The Baby & Co
Early Years Provider
Β Q&A
Hi Jo. Why Chorleywood and when did you come here?
I began my Early Years career in 2009 at Chipperfield Childrenβs Centre after moving out of London. The job was conveniently located at my sonsβ primary school. We later settled in Chorleywood in 2012, where my role moved to the village library.
Living and working in Chorleywood was a career highlightβevery Tuesday, we hosted 30β40 families for baby weighing,’stay-and-play’ sessions, and new baby groups. In 2018, the shift to Family Centres meant I was relocated to Watford and I moved away from my area of expertise.
Having specialised in supporting families with babies under 1 year old offering-breastfeeding guidance , baby massage, parenting courses, music, and singing sessions- I returned to my passion in 2019 by founding ‘The Baby & Co’. Despite a slow start during the pandemic, Iβve since supported over 200 local families, many of whom return with multiple children.
What specific services do you offer?
As an under 1 year old specialist, I offer families a variety of essential parenting support and advice coupled with educational and entertaining activities.
I am a UNICEF, Baby Friendly Initiative, level 3 breastfeeding peer supporter. I can help both antenatally and in those very early days after birth. I run baby massage and baby yoga courses and offer an introduction to solids talk as babies approach five months. On Friday mornings I run a fun, interactive music and singing session for families with children under five years old in Chorleywood Library.
Baby Massage and MBB/Five To Thrive
My four-week baby massage courses are suitable for babies from 4 weeks β 12 months and can often be the first group activity a parent will undertake with their baby. I try to create a calm and relaxing environment where parents can not only learn the benefits of baby massage but also the opportunity for them to grow their local support network. Included in the course, I incorporate information and discussions about ‘My Babyβs Brain / Five to Thrive’ ; this is a piece of research showing parents that there are five key areas of parenting that they can do every day to help develop their babies brains. These are: Respond, Cuddle, Relax, Talk and Play β not rocket science, but invaluable actions that can make the parenting journey a more enjoyable one, whilst allowing them to feel safe in the knowledge that they are doing the very best for their childβs development.
Β· Increases bonding and attachment
Β· Essential for babyβs brain development
Β· Relaxes and promotes sleep
Β· Relieves discomfort particularly with colic, wind or teething
Β· Spend quality, one-on-one time with your baby
Β· Opportunity to grow your local support network and seek additional advice and guidance from a qualified and experienced Early Years Practitioner
Baby Yoga
My four-week baby yoga courses are the perfect follow on from a baby massage course. Baby yoga is more physical than massage, for both mother and baby, where the focus is on supporting the development of babiesβ milestones; core strength, sitting, rolling, standing, crawling and walking. Courses are delivered at The Baby Space/FitWell Studios, Croxley Green on a Wednesday morning. Suitable for babies from 4 weeks β crawling.
Benefits of Baby Yoga
Β· Based on Hatha Yoga which is ideal for beginners
Β· Builds strength, co-ordination, flexibility, muscle tone and prepares baby for their milestones.
Β· Focuses on the Moro and Galant reflexes in babies and core breathing for adults
Β· Provides interaction, stimulation, relief, relaxation and connects brain and body development
Β· Incorporates development check moves to understand if your baby is ready to move onto older baby moves
Β· Spend quality, one-on-one time with your baby
Β· Opportunity to grow your local support network and seek additional advice and guidance from a qualified and experienced Early Years Practitioner
Fab Fridays
‘Fab Fridays’ is a 45min interactive music and singing session for all ages from 0-5 years and a very popular activity for both the adults and the children. It is the perfect opportunity to meet up with other parents and for your children to make friends.
WeΒ incorporate large action songs and nursery rhymes, a favourite story, a puppet, musical instruments, hoops, maracas, scarves, pom poms, parachute and bubbles!
Contact Jo to book your block of 4 weeks which can be used as and when you like or a one off drop in session.
Fridays 10am-10.45am term time and summer holidays
Chorleywood Library, Chorleywood
Do you have a funny story?
When I deliver my baby massage courses I always start with a βquestion for the weekβ which I ask each parent to answer as we go round the room. My favourite is when I ask them why they gave their baby the name they have. There have been some moving and fascinating stories over the years but the one that always sticks in my memory is when I asked this same question to a lady whose child was named Jeremy. She told the group that when her little boy was born her husband wanted him to be called Jeremy, James, Richard because he was obsessed with Top Gear! She allowed him to choose his favourite out of the three!
Whatβs the best piece of advice you can give to customers?
My whole service centres on advice and guidance but I am very aware of my professional boundaries and I only ever offer advice that is evidence based.
I think that the best piece of advice that I always offer to parents is to relax and enjoy your children, especially when they are babies. They grow up so quickly and, although the early years can be very tough to navigate, itβs important to cherish those years to make lasting memories.
What are your hopes for the future of your business?
As long as families keep having babies, I would like to continue with what I am doing for as long as I can! Iβd love to set up an antenatal offer together with ‘The Baby Space’ in Croxley Green and provide this service across the Three Rivers Area. So many new families join the NCT which is expensive and not always as personal to individual needs. ‘The Baby Space’ can offer both physical birth preparation within pregnancy Pilates sessions and I can help families prepare for the birth with breastfeeding advice and what to expect in hospital and the following days at home. This can all be tailored to individual needs and families can access a menu of different services through us antenatally and postnatally.
Where courses are held:
Fab Fridays+Baby Massage – Chorleywood
Chorleywood Library, free parking available on the street (Lower Road) for 2 hours or just up the road in the Shoppers Car Park for 4 hours. Chorleywood train station is also close by.
Baby Yoga+Baby Massage – Croxley Green
The Baby Space/FitWell Studios, free parking available in The Community Way Car Park, Croxley Green (WD3 3HF). Croxley Green tube station is also close by.
Other parenting courses available:
Antenatal and postnatal breastfeeding, Introduction to solids, sleep and potty training.Β
Contact Jo directly to book a course via email, text or Facebook messenger:
Tel: 07798624184
E: thebabyandco@gmail.com.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β
F: facebook.com/thebabyandco
I: _@thebabyandco
Google: https://g.co/kgs/UfqFzB
Photos β Brigitte Bott Photography
Areas covered:
Amersham, Little Chalfont, Chorleywood, Sarratt, Flaundern, Loudwater, Rickmansworth, Croxley Green, Watford, Bushey, Bushey
The Baby & Co an early years provider offers baby courses in Chorleywood
