Courses for you and your baby

You have settled into everyday life together, and slowly you and your little explorer are craving variety. Then a joint course might be just right for you. From music to sports, there is a lot on offer for babies and their parents. But what options are available and which course is the right one for you? You will find out in this article.

Why can a baby class be beneficial?

In the first few months, your baby's senses develop rapidly, and it becomes increasingly aware of its environment. Even at just a few months old, it shows interest in other babies and communicates with them through gestures and facial expressions. Once it is a bit older, it enjoys shared activities with other children. When babies come together in a course, they learn from and with each other through mutual observation, imitation, and interaction. In a course, your little explorer also gains new experiences outside the home environment for the first time and gets to know shared routines: in many groups, for example, they eat together, make music, or simply play.

Even if the Being with peers
Bringing joy to your baby, it is important that they experience such group situations together with you or another caregiver. In a course where so many new impressions influence your child, you are their safe haven. Therefore, all courses at this age are offered for joint participation with mom or dad. Baby courses not only give you the opportunity to spend quality time with your little one and to support them in their to support development, but also to meet other parents with similar interests.

What courses are available?

1. Baby swimming

Baby swimming is the classic among courses for the little ones – and not without reason: many babies enjoy the movement in the water, as it reminds them of the weightless feeling in Mama's belly. Besides the fun and relaxation factor, a baby swimming course offers many other benefits for you and your little explorer. What exactly these are and what you should pay attention to in and around the water with your baby, you will find out in the article “ “.

A baby swimming course is available from approximately three months meaningful when your baby can hold its head up independently. The courses are usually offered by swimming pools or swimming schools and take place in special pools with water temperatures of 32 to 34 degrees Celsius and low chlorine levels. Remember to put a special swim diaper on your baby before swimming, so that nothing goes wrong even in the water. ;) The LILLYDOO kids' swim diapers sources also do not turn off in the water, so that your little explorer can enjoy full freedom of movement.

2. Baby Yoga

During baby yoga, you have the opportunity to move and gently train your body again after childbirth – and your little explorer won't be left out. Special postnatal yoga classes are tailored to your needs as a new mom, and targeted areas such as the neck, shoulders, and back are specifically strengthened. Your child can not only join in but is also incorporated into certain exercises. For example, special baby yoga classes include baby massage and gentle stretching exercises for your baby. Your baby benefits not only from the relaxing effect of yoga but also from the early strengthening of their body awareness.

Some baby yoga classes already start from an age of six weeks , only with approximately six months , when your baby can turn independently. Baby yoga classes are offered by midwifery practices, hospitals, yoga studios, or fitness centers.

3. PEKiP

The Prague Parent-Child Program, or PEKiP for short, was developed in the 1960s by the Czech psychologist Dr. Koch. The goal of a PEKiP course is to promote early childhood development and natural sensory perception of babies through joint play and movement. Parents are guided to observe their child closely, recognize their needs, and support them through special exercises without overwhelming them. The games and exercises take place in a warm room on soft mats. The babies are undressed so that their movements are not restricted.

There are additional programs that resemble the PEKiP concept. These include, for example, FenKid (Early Development of the Child), DELFI (Thinking, Developing, Loving, Feeling, Individual), or EIBa (Parent-Baby Course). PEKiP courses take place in relatively small groups of a maximum of eight parents with their babies and are for babies from four to six weeks suitable. You can find courses near you on the official Website of the
PEKiP Program .

4. Crawling group or baby café

Unlike other classes, there is usually no fixed program in the crawling group or baby café. Instead, the focus is on coming together, the children playing together, and parents exchanging ideas during the regular meetings. Usually, about ten parent-child pairs participate in the meetings. Some groups have a consistent ritual, such as a shared meal, while others have a completely spontaneous schedule.
Most crawling groups are private or organized by a club. Visiting one is approximately for your baby about six months Sense when it begins to show interest in other children. Many groups also start earlier so that new parents can exchange experiences.

5. Musical Early Education

The goal of early childhood music education is to build on the natural affinity for music at a young age and to promote musicality. In the group, children make music and sing together, and they can move freely to the music or clap along. Depending on their age, your baby can either listen or contribute to the joint concert with simple instruments such as bells, rattles, or drums. Early childhood music education offers your baby numerous benefits: for example, music has been proven to promote brain development, as musical, linguistic, and motor development are particularly closely linked until the age of five. Additionally, making music, singing, and moving have a positive impact on your little explorer's sensory skills, motor skills, and social competence.

In theory, you can attend musical early childhood education with your baby shortly after birth, but most courses start at one year of age. They are offered by music schools, music educators, adult education centers, and family education centers.

6. Baby Massage

A baby massage course is often the first class that new parents attend with their child, as loving touches are especially important for newborns. In a baby massage course, specific massage techniques and strokes are taught under guidance, which are a real blessing even for small babies and can be independently applied at home afterward. The gentle touches convey love, affection, and calming reassurance to your baby and promote your closeness to each other. A baby massage can also specifically help with crying, sleep problems, tummy aches, and discomfort. The advantage of a course is that you learn the massage techniques under professional guidance, which alleviates many parents' uncertainty about touching their delicate baby. Of course, you don't necessarily have to attend a course to pamper your little explorer with a massage. If you prefer not to attend a course or just want to refresh your knowledge, LILLYDOO midwife Sissi shows you in the video “ ” the most important strokes and explains the benefits of a baby massage.

Baby massage courses are for parents with babies approximately six weeks to six months meaningful. They are mostly offered by naturopathic practices, community colleges, or midwives.

Which course is right for me?

The course offerings are especially extensive in cities. Since many courses are also offered by different providers, it is not easy to choose a course. You can ask yourself the following questions to help with your decision:

• What offers are available in your area? How about accessibility?

• Which course suits the needs and age of your baby?

• What exactly is the content of the course? What would you like to learn more about or what is important to you for supporting your baby?

• How many units does the course consist of? Is there a possibility to make up missed classes?

• What are the costs for the course?

In addition to the courses we have introduced, there are many other offerings for parents and children. It’s best to inquire at your local or ask your midwife or other parents which courses they can recommend. Many organizers also offer (partly free) trial lessons where you can get to know their offerings and the atmosphere without obligation.

Even if it may sometimes seem to you that you could attend a developmental early intervention course with your child every day of the week: breaks are just as important, allowing your baby to process the many new impressions. One or at most two weekly activities that suit you well are completely sufficient. Ultimately, fun and stimulation should always be the focus for you and your baby. We wish you lots of enjoyment at your first course!