When Lisa Ryan was on maternity leave with her second son Jax, now 17 months, she struggled with attending playgroups.
The 38-year-old felt anxious around other mums and decided to create something a little different – the baby spa.
The sessions – which involve a bubble bath, facial and positive touch – claim to help mums’ bond with their baby ‘without the pressure’ of having to speak to other mums.
Now the former estate agent has quit work and is running her business full time, turning over thousands.
Lisa from Birmingham, West Mids, said: ‘After two caesareans, I was house bound for six weeks and quickly began feeling nervous about going out.
‘I am a confident person, but playgroups were very overwhelming, and I struggled with socialising with the other mums.
‘I found myself avoiding them and eventually stopped going to playgroups as they stressed me out.
‘When my maternity leave was coming to an end I realised I wanted to do something to cater for other mums who suffered with anxiety too.
‘The baby spa allows mums to bond with their newborn without the pressure of having to speak to other mums and dozens of other loud children.
‘It is a full sensory experience with the lights out and lavender in the air.’
Lisa officially launched Spa Babies in June last year [2019], for little ones from birth to nine months.
The relaxing session have been a hit, turning over £24k in eight months.
She adds: ‘I absolutely love my job, it has organically grown through word of mouth – I started with one session a week and now I host seven.
‘The babies have a relaxing bath which has whirlpool, bubble features like a jacuzzi and shower functionality.
‘Then the mums have half an hour of communicating with their baby which includes a facial and lots of kisses and cuddles.
‘They participate in positive touch which is a gentle touch or stroking their babies face.
‘It has a positive effect on newborns such as more regulated sleep, distress and activity and the touch stimulates tactile nerve endings in the skin, which leads to a release of endorphins and the babies produce pleasant sensations and feelings.
‘It is all about bonding with their baby.
‘I have many regular customers who say their baby sleeps for three and four hours after.’
Samantha Whitehouse, 28, Birmingham, West Mids, who attends the spa every two weeks praises the sessions for teaching her calming techniques for five-month old Mali Mumford.
She said: ‘Mali was in the special care baby unit for one week when he was first born so I didn’t get to cuddle him until he was let out.
‘It was important for me to find something special for us to do together.
‘We have been going since he was seven weeks old and he is much calmer than my first-born Max, two.
‘It is an amazing place for us both to relax as the warmth and calmness of the room makes it impossible for you to feel stressed.
‘Mali loves it and usually sleeps for four hours rather than his usual hour nap after, so it is heaven for me.
‘I plan ahead and run errands on spa days as I know he will be asleep.
‘The first week of his life was missed but we have definitely made up for it with the help of spa babies.
‘I have learnt how to positively talk to him and calm him down by stroking his face along with massaging him and max after every bath with organic oils.
‘I will be gutted when he is too old to attend, perhaps I will have another baby so I can keep going!’
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