Hi,
I am new in Geneva and have a 4 month old son. We moved over from England in March. I was wondering whether there are any English/international play groups for small babies in Geneva where you can meet other mums. I could only find play groups so far which are for children of 12 months or older . I live in the Champel area.

Would be great if there were other people around with babies with whom I could meet up.

Doris

CERNs Woman Club has a very nice play group and I think it is open to all, regardless connection to CERN or not. It´s open two (or maybe three now?) days a week from 10 - 13. Moms brings their little babies or their toddlers, sometimes even bigger ones. I don´t think there is an upper or lower age limit. It costs a little every six months but it´t really cheap.

Try club-toddlergroup@cern.ch for more information. We used the play group until this winter when our boy began at a garderie and liked it a lot.

There are plenty of english moms there and some other nationalities.

Hope this help get you started!

Thanks for the fast reply. I tried the link you sent me, but it only leads me to the main CERN website, possibly because I do not have access to their intranet. Is the toddlergroup like a creche where you leave your babies or a meeting place where mums and children get together. I would be interested in the latter one, as I do not work.

Doris

Hi Doris,

We're moving to Geneva mid july with our 7month old daughter - so I'm watching this thread with interest! I think if you search the history of this forum someone has posted a thread about some playgroups in Geneva.

On a recent visit I picked up a copy of the know-it-all passport from a bookshop. It has loads of information about playgroups/activites with children in Geneva. They have a website which has some links on it:

http://www.knowitall.ch/indexpage.html?home.html&3

I found this on it which looks like fun!
http://www.babygym.ch/index_praille_english.html

Feel free to PM me if you would like to chat - it might be nice to meet up for a coffe once we've moved out - you should know all the good playgroups by then

Kate

Hi Kate,

Thanks for your reply. That would be great if we could meet once you are over here . I had looked at the baby gym website as well. I think it would be fun to go there, but you need to bring along two other people to start a course and right now I do not know anybody here (problem is also that I do not speak any French and many people in Geneva know, to my surprise, very little Engish). Also, I would like to find something more long-term (the massage classes only last 4 sessions) and less formal e.g. meeting up, going out for a coffee etc. I will try and get a copy of that book you have suggested. There seem to be quite a lot of toddler groups around, but they do activities like singing, dancing, creative work, all things for which my son is too small (he cannot even sit up yet). Hopefully I will find some other mums. Do you already know where in Geneva you will stay?

Doris

Hi Doris,

We're coming out househunting at the beginning of June -it'll be so nice to know where we will be living!
I just had a little look in my know-it-all book and there is an english speaking playgroup in Carouge - they meet every tues pm for kids 0-4.
Mubabil is at the baby lounge friday mornings (i think) for babies from 3months.
I much prefer more informal things though so it'll be fun to meet for coffee

Kate

Hi Kate,

I wish you luck with house hunting. It can sometimes be quite difficult to find something here, but we got lucky and found a large apartment quite easily. Champel is nice as it is only 7 minutes away from the city centre (by bus) or 20 minutes on foot and very green and quiet. There are lots of shops on the Rue de Florissant and the park Bertrand is also very close (good for children and very safe).

Doris

hello I come from Turkey. i have been live in geneva for 3 years I have a baby. He is 14 months I want to meet other mothers.

Hi Sohret,

Whereabouts in Geneva do you live? Perhaps we could meet for coffee somewhere in town? I live in the Champel/Florissant area.

Doris

Hi Doris,
I am very hapy for your reply. I live in the Thonex Do you know this area?
it is near your area. When would you like to meet and where?

Sohret

I've been following this thread with interest as well. I'm a Canadian moving to Geneva at the end of the week and I have a 5 month-old son and am looking for playgroups and things to do with him. Any more recommendations or opinions on the playgroups mentioned? I also saw that the American Women International Club has a weekly playgroup in a park -- has anyone been there?

Hi I'd like to get together with other moms in Geneva. i have a 22 month old son and don't know other ppl here.

If anyone is interested call me 022 340 4112.

Hi Doris,
I live in Champel too and have a 9 month old. I am thinking of starting her in kiddieclub classes. Baby gym at eaux vive and lapraille also have classes for kids. Unfortunately the kiddie club starts at 8 months. But they are bilingual so you have an english option. Meanwhile PM me and we can meet up.