Some of the regulars who attend Baby Bounce at Tea Tree Gully Library

The benefits of Tea Tree Gully Library’s Baby Bounce and Rhyme program are immense for babies and their mothers. In 2014 the Library added a third weekly session of Baby Bounce due to demand – and ever since, that session (Friday 12-12.30pm) has become our most popular timeslot!

Baby Bounce regular Elizabeth Cragg-Sapsford, from Modbury North brings baby daughter Lillian to a session every week. She said she was the first in her group of friends with children to hear about Baby Bounce and give it a go.

‘Lillian loves it. She does all the actions and is a quick learner. You just have to say ‘Open shut them’ to her and she starts doing the actions,’ Elizabeth says.

‘I love to be busy and I love to engage Lillian. Baby Bounce is free and it’s at a good time for me on a Thursday – it fits in with my life and my to-do list. It’s part of our routine.’

Lillian was born premature, and even though doctors had recommended various specialists and programs at leading Adelaide hospitals to improve her development skills, Elizabeth says she’s never required them.

‘Lillian was a premmie baby and since doing Baby Bounce she hasn’t had to go to any special development appointments or classes at the hospital. She hasn’t needed it. She has the same language skills and sounds as any other baby her age. She can make heaps of different sounds. When she says ‘hi/bye’ it’s really clear. Same when she says ‘mum or dad’.

Growing up, Elizabeth was surrounded by a family deeply involved in music, something she wanted Lillian to experience as early as possible.

‘Baby Bounce puts music into her life, it’s like music therapy. She’s doing so well.

‘At the hospital they offered a pediatric class and physio/speech therapy sessions for early born babies and I haven’t had to do that at all with Lillian or give her any special intervention.

‘Seeing Lillian engage in singing and nursery rhymes has been great. She wasn’t a baby who initially slept well. Now she seems more relaxed and settles easily.

‘I’ve met another lady through Baby Bounce and we’ve become close and now we have formed a friendship group. All of the kids get along really well.’

It heartens Elizabeth to see Lillian’s bright eyes, smiling face and quick responses at the Baby Bounce sessions, which she plans to keep attending, until she’s ready for the next level – Toddler Time!

‘I think the group sessions work. I could have looked up nursery rhymes on YouTube and played them to her but then she wouldn’t have had the group stimulation or seen all the babies around her doing all the actions. It’s definitely helped me as a mother, taking her to the Baby Bounce sessions and participating in a group and something bigger.

‘She loves it – she’s already starting to clap when we walk into the library.’

Baby Bounce is held at the Tea Tree Gully Library three times every week. It is an interactive way for parents and carers to introduce babies to the enjoyment of sharing nursery rhymes, action songs and simple percussion instruments. Sessions are lively, interactive and stimulating for both babies and carers. For ages 0-2 years.

Times:

Wednesday: 10:30am – 11am