Exploring Baby Development: An Interview With a LullaBaby Class Leader

As part of my ongoing interview series with wonderful people who help Somerset families, I was privileged to connect with LullaBaby class leader, Kelly. 

With a background as a social worker in children’s services, Kelly decided to make some positive changes to her life during lockdown and retrained as a LullaBaby development Class Leader. In this interview, she tells you everything you need to know about LullaBaby Classes and outlines their many benefits for babies and caregivers. Keep reading to discover more…

Why did you become a LullaBaby Class Leader?

I have a huge passion for working with children and families and I use my years of experience to help guide me in my role as class leader. I love how children’s development is nurtured in the Lullababy programmes and how this is all incorporated into fun and engaging themes. 

As a mummy who has experienced postnatal depression and anxiety, I also understand how groups can be a lifeline to get out the house, meet other families and simply talk to other adults! 

What happens in a LullaBaby class, and what are the benefits?

LullaBaby’s programme of baby and toddler classes has been carefully designed to educate, stimulate and promote children’s development. Our aim is to give families vital learning opportunities in a fun, friendly and supportive environment, where they can bond and make lasting memories.

LullaBaby offers a wide variety of activities, from sensory play to baby yoga and is linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage (the curriculum for birth to 5 years). These activities have been specifically designed and chosen to expose little ones to experiences that will build connections in the brain and promote their early development, including:

• Baby massage
• Baby yoga
• Sensory play
• Calming and relaxation techniques
• Paediatric first aid
• Makaton sign language, and;
• Music and movement.

LullaBaby classes bring a whole host of benefits, including:

1. Promoting socialisation and interaction

Attending baby classes allows a little one to interact with other babies and their parents, promoting socialisation and interaction. This can help to develop their social skills and build confidence.

2. Stimulating development

Baby classes provide a variety of stimulating activities that can help to promote children’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development. Activities such as sensory play, baby massage, and baby yoga help to develop motor skills, language skills, and sensory awareness.

3. Building parent-child bonding

Attending baby classes with your little one can help to strengthen your bond and create a special connection between you and your baby. This is a great opportunity to spend quality time together and learn new skills.

4. Offering expert guidance

Baby classes are led by experienced instructors who can offer expert guidance and support. They can provide advice and support on baby development, helping you to feel more confident and prepared as a parent.

5. Fun and excitement for everyone

Baby classes are designed to be fun and exciting for both you and your little one. They provide a great opportunity to try new activities and meet new people, creating lasting memories for you and your baby.

6. Opportunity to socialise and learn new skills

Think of it as some time to get out of the house for yourself. Meet with other parents and share experiences – good and bad. It’s a perfect opportunity to seek advice, meet new friends and just have a little catch up at each baby class.

At what age can babies start attending LullaBaby classes, and do you need to sign up in advance?

LullaBaby offers three age-specific classes from birth to 2 years of age. Each stage has been designed with your little one’s development in mind and carefully linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage:

Step 1 is for babies from birth to 5 months

Step 2 is for babies from 2 to 12 months, and;

Step 3 is for 12 months to 2 years of age.Our classes are very popular and tend to book up quickly, so it’s always a good idea to book as soon as you can. If a term is fully booked, you can always register your interest on the LullaBaby website and you’ll then be contacted by email about priority booking for the following term when it’s released.

What is the average group size of your LullBaby Classes and how long do the sessions typically last?

We pride ourselves on keeping classes small to ensure everyone gets a chance to enjoy and explore. 

Step 1 classes are a maximum of 10 families and class sessions last one hour. Step 2 and 3 classes are a maximum of 15 families and class sessions last 45 minutes.

Are classes structured, or is there flexibility for babies to explore at their own pace?

All our classes are run with a relaxed environment where families are free to meet their little one’s needs whether that’s feeding and changing, or moving around the room. 

Every class has a balance of adult-led structured activities, as well as child-led time where little ones and caregivers are free to explore the themed resources set out for that session. 

