Mezamé x Yada for babies who love to roam free!

It's always good to keep in mind the old adage " the best is the enemy of the good," because yes, trying to do too much can hinder free movement. A baby is meant to roll around on their own! Well, on a playmat, of course ;)

And it all starts in the first few weeks, when the most important thing for a newborn is to be held, comforted, and loved. " What your baby needs most is an emotional embrace, and you, as a parent, are the best person to provide that: by holding them in your arms but also by being with them on the floor, from the very first months of life. "  For Manon Bidaud, a psychomotor therapist at Yada , time spent on the floor is important, right from birth. Alternating with babywearing (to limit the risk of plagiocephaly), it helps develop the baby's senses. Of course, you should always listen to your child and put away your stopwatch: there's no set rule for floor time, whether on their back or tummy. At first, you can lie down next to your child on their back, and offer them a few short moments on their tummy, just to get used to the position and strengthen their head and back in preparation for rolling over. But at the slightest cry, go back to being held!

It's during these early months, when the senses, especially vision, are developing rapidly, that our black and white sensory cover truly comes into its own: babies can explore on a high-contrast surface with a variety of textures to discover . No need to overload the playmat with toys; a rattle is all you need (luckily, we've included one with the cover ☺). And because we're thoughtful and considerate, we've designed a cover with flaps that slips on in seconds and comes off just as quickly for washing!

A cover, a rattle, what else? " Be careful not to offer your baby too many toys , or to immediately slip the rattle or your favorite soft toy into their hand. You need to encourage them to move around to grab the little object they see, to awaken their senses and curiosity, " advises Manon. So, keep things simple, and this remains true throughout their growth, because a clear space will make it easier for baby to move around .

The first rolls will soon be followed by the beginnings of crawling. At this stage, it's best to be on the playmat in light clothing (we're talking about the baby, not you!): barefoot and in a onesie, so their knees grip the fabric well. Next will come the desire to sit up on their own. "The basic rule, the one you should always keep in mind at each stage of development," explains Manon, "is that you should never put a child in a position they haven't yet achieved independently . " Of course, you can sit them on your lap to read them a story, but you shouldn't sit them alone in the center of the mat if they can't yet assume that position on their own, even with a mountain of cushions around them. On the other hand, you can offer them small accessories like a small cushion (this is where our +one is the ideal companion) or a small step stool (or even a pack of water) that will help them gain support to sit down on their own. " Your child will rest their elbows on it and move their knees forward in what I call the 'little bunny' position, knees together, then knees straight. They'll quickly be able to sit down all by themselves! And above all, they'll feel confident because they'll have mastered getting into the position. "

This is one of the wise pieces of advice that Manon and the Yada teams kindly offer in their offices in Paris and Bordeaux. “Motor development isn’t about competition. There’s no need to worry if a baby doesn’t crawl before walking, or if they creep without crawling. My recommendation is to consult a professional if they can’t roll over after 7 months or if they aren’t walking by 18 months. Before that, it’s simply about play, exploration, and free movement, always with supervision, of course. The playmat should be a central place in the home: a place for play and sharing, a place where you spend time together, where you read stories.” »

At Yada, you'll find non-judgmental support from birth to age 3, with caring professionals. A place to better understand, breathe, trust, and care for your baby. A true haven of gentleness!

>> More information at www.yada.care