Ever wondered what a baby spa massage class involves? Here’s Steph from Baby Club Cheshire to explain what to expect, how she set up her award-winning business – and how there’s a craft element involved as well as baby massage.
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What Is A “Spa Style” Baby Massage And Craft Class?
We design “spa style” baby massage and craft sessions as baby’s very first baby class, suitable for little ones aged five weeks to active crawling stage. The sessions run as a course over five weeks. Each week we learn a different massage for a different area of baby’s body. In week five we then put together all the strokes and techniques we’ve learnt over the previous four weeks into a full body top-to-toe massage for the babies.
These classes are a little luxury oasis for new mums, dads (or other caregivers) and babies to enjoy some precious bonding time together. Our spa elements include soft fluffy white robes, eye masks and tiny knitted spa slippers for babies to wear. We also provide soft pillows, soothing scents, sounds and lighting. We have photo cards which change every week, allowing parents to capture their babies’ progress. At the end of each massage we complete a lovely craft personalised with baby’s name to take home and cherish.
What Happens At A Typical Session?
We have a nice relaxed start to each baby “spa style” massage session as everyone makes their way into the room, choosing their mat and getting themselves and baby comfortable. Our aim is to make the session as easy as possible to attend with no need to rush or stress. All attendees are added to a class WhatsApp group in advance of the first session . Here we give them directions and all the info they need about what to bring with them.
We begin by asking if anyone has anything they want to share about the babies this week. Perhaps they’ve done something new or hit a new milestone. It’s a lovely way to encourage everyone to relax and share their experiences. We then warm up our babies with some familiar massage strokes before focusing on our massage of the week. After massage, babies complete their crafting and we finish with some bubble time.
What Are The Benefits Of Baby Spa Classes For Babies And Parents?
The list of benefits to both parent and baby are endless. Massage improves bonding between parent and baby and has been proved to reduce post-natal depression and feelings of isolation and loneliness. In babies it can reduce colic symptoms, improve digestion, improve sleep patterns and boost immunity. It can also relieve teething pains, soothe sniffles and boost cognitive ability and brain function. Positive loving touch is a baby’s first language. So massaging your baby is one of the most natural and important things we can do to create a strong foundation. It’s a calm and soothing experience in which the babies can feel and sense how loved they are.
Aside from the scientifically-backed benefits, what is unique to our “spa style” baby massage and craft sessions is the sense of community with the other parents. This means being able to share joys, challenges and everything in between in an inclusive and respectful environment. Learning from the experiences of others can help reduce those feelings of anxiety and loneliness that can sometimes present themselves postpartum. Taking home a beautiful craft is another way of honouring the time parent and baby have spent together, creating special memories from these very important baby days.
With permission, I take photographs of the parents and babies in action, capturing those lovely moments and beautiful eye contact. Speaking as a mum myself, it’s usually us behind the camera taking the photos. So those who attend really appreciate the chance to have some photos taken of them and their babies together. These photos are another thing to cherish long after the class, the course and the baby days are over.
What To Bring To A Baby Spa Class, And What To Keep In Mind
For a “spa style” baby massage class, parents should bring just their usual changing bag, including any milk feeds their baby may be due. Classes are very baby-led so we don’t have to worry about feeding, changing, sleeping or comforting our babies. If baby needs a cuddle, a walk around or to look at the lights, there is no pressure for our parents to sit at their mats with baby lying down. We work to the individual needs of each baby.
The mats, pillows, cushions, robes and other props are all provided, as is the oil and a guide to all the strokes so everyone can practise the strokes from that week at home. This is especially useful if baby has been feeding or sleeping during part of the session. Twins and multiples are very welcome and you only need to pay for one space. There’s no extra charge and an additional adult can attend too. However if a parent comes on their own with their multiples, I can show them how to massage both babies so they all have a lovely experience.
How Old Do Babies Need to Be?
Babies should be around 5 weeks old to active crawling stage for a baby “spa style” massage class. However this is flexible as all babies are different. We can work with parents to adapt classes to babies either side of this age range if they feel their baby would benefit from the sessions and they would like to get involved.
Some Of Steph’s Favourite Stories From Running Baby Spa Sessions
I love it when mums tell me about older siblings showing an interest in massage – either in massaging their baby sibling at home, as e, or wanting to have a massage themselves. Everyone takes home their oil and guide to practice so siblings often end up getting involved.
My little girls are five and seven years old now and they still love a massage. The benefits of the strokes and techniques in terms of relaxation and bonding last well beyond the baby days and throughout childhood. So it always makes me so happy to hear about siblings. The more babies and children benefiting from massage, the better I say!
Feeling Nervous About Going To A Baby Spa Class For The First Time?
I always try to establish a relationship with parents in advance of the first class if we haven’t chatted personally on email, phone or social media. I set up a class Whatsapp the week before we begin, giving lots of useful info and tips. This includes what to bring, where to park etc., and I encourage people to ask any questions.
When parents and babies arrive at the “spa style” sessions, we have a relaxed start. We are a very inclusive and friendly class. My aim is to give our parents a space to connect with and make memories with their baby. The sessions are low pressure and baby-led, with soft lighting and soothing music. There’s no pressure to do anything baby doesn’t want to do. If baby doesn’t want to lie blissfully on their mat and prefers to be held, fed and walked around, then that is exactly what we encourage our parents to do. There would be no baby club without our wonderful parents. It’s our caring and nurturing approach that has mummies coming back term after term and baby after baby.
Thanks To Steph Tully – Baby Club Cheshire
Steph Tully founded Baby Club Cheshire in December 2020 after relocating to Cheshire during Covid. After finding that baby massage was the most rewarding experience of maternity leave, her dream was to begin her own classes to connect local mums and babies. She aims to give them the same precious memories and bonding time that she experienced with her own girls. As mum to a little girl with additional needs, inclusivity is at the heart of Steph’s baby club. She will adapt classes to the individual needs of each parent and baby to create a safe space.
Steph’s award-winning Baby Club Cheshire business is proudly unfranchised, taking home a prestigious CDLC Cheshire Business award in 2024 and being featured in Cheshire Life and Cheshire Living Magazines. As well as “spa style” baby massage and craft sessions, they also offer baby yoga and messy play, story craft and messy play and Makaton baby signing sessions. Follow Baby Club Cheshire on Happity to find out about their new sessions first.
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