation', yes, primarily for mothers, but if you're like me, male (or female) and will talk to anyone, take your children there; they and you willl love it.
From Simon and his kids. 

I've been bringing my  little Henry to Mumbaba since he was 4 months old. He's 8 months now and  I can't believe how quiet and still he  is at Mumbaba. He just sits on my lap for the whole session, watching and listening. He is so action packed at home I never get him to sit still on my lap, so I'm very impressed that he does it here. It's a great mummy and baby experience.
Cheryl and Henry

Whenever Jake cries or is unsettled in the car, I just put on our 'Hop Little Rabbits' CD and he goes quiet instantly! It's a life saver in a traffic jam I can tell you, and when we get to the group he joins in beautifully because he knows the songs so well.  Hooray for the Mumbaba CD! 
Gemma and Jake.

When Connor and I started attending Mumbaba a couple of months ago I thought I might as well buy the cd so that we would know some of the songs when we attended the next session.  The cd was left in the car completely forgotten about until a few days later when we were driving somewhere and Connor was a bit whingy.  When I passed him a toy car it got chucked on the floor, along with a book and his water.  Nothing would make him happy.  With a constant whine in my left ear, and a good half hour to go until we reached our destination I decided to play some music to both cheer him up and drown out the whining (!!!).  The Mumbaba cd was the first one that I came across, lying unopened in the glove box.  I shoved it in the cd player in desperation to calm things down, I pressed 'play' and ...... Oh My God!!!!.....a massive smile spread across Connor's face and he started clapping when the lady (I think it is Chris) claps and shaking his feet at Dingle Dangle Scarcrow and whooping in delight at being an Indian.  For a child it is FANTASTIC!!!!  I now play it all the time in the car and I haven't heard one whine!!!!  Both Connor and I now know all the words and actions to ALL the songs and when classes start again after the summer break Connor will be clapping, singing, shaking his hands and feet and jumping up and down in all the right places!!!!  Brilliant cd - buy it!  It is a lifesaver!
Sarah Rayment, Petersfield class, Tuesday am.

Henry is so excited to come to Mumbaba. He's only 5 months old but he knows where we are and gets all excited when we come into the hall. He sits so still during the singing, and never cries. We just love it!' 
from Catherine.

'I brought my baby David along just to see if he'd like it. I really didn't believe that he would as he was so young, just 2 months old, but right from the first session he's loved the singing and now can't get enough of it. We bought the Hop little Rabbits cd a couple of weeks ago and and he now cries  when we get into the car until I put it on. I'm not musical but I come every week because he loves it so much.'
from Jenny.

I was so fed up at home with my new baby, I couldn't find anywhere to take her in case she cried and made everyone fed up. I used to walk around garden centres just for somewhere to go, then a friend took me to Mumbaba, wow! what a difference. We were made to feel welcome from the first moment. Daisy enjoyed the singing so much that she never even thought about crying. We've been coming since she was 9 weeks and have had a great time every week. Mumbaba is a great place for new mums and babies.
Suzi and Daisy.

My second baby Lisa needed cranial osteopathy but before we discovered and sorted that out, she seemed to cry all the time, I used to take her to my mum's and leave her there to get a break, I was amazed when I went to Mumbaba because as soon as we started to sing Lisa stopped crying! I think that the music soothed her, the singing and coffee and chat afterwards made me feel better too. I can't reccomend Mumbaba enough. Thank you Mumbaba for rescuing us!
Sheila Lisa and Luke. 

Hi, I wanted to share with new mums to Mumbaba how fun it is for mums and babies, I took my son to Portchester mumbaba when he was 11 weeks old. At first i thought how could a baby enjoy music at such a young age. How wrong I was, from the first session he smiled, Now at one years old its the weekly thing that he loves to do. I find myself singing Hop Little Rabbits walking round Tesco, so my partner has picked up on it and I find him singing it when he thinks nobody is around. Carole of Portchester Mumbaba is always happy and makes myself and Joe always welcome. Thanks again,
Anne Harris and Joe,  Portchester

 I don't live near any Mumbaba groups but I bought a Hop Little Rabbits Cd set for my son who is deaf. He loves it because with his hearing aids in, he can hear all the words and tunes because there is no background music in the way. It is the first time that he has been able to enjoy a music recording, we are so pleased. Thank you,
from Moira and Josh

When Chris came to our post natal group we didn't think that our babies were old enough to get anything out of it because they were only about 6 weeks old. But when she started to sing the Mumbaba nursery rhymes, all the babies looked at her and you could see them listening! And she sang stuff that we all knew from when we were kids so we could all join in. It was great, and my little Jake fell asleep straight afterwards and slept the longest time ever, so I've been bringing him ever since.
from Sheila & Jake.

