I took my daughter to a trial "Play and Learn" class when she was 4 months old and she did not like it. So much so that they offered me another trial class. She still didn't like it and cried all the time. Perhaps she was too young. For me personally, I didn't like the 'commercialization' of the songs and games and found the teachers voices to be very "put on", which is what I suspect my baby didn't like at the time (tone and volume of voice). We've not gone back but have instead found other centres for play - she goes to My Gym for activity/ play (I think another member mentioned her child enjoying My Gym as well) and to 88 Keysfor kindermusik. We've found both programs to be fantastic and I highly recommend them, though they are not cheap.

My Gym works on a similar payment structure to Gymboree: a set monthly fee for one session a week and open play times.  I find My Gym more convenient as they have an evening "open play" sessions which works for me as a working mom.

kindermusik at 88 Keys works on sessions (Winter/ Spring/ Summer/ Fall) of either 8 or 16 weeks (depending on the "theme") . You can enroll any time though you can get bonus items if you register early.

Thank you both very much for the feedback I will now look into the other programs suggested!  I will also look in the other classes at Gymboree as well, I guess I will take the cues from my girl on what appeals to her or not!! Any other suggestions are so much appreciated, I am trying to find educational and or fun things to stimulate her she is 8 months old!

Thanks Lori

I didn't like the classes at Gymboree.  While the teachers seemed nice, I found the location a little dirty to be honest. 

I've done a few classes elsewhere but I've been going to My Gym (Richmond Hill, Bathurst and Carrville) and I really like the people there.  They clean the room and disinfect after almost every class (every class if there are younger babies involved).  They remember every single kid's name and are really involved - even during the open play classes (which are free if you sign up for a regular class).  So we go twice a week and my daughter so far hasn't gotten tired of it.  She started when she was a year old and now she's almost two.  She didn't like it when she was 4-5 months old, so they gave me another free trial later on and it was great.

I also enjoyed the Gymalaya classes that LWAB set up.  We went when my daughter was about 8 months old.  The price was great and it was a good introduction to the gym for my daughter.  Since the price was so good, it gave me a solid idea on if it would be worth it to continue elsewhere (the Gymalaya locations were just too far for me to go on a regular basis, especially in the winter months).

I have been bringing my daughter to Gymboree since she was 2 months old --- she loves it.

I started her in Play & Learn and have now put her into the music class -- she enjoys the songs, the interaction with the other children and she loves the teachers.

I have found that all the teachers and people who go are very nice.  My daughter has definitely benefitted from the stimulation in these classes and enjoys the classes.

Gymalaya (two locations, in Vaughn and Newmarket, we go to Vaughn) is a great place for baby-gymnastics (as well as for older kids), with the most reasonable rates (and for longer classes at 1 hour, most others are 45 minutes, and more expensive), as well as a variety of activities, that quickly fill up the hour. I went for a trial class to My Gym once and really did not like it (very small space, very crowded to fill in the class with lots of paying customers, and SO LOUD, especially the lady who ran the class for us, I can still remember the headache from her... she was nice and friendly, but really loud and 'in your face' all the time, and I really did not like the overcrowding, which also leads to having to wait a long time for your child to get a turn at activity/equipment, and then only for a short little time.) We also went for a few paid classes to 'The Little Gym' (Vaughn), and it was nice, but more expensive ($25 for 45 minute session), and fewer activities/equipment than Gymalaya.

Overall I really like Gymalaya the best. (Too bad we're moving out of the city, or I would continue going there.)