# Baby and toddler classes

**Are baby and toddler classes worth it?**

Whether you enroll your baby or toddler in classes such as music, gym or early learning, and how many.

In short: Parents choose between 4 main approaches: None; One social class; Several a week; Structured early-learning programs. Evidence: your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. Best settled: 0–6 months.

- Area: Childcare and early learning
- Evidence: Your call
- Best settled: 0–6 months
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/childcare-and-early-learning--baby-and-toddler-classes

## Baby and toddler classes: what are the options?

1. **None**: The child attends no classes.
2. **One social class**: The child attends one class, mainly to meet other children.
3. **Several a week**: The child attends several classes each week.
4. **Structured early-learning programs**: The child attends programs designed to teach skills early.

## Baby and toddler classes: what does the evidence say?

**Your call.** No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide.

A trial of a baby reading program found babies did not learn to read

Sources:

- [Reading Rockets](https://readingrockets.org/research-by-topic/can-babies-learn-read-randomized-trial-baby-media)

## What else is worth knowing?

Music, swimming, gym and similar classes are offered from the first months. They can be enjoyable and a way to meet other parents. Babies do not need them for development.

## Questions to ask each other

- Do we want classes, and for what reasons?
- How many is too many?
- What would we do if our baby hates them?

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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=childcare-and-early-learning&topic=childcare-and-early-learning--baby-and-toddler-classes