My grand-daughter, Jessica was so quiet and shy  that I never thought she'd get on when she got to school age. I took her to Mumbaba when she was 2 and a half, and as usual, she sat close by me to start with. After a few weeks though, she started to come out of herself, and when she started joining in , I was absolutely amazed! Learning the Mumbaba songs seem to have given her the confidence to join in with the others. Now she's started nursery and is really settling in well thanks, I think, to Mumbaba. Last week she stood up in front of the class and sang a song she'd learnt from Mumbaba to them all! I never thought I'd see the day! we're all thrilled at her confidence! Thank you Mumbaba!
From Hilary and Jessica

I was given the Hop Little Rabbits CD as a gift when Hazel was born. We were'nt sure what to do with it as she's only a baby. But one night she cried all night long, I couldn't placate her at all, in desperaton I put on the Hop Little Rabbits Cd and it was wonderful! Hazel stopped her crying and listened!  The solo voice on it is so calm and tuneful, Hazel fell in love with it.  We now play it all the time. Hazel loves to hear it when she's going to bed, while she's in the bath and in the car. Its fantastic at keeping Hazel quiet and amused while I'm driving.
Thank You Mumbaba from Josey and Hazel

Jaimee and I attend the Bedhampton Mumbaba group. We have been going nearly every week since Jaimee was six months old. She's now 2 years  3 months. She knows all the songs and actions and sings them alot at home. In the car  once she started talking about a man in a saucer. I wondered what on earth she was on about until I realised she was singing 3 little men in a flying saucer !!
Mumbaba is fantastic from many points of view, Jaimee interacts with everyone in the group, babies, toddlers, mums and especially Gill who is great with all the little ones. Jaimee talks about ''singing group'' alot and the friends she has made. It's enjoyable for me too. I've met some wonderful friends and sharing advice is so useful. Jaimee now goes to the same Nursery School as some of her Mumbaba friends.
I started going to Mumbaba when I started back to work after my 6 months maternity leave.
I wanted something on my 'Jaimee day' to be time for just the 2 of us without anything else in the way. I would definately recommend it to any Mum or Dad whether they have a baby or toddler.
Gillian and Jaimee xx 

**********Web Comment Winning Entry **********
Hi
Just wanted to say how much my daughter Mina and I love going to our Mumbaba session!  The group leader Mandi, is just so happy and enthusiastic it just rubs off on both the adults and kids. Mina adores Mandi and we've been going since she was 3 months old. Now she is 10 months she loves all the singing and actions, and I love the fact that she recognises the songs when I sing them at home. Even more special is now she has one of those electronic nursery books and she smiles at the songs she recognises from our Mumbaba singing!
Mumbaba at Drayton is friendly with lots of the same Mums and Dads that go each week so even if you go on your own you are bound to make friends. The kids at the group  are all different ages but I'm glad I started early with Mina as singing has become a great bond between us. The groups has also helped me to learn lots of new action rhymes and Mandi teaches us new ones every few weeks.
A big plus point is that Mumbaba only charge you for the session to attend- no need to pay in advance for termly fees- this is really good for a tight budget / when children are ill and can't make it / getting stuck in the snow!! Also the reward card you get, (collect 1 sticker per sessiom and when you have 10 stickers on your card your next session is free) is a real incentive. I know that Mina and I will be going right up till she goes to school. The £3.50 per session is worth every penny and our group leader Mandi, is amazing. I really can't recommend this group enough. Go and have fun - you won't regret it. You'll be hooked!!
Thanks
Tricia and Mina Clark,  Portchester

I must say that the Hop Little rabbits is brilliant for keeping my two quiet in the mornings while I get ready. i bath and change them then put it on and they laugh and dance around to it while I get ready. It's brilliant and works like a dream every day! In fact they get fed up if I forget to put it on. Thanks Mumbaba you really help my days!
From Sarah , Josh and Anna.XX

The Hop little rabbits Cd saved my life! Charlie wouldn't get into his car seat with out a huge fuss. He'd go wild,! He'd kick and scream so that I almost stopped going out, it was so bad. Then a friend bought me a Hop Little Rabbits Cd, I put it on in the car and Charlie was so  enchanted by the singing that he sat quietly and let me buckle him up and set off. It was a real life saver i can tell you!  I recommend it to all my friends and always buy one for friends with new babies!
Thank you Mumbaba! from Bernice and Charlie.

I went to Chris's Mumbaba group for the first time with my baby Gemma when she was 6 weeks. She sat there most of the time just listening, then went to sleep, I know she liked it because she didn't cry. I know I liked it alot because after the singing we sat around and had coffee and chocolate biscuits and were able to catch up on all the news. It felt really good to be out of the house making friends over coffee. i shall be back every week I think. Its just so good to be  somewhere where babies are welcomed.
From Jane and Gemma.