This is one of GlasgowBaby’s favourite parks. It has a brilliant and well-maintained play area with a number of different climbing frames, a huge curly slide which kept my 2-year-old entertained for ages, and loads of baby and open swings (so no whingeing at having to wait). There are also plenty of easy cycle/walking paths for a smooth ride in the buggy, or a scoot/trike/bike round, with spectacular views of mature woodland, rivers and waterfalls to keep your interest for hours. At the end of your scoot round, you can fuel up at the Boater’s Café, or have a rest at the Boating Pond.

Visit East Renfrewshire’s Tourist Information website for more details.

Get your dancing shoes on – Baby Loves Disco hits town this weekend! Bubble machines, baskets of instruments, a chill-out room (with tents, books and puzzles), healthy snacks, a bar for parents, and lots and lots of dancing. Suitable for kids aged from 6 months to 7 years.

Baby Loves Disco
Sunday 8th November 2009, 2pm-5pm
Tiger Tiger, The Glasshouse, Glassford Street, Glasgow, G1 1UL
£8 per ticket, non-walking babies free, buy tickets here

For further information, visit the Baby Loves Disco website.

The monthly nappuccino events are taking place this week. Get up to date on all things cloth-nappy-related over coffee and cake.

Thursday 5 November 2009
10.30am-12pm at The Beanscene, Clarkston Toll
1pm-2.30pm at The Beanscene, Woodlands.

There will be a Little Explorer Day at the Glasgow Science Centre this Wednesday, 4 November 2009. Designed for children aged 2-5, the theme for the day is “Animal Bites”. Examine teeth from different species, and compare the skulls of different animals and try to work out who eats what at an animal picnic. Sign-up activities last for 35-40 minutes, and they are available from 10am-1pm. £6.25 per child, and each child can bring one adult free of charge.

Little Explorer Day – Animal Bites
Glasgow Science Centre
50 Pacific Quay, Glasgow, G51 1EA
Pre-book your visit on 0141 420 5000.
Visit the GSC website for further details.

Glasgowbaby is tempted by a couple of events taking place in Glasgow this Hallowe’en. The first is We Dance, Wee Groove, a chance to take a toddle on the funky side courtesy of the Scottish Youth Theatre. They promise ambient lighting and moving shapes to get you in the mood, whilst dancers will be on hand to to help you shake your bootie with your little cutie. The second is the Great Hallowe’en Puppetmaking Workshops at the Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre. Make your own Witch, Wizard, ghost or spider to perform with on a simple screen. All materials supplied.

Happy Hallowe’en everyone!

We Dance, Wee Groove
Ages: 0-4 yrs
Tickets: £2/£6 family
When: Saturday 31 October 2009, 10.30am, 1pm, 3pm
Location: Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, Glasgow, G1 1TF
For further information, visit the SYT website.

Great Hallowe’en Puppetmaking Workshops
Tickets: £6.95 / £3.50 including materials
When: Saturday 31 October 2009, 10am  & 2pm
Location: Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8-10 Balcarres Avenue, Kelvindale, Glasgow G12 0QF
For further information, visit the SMPC website.

The Medical Research Council is looking to recruit pregnant women and parents of children with underlying health conditions in Glasgow to take part in a research study on swine flu. The public-health researchers, based at Glasgow University, will be conducting small group discussions in order to hear people’s views and concerns regarding the swine flu vaccine and the swine flu infection. Each participant in the study will receive a £20 gift token. If you’d be interested in taking part, contact Emily Smith at the MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit.

Emily Smith
MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
4 Lilybank Gardens, Hillhead
Glasgow
Email: e.smith@sphsu.mrc.ac.uk
Phone: 0141 357 7506

For further information, download their poster here.

GlasgowBaby has just been to check out the new soft play in Partick, Jungle in the City. It has a climbing frame with a slide and ball pit for older children, and a separate ball pit and play area for babies and younger toddlers. There’s also some general play space with soft animal climb-ons, a doll’s house and table footie. The layout has been well thought out; all play areas are in full view of the spacious seating area, meaning parents and carers can enjoy a well-earned break while little ones go ape in the jungle. This is particularly helpful if you have two under-3s, and need to keep an eye on both children at the same time. The café has a small but keenly priced menu offering sandwiches, fruit, coffee, tea etc, and unlike many soft plays we’ve been to, it has a few windows to let in some natural light. Children’s parties catered for too. Email jungleinthecity@hotmail.co.uk for details.

Jungle in the City soft play
8 Gardner Street, Partick, Glasgow G11 5NG
Opening hours: Mon-Sun, 10am-7pm
Under 4s: £2.75/hr; subsequent 1/2hr £1
Over 4s: £3.50/hr; subsequent 1/2hr £1.50

The NCT Winter Nearly New Sale will be taking place in a month’s time on Saturday 21st November 2009. This is a hugely popular event, and anyone can sell good-quality baby clothes, equipment, toys and books (you just have to register in advance) – the seller takes 65% of the value of items sold, with 35% going to the NCT. It’s a great way to declutter by getting rid of all those things your kids have grown out of. To register for a seller’s pack, go to http://www.justgiving.com/nct-glasgow and donate £3.50 for your pack.

NCT Winter Nearly New Sale
When: Saturday 21st November 2009, 1pm-3pm
Where: Cleveden Secondary School

For further information, contact Sheila Macintyre on:
email: nns_glasgow@yahoo.co.uk

There will be a slingmeet this Friday 23 October 2009 at the Lane café/bar on Ashton Lane from 11 till 1pm. Go along to meet other babywearing parents, and help is on hand to try a new sling, or to practise a new type of carry. See the Slingmeet Forum to find out more.

If you’re keen to get back into shape after having a baby, there are a number of exercise classes to which you can take your baby. Buggy Fit is one such class offering a safe and effective postnatal workout with qualified postnatal fitness intructors. The class takes place outdoors with your buggy, and involves both cardiovascular and resistance elements to burn fat and tone up after your pregnancy. Various options are given depending on your fitness level so you can power walk or jog some sections, and resistance bands are used for targeting all muscle groups and helping you tone up. Classes take place in Queen’s Park in the Southside of Glasgow come wind, rain or shine! Mothers and babies often meet up for a coffee and a chat afterwards.

Buggy Fit
Where: Queen’s Park
When: Tuesdays at 10.30am and 12.30pm; Thursdays at 10.30am
Who: Contact Paula on 07922568960
Website: Buggy Fit website