Little Baby Playgroup

*Intended for babies 3 weeks - 6 months & their grown-up(s)*

Current Session: January 21st - February 25th

Sarah teamed up with Natural Nest Play Cafe (Middletown location) in September 2023 & hosted Little Baby Playgroup with great success through July 2024! After a brief pause to allow Sarah to rest & bond with her third baby, Little Baby Playgroup is coming back to Natural Nest Play Cafe in January 2025 for a new 6 week session.

Simplify Tummy Time & Purposeful Play while bonding with your new baby & connecting with other parents in the same season of life. Get all of your questions answered by an expert in baby development. Take back the joy in watching your new baby play & learn. A developmental topic will be discussed at each Playgroup while you practice new ways to play & nurture your baby's natural development. The series goes through

Week 1: Tummy Time & Playing with my Newborn (discuss why Tummy Time exists, developmental benefits, how tummy time progresses & all of my favorite tips)

Week 2: Babywearing Troubleshooting & Tips (discuss developmental benefits of babywearing, try on carriers & troubleshoot comfort/ergonomic/safety issues since carrier companies are notorious for posting unsafe babywearing photos/videos)

Week 3: Baby Massage (discuss the benefits of baby massage for both parent & baby and practice baby massage strokes)

Week 4: Baby Gear/Toy Recommendations for the Early Stages (discussion from the perspective of a mom & Pediatric PT about developmentally appropriate toys, bouncers, swings, loungers, baby seats, creating "yes spaces" etc. Not all gear is created equal & the truth is you probably need a lot less of it than you think you do.)

Week 5: Purposeful Play for Rolling (a breakdown of all the “inch-stones” leading up to this major movement milestone, play set-ups & ideas to encourage your little one to roll)

Week 6: Movement Milestone Myths (in a parenting age where social media is rampant with misinformation, this evidence informed discussion will bust all of the most frequent untruths currently being heard around the world)

Siblings play at a discounted rate ($8) during group time & a Natural Nest Play Attendant will be present to assist the big kids so you can focus on baby.

Open Play Reservations are closed during group time so the space is reserved for this group of parents/babies/siblings only. This limits overstimulation for our tiniest “Nesters” & helps protect their growing immune systems.

This is a ~90 minute Playgroup with 45 minutes of guided play & instruction from Sarah - a Pediatric PT & Mama of three littles. Guided play/instruction is followed by an additional 45 minutes of conversation & connection with other parents. Purchase a Full Session (includes a free class) or a 4 Class Pass (save over $20!) to ensure you have a spot each week. Drop-ins will only be offered on a limited basis as this Playgroup frequently sells out. Space is limited to 8 parent-baby dyads in order to keep the Playgroup more intimate & so Sarah can provide individual support as needed.

*For babies 3 weeks - 6 months*

Location: Natural Nest Play Cafe at Cricklewood Grove, 5350 Summit Bridge Rd Suite 11, Middletown, DE 19709

Meets weekly on Tuesdays at 11:30am. Please remember to wear or bring socks. We do not allow shoes or bare feet in the baby play-space.