Proper Motor Development: The first magical moments of holding your newborn
On-Demand Class · Supporting development
- Language: English
- Sessions: 10
- Duration: 37 minutes
- Child age: 1 M - 1 M
- Price: $10 USD (included with BabySparks Premium)
This class shows you how to safely pick up, hold and stimulate your baby - the first steps of newborn motor development.
Class Description
This class covers 5 topics, all of which will help you feel confident picking up, holding, and stimulating your baby's motor development milestones. Each topic consists of two sessions: 1) a demonstration of an acitivty, along with an explanation of why the activity is important, and 2) a video of just the activity, that you can refer to when practicing it with your baby. When practicing, we recommend keeping your smartphone next to the baby so you can do the activity properly. Repeat the activity a few times a day, but only if your baby is interested. The activities are meant to be fun for both you.
Class Materials
Play mat, small blanket, towel, and toys (for sessions 4 on).
Sessions Overview
- Picking up your newborn in a safe way: Learn how to pick up your newborn in a way that is not only safe, but also encourages head control. This session includes an explanation about why this is important. To practice the activity, go directly to session 2.
- Activity: picking up your newborn in a safe way: Practice picking up your newborn in a safe way that also encourages head control.
- Holding your baby to encourage head control & tummy time, Newborn 1 month: Learn how to hold your baby in a way that encourages them to start lifting their head, and may also help them get used to tummy time! This session includes an explanation about why this is important. To practice the activity, go directly to session 4.
- Activity: holding your baby to encourage head control & tummy time, newborn-one month: Practice holding your baby in a way that encourages them to start lifting their head, and may also help them get used to tummy time!
- Holding your baby in a curled position Newborn-one month: Holding your baby in a curled position gives them a sense of security and encourages attachment and communication. This session includes an explanation about why this is important. To practice the activity, go directly to session 6.
- Activity: holding your baby in a curled position: Practice holding your baby in a curled posiiton.
- Side-lying & focusing eyes on both hands for the first time 1 month: Learn how to position your baby on their side, so that they can focus their eyes on both hands. This session includes an explanation about why this is important. To practice the activity, go directly to session 8.
- Activity: side-lying & focusing eyes on both hands for the first time, one month: Practice positioning your baby on their side, so that they can focus their eyes on both hands.
- Encourage your baby to bring their hands together, one month: Most of the activities we do in life are in front of our eyes. Because babies spend a lot of time on their backs, thier hands stay at their sides. This activity helps them bring their hands together in front, and begin to explore them with their mouth. To practice this acvitiy, go to session 10.
- Activity: encourage your baby to bring their hands together, one month: Practice encouraging your baby to bring their hands together.
Your Instructor
Hanna Lewitus (Bpt, MAph) is a certified neurodevelopment physical therapist specializing in child neurology and motor development for premature newborns, babies, and children. Ms.Lewitus has been the head of the Physical Therapy Department of ALYN Pediatric and Adolescent Rehabilitation Hospital in Jerusalem. Her main focus is to empower parents and provide them with tools to safely guide their babies through motor development, ensuring they align with the normative development. Ms. Lewitus lives with her husband in Haifa, Israel, is mother to 3 children and grandmother to 7, and is an avid photographer and musician.
Degrees and Certifications
BA physical therapy, MAph 15 years leading a hospital physical therapy department Child Neurology Clinic in Hadassa Hospital Jerusalem NICU - Hadassa Hospital Member - national health committee for treatment policy decisions Worked in HMOs as a developmental neurology PT
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