Each family has their own mat where they can ‘set up camp’ with their belongings, but there is no pressure during the class for little ones to have to stay on the mats if they wish to show their independence skills.

What types of sensory experiences do classes provide, and how do they contribute to development?

Sensory play is any activity that involves a child’s senses, such as touch, smell, taste, sight, and sound. It can include a variety of materials and experiences, such as playing with sand, water, or playdough, experimenting with different textures and colours, and listening to music and sounds. Sensory play is beneficial for children because it stimulates their senses and promotes cognitive, physical, and social-emotional development.

Children can learn about the world around them, develop problem-solving and decision-making skills, and improve their communication and social skills through sensory play. It’s an important component of early childhood education because it’s such a fun and engaging way for children to learn and develop.

In LullaBaby classes, we explore hundreds of different sensory activities that will delight and stimulate little ones’ senses. Sensory play can refer to a variety of activities that engage children’s senses and the sensory activities we carry out in some classes include:

• Experimenting with various textures, such as sand, water, or playdough
• Experimenting with different colours and shapes, like coloured rice or beads
• Listening to various sounds, such as music or nature sounds
• Feeling and touching various objects, including textured balls or sensory mats
• Playing with messy materials, like finger paints or slime
• Scent play, such as playing with scented playdough or sensory bottles, and;
• Using sensory toys to engage different senses, including fidget toys or chew toys.

Do you have to start with a Step 1 class?

This is a really common question and the answer is no. 

You can start your LullaBaby journey with any of the Step classes depending on your little one’s age. For example if your baby is 6 months old, I would suggest Step 2, or if your little one is 18 months old, I would suggest Step 3.

Although we’d love to have little ones and their families stay with us through all 3 Step classes over the 2 years, you don’t have to have completed Step 1 to join another class.

You also include a Paediatric First Aid class in your schedule, what does that entail and why is this an important addition to LullaBaby classes?

At LullaBaby, we believe that being trained in paediatric first aid instils confidence and preparedness in handling emergency situations. It empowers parents and caregivers to remain calm, take immediate action, and advocate for their baby’s health and safety. Knowledge and skills gained through paediatric first aid training can alleviate anxiety and enable parents to respond effectively when every second counts.

We work with amazing qualified First Aid instructors from Lightning Training Solutions who deliver sessions as part of our Step 1 Baby Foundation Course on: 

• How to deal with breathing issues
• How to conduct a primary survey
• How to do CPR, and;
• Action for choking.

Can you tell us about a memorable or impactful story from your time as a LullaBaby class leader?

During the last 3 years, I’ve met so many wonderful families and had the privilege to support so many little ones.

One memory that comes to mind is a little girl who attended with her mum when I first started running sessions. They were both very shy and reserved when they first started coming, so we slowly built up their confidence by encouraging interactions with the resources and joining in with activities when they felt able. After a few months, the little girl was showing amazing development in her social skills by engaging other children in play and even coming to sit with me at the front of class! Her mum also gained confidence to build friendships with the other mums, dads, grandparents and carers in class. I was even able to witness the little girl taking her first steps in class and felt so sad when their time with LullaBaby came to an end. 

I have a scrapbook at home where I keep all the lovely thank you cards from my amazing families to remind me of the difference I can make with my job. It’s such a contrast compared to 10 years of social work, where I could probably count on one hand the amount of thank yous I ever received!

I really do love my job as a LullaBaby Class Leader and feel so lucky to support so many families here in Somerset.”

Get in touch… 

Kelly has really helped us delve into LullaBaby Classes and she’s clearly thriving in her role as a baby development Class Leader. If you’d like to sign up for a local LullaBaby class, or have any additional questions, please contact Kelly at lullababy.kelly@outlook.com. And, to arrange newborn, maternity or family photos, please contact me. Look out for me on Instagram and Facebook. You can find my Pinterest board here too.