A MUM has set up a singing club for parents, welcoming them to bring babies and toddlers along.

Carrie Garrett, a singer, singing teacher and voice specialist with three children under the age of three, said:

"Melody Mums is an idea I had when I was home alone with my eldest son when he was a baby. I struggled with the huge life changes that came with becoming a parent and I missed singing. Singing had always been my life. I really wanted to get out, mix with other actual adults and make music together - to be part of something bigger than myself. The opportunity to do this was non-existent at the time."

Mrs Garrett, 39, from Bromsgrove said all the choirs and singing groups she could find either didn't let members take children, or were mostly in the evening.

To attend these groups Mrs Garrett would have had to pay for childcare as her husband works in the evenings and she felt it was too big an ask to get family members to regularly look after her children in the evenings. She also felt going to these classes would make her more tired.

"I went further into a black hole of feeling rubbish about myself, losing confidence in being able to do anything to the standard I did prior to having my baby, and I totally lost my sense of identity. When I met friends for a chat I felt I had nothing to say that would be of interest to them. My confidence plummeted and I avoided social situations."

Mrs Garrett researched and found out that singing in a group is healthy, she found research suggesting singing with ones children present could lessen symptoms of postnatal depression, a condition which affects around 1 in 8 new mums.

Mrs Garrett then came up with the idea of a singing group for parents.

At Melody Mums, members can bring babies and toddlers along. The group will sing 'grown up' songs, with a variety of music, from ‘classic’ pop, indie and rock hits to songs from their favourite musicals and films.

The group will provide an opportunity to meet other parents and make friends.

A free cup of tea is provided after each session.

Melody Mums will launch on Tuesday, July 10 at 10am-11am, at Cutnall Green Memorial Hall, Addis Lane, Droitwich, WR9 0NE.

To find out more email carrie@melodymums.com