Meet the Slummy Mummies

The women were first-time mums who bonded at a post-natal group and, 18 months later, they are going strong.

They offer each other friendship and support – and much more. Coffee mornings, family trips, play dates for the children, and ‘mummy only’ nights out, are all on the agenda.

In June they organised a very successful ‘Bump to Baby’ Fair in Witney, which raised more than £1,000 for the Children’s Air Ambulance.

They picked the name Slummy Mummies as the fun antithesis to yummy mummies, and it was an inspired choice.

Put ‘slummy’ into a Google search and Witney Slummy Mummies (slummy-mummies.com) comes up third on the list.

“We wanted a name that was light-hearted and reflects that we don’t take ourselves too seriously,” said Slummy Mummy Claire Christiansen, 33, mother to 17-month-old Jake.

They have their own website and Twitter account, and this has led to them doing product testing and reviews, giving their expert mummy opinions on everything from bibs, spoons and changing bags to feeding mugs and baby food.

Only the best get the Slummy Mummies’ seal of approval.

They have also compiled the Slummy Mummies list of things to do with your little ones in and around Witney.

Claire said: “The group has come together to form a tightly-knit group who regularly meet up to support each other through this wonderful road trip of first-time motherhood.”

The 10 women first met 16 months ago as bleary-eyed and sleep-deprived new mums on a post-natal course at the Children’s Centre in Witney, run by Action for Children.

Claire said: “Every Thursday for a month we all turned up with our newborns and avidly listened to the information given to us, trying to absorb as much as possible while attempting to feed, calm, rock to sleep, or change our babies.

“At the end of the four weeks, we exchanged e-mail addresses with the vague notion that it would be nice to catch up every now and again.

“After the final session we all decamped to a nearby café to have well-deserved coffee and cake. Two hours later and, high on caffeine, the group decided to create a Facebook group, and the Slummy Mummies were born.

“We regularly meet up to support each other through this wonderful, if sometimes overwhelming, road trip of first-time motherhood, sharing stories, advice, laughter, and the occasional tear.”

Claire, who works as a careers adviser, has been instrumental in compiling the Slummy Mummies directory of things to do with your baby in the Witney area.

She said: “There seemed to be very little information of this kind, so as the Slummy Mummies discovered the best places to go with their babies, I started to record these in a blog, which then became our website.

“We’re by no means experts, but we wanted to create a website which felt like the information was coming from a friend, with honest, friendly reviews.”

Laura Grainger, 32, mum to 18-month-old Sidney, said that new motherhood had been “the best journey I could have imagined” thanks to the friendship of the Slummy Mummies.

Laura, who works part-time as a project manager with Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Of course, we all have other friends but, even though they may have children, they’re not going through things at the same time as the Slummies. I think it’s also good for the guys to see that their partners have a support network – it lightens their load.

“We arrange a mixture of different ‘dates’ that are with or without our babies. We have nights in, nights out, pamper parties and shopping parties, charity events and Christmas do’s.

"We have celebrated boozy Slummy Mummy birthdays, and babies’ first birthdays. In fact, I can’t think of any social event we haven’t tried over the past 18 months.

“It’s confusing being a new first-time mum: on the one hand you feel happy and lucky, but on the other hand you are awash with emotion and feel like you are doing everything wrong and neglecting important things in your life.

“Having a support network of mums going through the same thing is the best thing a new mum could ask for.”

Hair stylist Natasha Quigley, 35, mum to 18-month-old George, said the completely unconditional friendship of the Slummy Mummies was very important.

She added: “It would be wonderful if every town had a spin-off of the Slummy Mummies - but we’re completely unique to Witney.”

Natasha Hitchens, 37, mum to 17-month-old Layton, said: “As I haven’t gone back to work, it means I still get to have adult conversation with the Slummy Mummies during the day.

“I was new to the area and my health visitor advised me to go along to the post-natal group, which is where I met the Slummy Mummies.

“I feel like I’ve know these ladies for a lot longer than the short time I have.”