Jolly Babies

One way of keeping your baby jolly is music.
Music with Mummy, or Jolly Babies for the younger ones, was started in Hampshire in 1991 and specifically designed for children under three.
Now there are over 4,000 children enjoying classes nationwide, with classes in Newbury and Thatcham taken by classically trained singer Ruth Favede, classes in Hungerford, Kintbury and Lambourn taken by Helena Harris and classes taken by Erica Scott in Mortimer and Tadley.
The aim of the classes is to encourage listening skills and develop language and movement.
With the younger children it can also help enhance bonding between the parent and child, while the older classes introduce basic concepts such as ‘stop’, 'start', 'up', 'down', 'quiet' and ‘loud’.

Baby Massage

Infant massage classes in West Berkshire are taken by Deborah Waters, a Certified I.A.I.M infant massage instructor.
Deborah, who has three children of her own, is a fully qualified and experienced instructor, who trained at the London branch of the International Association of Infant Massage, based at St Thomas' Hospital.
The benefits of baby massage, Deborah says, include stimulation of the nervous system, aiding digestion, balancing respiration, boosting the immune system, improving skin and encouraging language through interaction.
There is increased interaction between parent and baby, particularly with eye and skin contact, and relief from a variety of common ailments, including colic, wind, teething and growing pains.

Pushy Mothers

Most mums want to get back into shape once they’ve had their baby and Pushy Mothers is one way to do that while meeting new people and keeping your baby close at hand.
It is a unique buggy workout that is run by Stephanie Irfan, who has an MSC in Sports Science, in Newbury and Thatcham.
The one-hour workout is a chance to meet other new mums and get back into shape safely and effectively after giving birth. And there are no childcare concerns as you bring baby with you in your buggy.
Stephanie, who has had three babies herself, said: “I think it is really important for the new mum to get back on track emotionally as well as physically but not at the expense of injuring her body. Think about what your body did for you in pregnancy and give it the respect it deserves so that fitness will be a way of life not a chore or fad.”

For more details on Music with Mummy log onto www.musicwithmummy.org.uk.
For details on Baby Massage visit www.just2babymassage.me.uk.
For more information on Pushy Mothers log onto www.pushymothers.com.