A few weeks ago a friend of mine Helen dragged a reluctant me along to a parents group. To be honest I wasn't really keen at the time. I was still in the I don't want to forced to make friend with pregnant people/mothers just because I am pregnant. I want to keep my own group of friends and they can adapt to me. However this group changed my mind.

You don't have to socialise if you don't feel the need to. Your baby can play with other babies while you shop for, I have to say, great quality second hand maternity wear and baby goods. You can choose to sit in the corner and earwig/observe. Or be totally selfish and have a cuppa and a cuddle with your baby in the corner. The fact that teh group doesn't have a round the table but a round the play area theme is realy relaxing and not threatening if you are/were in the same state of mind as me.

Anyway go and try for yourselves. Hazel and Neena are lovely and friendly. Welcoming and not over powering!

A bit about the group - Totshop is Brighton’s only ‘bring & buy’ baby group giving local parents the opportunity to buy and sell quality used baby items. Set up and run by two local mums, Neena and Hazel, with the vision of providing a safe environment for babies to play, and parents to meet and chat, whilst browsing, buying or selling baby bargains.

The group runs every Friday at The Iron Duke Hotel on Waterloo Street in Hove, our usual time is 1-4pm but as of September it will be changing slightly to 11-2pm. Entry is £2, or £5 for sellers, with free tea & coffee.

As well as the 'bring 'n' buy' element, the group has a different focus each week... this week a paedeatric nurse is coming along to do a Q&A session about lifesaving skills, representatives from different companies attend to demonstrate the latest baby products for sale, recently we had a mobile photography studio in which was very popular (coming again on Friday 18th Sept at 11-2pm), and we regularly have sensory play sessions for the babies, as well as our baby disco.

Check out the events page on our website for further listings www.totshopbrighton.co.uk. Totshop can also be found on facebook where you can make friends with other mums in the group when you hit it off.