I first heard about the award winning sensory classes online whilst I was searching for baby classes for my newborn.  Whilst I was searching for classes I assumed as bubba was so young I would most probably only find a class that was more along the lines of a social tea morning for new mums to meet and babies to socialise.  As much as this is fine and gets mum and baby out the house I am glad I came across Baby Sensory as it is important to help baby with all their seneses from a young age and encourage them to remember items, routines, sounds, lights and the list goes on.  This is a perfect class for mums to socialise and meet other mums and for babies to meet other babies and I would highly reccomend this class which is also available in terms/courses.   Not only is it a lovely way to meet new people and educate the babies fom a young age but it is also infromative for the parents.  With each week focusing on a different theme there is always something new to learn.  I will be writing a weekly blog on my experience to encourage as many mums as possible to join the group as it really is worth the trip to the class and the bubbas love it.  

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This weeks class was focussing on SPARKLE.  

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Before I begin just a reminder that you can purchase some of the props and music from the Baby Sensory.  I will add a link to the bottom of this blog.

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We arrived slightly earlier this week to make the most of the free play time at the class and of course to have a little chit chat with the other mums and dads for that matter...well done to those dads who make the class!.  This week we started the class with the weekly 'Say Hello' song.  This is a beautiful little song using sign language.  Using sign language captures the attention of the babies and gradually over time they should start assosicating the sounds and movements together.  For now it is a gentle happy song to start the class.  

 

The lovely Carmen then spoke about the development of the ears/hearing this week (I will upload the class notes).   So the main focus of the class was music and lots and lots of sparkle! My favourite!!

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The next activity was musical instruments.  Each mummy/daddy and nana had to hold a small instrumnts and the babies were encouraged to hold the small drummer and to make as much noise as possible.  I really rate teaching babies the importance of music from a young age as my personal opinion is music and the arts is a beautiful way of children and adults expressing themsleves.  What can I say we have a lot f talented musicians in the group the babies were so intrigued with the different sounds.  It is also a way to help baby come to grips with hand and eye coordination with a little help from mummy and daddy and the understanding of how the noise is made.

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Next we had the giant sail with balloons bobbing around on the top all light and floaty catching the eyes of the little ones.  This activity is to show babies that things can go and come back again and their little heads are looking around the room watching the balloons bounce everywhere similar to the peek-a-boo activity.

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We then moved on to the sparkly light show.  My bubbas favourite.  There was a giant foil type material (soft for babies with crackling effect and silver to reflect lights). The lights were switched off and a mini light show was projected onto the silver material boucing the lights in all directions and also lots and lots of stars and shapes on the ceiling all in different colours.  It was so lovely and sparkly.  It is stunning and all the babies are wide eyed and interested in the all the shapes.

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Free playtime.  This is a short break allowing the babies to investigate the soft play area.  This week my baby loved the soft blocks positioned to help with tummy time.  She actually liked tummy time whilst being supported ont he soft blocks.  Normally she doesnt like tummy time but the way she was positioned on the block so slightly lifted at the front as though she was laying on a slide with her hands flat on the top and she seemed a lot more comfortable and confident.  Other toys included a blow up bed with furry blankets and puppets, jungle tunnel, a sit on little toy pony, cloud play mats, a blow up paddling pool with balloons in it (lots of babies loved this), walkers, activity playmats and musicial activity toys.   

 

Plus this time allows the parents to meet each other and babies to start sharing.  It is gorgeous to see all the babies together having fun with big smiles on their faces.

 

Next we are called back to start part 2 of the class.  The middle of the class is layered with the foil type material silver and makes a crispy sound when touched and all the parents are handed colourful pompoms and musical rattles.  I love this part as my baby now holds the rattle so she is able to create her own music when moving her hands it is ever so cute.  The babies love look ing at the colourful pompoms and you guessed it they are shiny to add that extra bit of sparkle for the bubbas to look at.  Whilst the babies ae making some wonderful tunes Carmen walked around with the famous buble machine - my baby loves the bubble machine and works the babies senses even more as they can see them floa around the room and feel them gentle burst on their skin.  

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The final activity was the sparkling tummy time colourful Light Show.  All the babies were asked to lay on the silver material or on the shimmering pillows to help support the babies wishing to do tummy time.  Soft rubber glowing stars and glow stube were added to the floor space along with extra silver material to encourage movement and coordination.  The babies were beginning to understand that moving meant they could hear a noise so my baby was kicking her legs so fast and enjoying all the different sounds.   We then tried some tummy time which normally she is not a great fan of although this time we have the glowing lights keeping her entertained and she was brilliant.  

 

I absoultely love this class as does my baby and the effort that Carmen goes into to make sure the theme is obvious from the word go.  It is a lovely class to help build babies and parents confidence and has a wonderful atmosphere.  I attend a few baby classes and this is by far the best and most entertaining for the babies.  We try and follow up on the activities we learnt at home and each week I can see my baby getting more and more involved which is fantastic.   

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Don't worry we still had one last song of the class the beautiful Goodbye Song, this sweet, calming song again using sign is a lovely way to end the class and relaxes babies after their busy class.  I really like that every class starts and ends the same but each week the theme changes as well as the toys and activities.  I feel like I learn something new every week so I am almost certain the bubbas are too.

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I look forward to the weekly class, it is perfect as it does not have to fit in with baby's daily routine as if you need to feed, change nappy, have a walk around to settle baby or even if baby falls asleep that is fine it is about educating yourself as well as baby and as I mentioned above even if you baby isnt watching you I am sure another one is so it is still worth joining in the class.  I highly recommend this to all mummies and it is also a lovely way to meet other mums in your area.

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That's it for now.  ​

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Holly x

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(Please note I am not medically trained and cannot give medical advise - the information in the Baby Sensory Blogs are based on my personal experiences of the class.  If you require medical advise please contact your GP or Health Visitor).