You’ve settled into everyday life together, and little by little, you and your little explorer start craving some variety. A class you can attend together might be just the thing. From music to sports, there’s a lot on offer for babies and their parents. But what options are available, and which class is the right one for you? You’ll find out in this article.
Why can a baby class be beneficial?
In the first few months, your baby’s senses develop rapidly, and they become increasingly aware of their environment. Even at just a few months old, many babies show interest in other babies and communicate through gestures and facial expressions. As they get a bit older, they enjoy shared activities with other children. When babies come together in a class, they learn from and with each other through observation, imitation, and interaction. A class also gives your little explorer new experiences outside the home for the first time and introduces shared routines: in many groups, for example, they eat together, make music, or simply play.
Even if the Being with peers
brings joy to your baby, it’s important that they experience these group situations together with you or another caregiver. In a class where so many new impressions influence your child, you are their safe haven. That’s why courses at this age are designed for joint participation with mom or dad. Baby classes not only give you the opportunity to spend quality time with your little one and support their development, but also to meet other parents with similar interests.
What courses are available?
1. Baby swimming
Baby swimming is a classic among classes for little ones—and for good reason: many babies enjoy moving in the water, as it reminds them of the weightless feeling in Mama’s belly. Beyond the fun and relaxation factor, a baby swimming class 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’ll find out in the article “ “.
A baby swimming class is usually suitable from around three months , once your baby can hold their head up independently. Courses are typically 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 everything stays hygienic in the water. The LILLYDOO kids' swim diapers also don’t swell up in the water, so your little explorer can enjoy full freedom of movement.
2. Baby Yoga
In baby yoga, you have the opportunity to move again and gently strengthen your body 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 areas such as the neck, shoulders, and back are strengthened in a targeted way. Your child can not only join in, but is also incorporated into certain exercises. For example, many baby yoga classes include baby massage and gentle stretching exercises for your baby. Your baby benefits not only from yoga’s relaxing effect, but also from early support of their body awareness.
Some baby yoga classes start as early as six weeks , while others begin at around six months , once 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 class is to promote early childhood development and babies’ natural sensory perception through shared play and movement. Parents are guided to observe their child closely, recognize their needs, and support them with special exercises without overwhelming them. The games and exercises take place in a warm room on soft mats. The babies are undressed so their movements aren’t 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 classes take place in relatively small groups of a maximum of eight parents with their babies and are suitable for babies from four to six weeks . You can find classes 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 a crawling group or baby café. Instead, the focus is on getting together, children playing with one another, and parents exchanging ideas during regular meetups. Usually, around ten parent-child pairs take part. Some groups have a consistent ritual, such as a shared meal, while others keep things completely spontaneous.
Joining a crawling group often makes sense for your baby from around about six months , when they begin to show interest in other children. Many groups also start earlier so new parents can share experiences.
5. Musical Early Education
The goal of early childhood music education is to build on children’s natural affinity for music at a young age and encourage 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 join the group “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 support brain development, as musical, language, and motor development are especially closely linked until the age of five. In addition, making music, singing, and moving can 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 class is often the first course new parents attend with their child, as loving touch is especially important for newborns. In a baby massage class, you learn specific massage techniques and strokes under guidance—techniques that can be a real blessing even for very young babies and that you can then use independently at home. Gentle touch conveys love, affection, and calming reassurance to your baby and strengthens your bond. Baby massage can also help with crying, sleep problems, tummy aches, and discomfort. The advantage of a class is that you learn the techniques under professional guidance, which can ease many parents’ uncertainty about touching their delicate baby. Of course, you don’t necessarily have to attend a class to pamper your little explorer with a massage. If you’d rather not attend a course or simply want to refresh your knowledge, LILLYDOO midwife Sissi shows you the most important strokes in the video “ ” and explains the benefits of baby massage.
Baby massage classes are generally suitable for parents with babies from around six weeks to six months . They are mostly offered by naturopathic practices, community colleges, or midwives.
Which course is right for me?
Course options are especially extensive in cities. Since many classes are also offered by different providers, choosing one isn’t always easy. The following questions can help you decide:
What options are available in your area? How accessible are they?
Which class suits your baby’s needs and age?
What exactly does the class cover? What would you like to learn more about, or what matters most to you when supporting your baby?
How many sessions does the class include? Is there an option to make up missed classes?
What does the class cost?
In addition to the classes we’ve introduced, there are many other options for parents and children. It’s best to ask locally, or check with your midwife or other parents about which classes they recommend. Many organizers also offer (partly free) trial sessions, so you can get to know their program and the atmosphere with no obligation.
Even if it sometimes feels like you could attend an early development class with your child every day of the week, breaks are just as important so your baby can process all the new impressions. One—or at most two—weekly activities that suit you well are completely sufficient. Ultimately, fun and gentle stimulation should always be the focus for you and your baby. We wish you lots of enjoyment in your first class!
