Celebrating Kent Mums in Business: Little Ducklings Baby Spa

I couldn’t get to the end of another month without introducing you to another one of our incredible Kent Mums in Business.

There really are so many wonderful businesses right on our doorstep which are owned and run by local Mums and you all know by now how happy it makes me to celebrate that (and them)

This month, I want to introduce you to a very unique (and utterly adorable) business, owned by the wonderful Siobhan Sharp – Kent Mum of Two and the proud owner of Little Ducklings Baby Spa.   

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I recently spent a lovely morning with Siobhan at her home just outside Maidstone.

I was lucky enough to observe one of her beautiful Mum and Baby Spa Sessions (which was sooooooo lovely)

In the short space of tine I spent with Siobhan, I could see how important it is for her to create a space where new Mums can have a beautiful experience, not only with their little one, but have some much-needed time for themselves too…

Tell us about your business and what services you offer? 

A Little Ducklings Mum and Baby Spa is a luxurious and bonding experience for mums and their babies.

A soak in the spa bath followed by a baby massage for little one, they will be blissed out and ready for a snooze.

Once baby has drifted off, it's mum's turn for a relaxing back neck and shoulder massage, focusing on those problem areas in the body that the day to day rigours of mothering a new baby entail.

As baby sleeps nearby, I will tailor your massage to your exact specifications, targeting those knots while also being on hand should little one stir.

It is the perfect gift to yourself or from a loved one - this has been a firm favourite for dads who want to show their appreciation towards their partner. It also makes a thoughtful baby shower gift.

Is there a story behind the name you chose? 

A baby spa is, objectively, one of the cutest things you can do with your new baby.

I could lecture all day long about how massage is so beneficial for every kind of development your baby goes through.

The spa bath gives your baby an incredible, full body, sensory workout.

And the little robe and turban? That's purely for the cuteness factor! What else is tiny and cute and water based? Little Ducklings! 

My fantastic and very talented friend designed my logo and artwork, including the new Mum and Baby Spa Gift Card, available very soon (and a much nicer gift than a boring old print out of an email confirmation that I've been making do with up to now).

What do you offer to your clients that no-one else does?

Little Ducklings Baby Spa is a truly unique service.

While other baby spas exist in other parts of the country, no one else offers the same kind of bathtubs. The specially designed, light up, whirlpool baby baths, imported from Germany, are unique to Little Ducklings.

It is a full body, sensory experience for babies.

A bespoke package incorporating the sensory benefits of the bath, followed by a massage for babies, who just so happen to be all tuckered out afterwards, ready for a feed and a long nap. 

Plenty of time is built into the session to allow for feeding and rocking to sleep and there are a variety of comfy bed options on offer.

Even the fussiest napper will find somewhere to doze off!

Then, as the baby sleeps nearby, it's mum's turn for a massage. No need to worry, I'm on hand at all times to pop a dummy back in or rock little one back to sleep if they stir.

Mum's job is to relax and enjoy the massage!

Ask any new mum and they will tell you, a baby is a full body workout every single day. Unlike a personal trainer, babies really don't care about your posture! And they definitely don't give you time off for strained muscles.

It's essential to look after yourself as a new mum and at Little Ducklings Baby Spa the hassle and guilt is taken away - you get to have a unique and bonding experience with your baby then get pampered yourself. No babysitter or hours of separation required!

Where does your inspiration come from?

I have always loved babies and the bulk of my adult life has been spent working with them.

In 2021 I was finally ready to start my own business working exclusively with mums and babies. I started off holding group spas at various locations in Kent and South East London.

I was able to glean a lot of valuable feedback from mums who loved the concept of a baby spa but - quite rightly - felt they were the ones who really needed a spa day! 

Since then I have been gaining various qualifications in body massage.

In 2023, The Mum and Baby Spa was born. It has been a runaway success, and trying to keep up with demand alongside studying as well as holding group spas has meant I haven't had as much time to dedicate to it as I would like. 

By September, with my new qualifications and fixed location in Wateringbury, Kent, I will be able to offer even more Mum and Baby Spas.

And what to do with the new excess of beautiful baby bathtubs?

They will be available to rent. New parents will be able to host their very own baby spas from the comfort of their own home. There are a lot of changes coming to Little Ducklings in the coming months, watch this space!

What is your favourite part of your job?

I have thoroughly enjoyed the group spas, getting to meet so many amazing mums and having cuddles with their gorgeous babies (my job is literally cuddling babies! I'd love to go back in time and tell 16 year old Siobhan, sitting in Mrs Perkins Child Development class, daydreaming of working with babies, that we did it!) I am wrapping up the group spas to focus on the Mum and Baby Spas.

As much as I'll miss them (and the fantastic venues I've worked out of) I really enjoy the one to one time I get to spend with a mum and her baby.

I could listen to birth stories all day long, each one is unique.

Seeing the bond between a baby and the most important person in their tiny world is a privilege that I'm delighted to be a part of. 

As a first time mum, I absolutely loved every moment with my daughter (rose tinted glasses anyone?) I enjoyed running around, doing as many fun baby activities as I could. It was a magical time and I will always look back fondly at the time in my life.

I don't want to say I had a terrible time with my son, but it definitely wasn't as magical. Time constraints juggling 2 children, the added stress of trying to bond with my son (while proving to Adoption Social Services among others, that I could do it all perfectly) and what I now realise was post adoption depression, meant that the second time around was a lot tougher. 

I have designed the Mum and Baby Spa experience to be a fantastic maternity leave must-have for those mums who want to wring every moment of joy out of that special once in a lifetime time with their child.

But I also want it to be a nurturing space for mums who might be struggling too.

A relaxing, positive experience where they make wonderful memories with their baby but also where they themselves are taken care of and nurtured in a guilt free way.

If you would like to know more about the absolutely wonderful work Siobhan does, please visit her website here, give her your support on social media and if you have any Mummy-friends who would love this experience for themselves, please send them her way...

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Claire xx