Baby Sparks Derby West: Review

Boom Buddy mum, Rosie, and her little one, Maisie, have had a wonderful time at Baby Sparks Derby West over the last half term. Classes are suitable for children from 1 month to 3 years. See the full details at the end of the review.

We’ve just wrapped up our time at Baby Sparks with Hannah at Darley Abbey Village Hall, and honestly, we’re bubble-ing over with excitement about how much Maisie has developed! From a wobbly sitter to crawling at top speed and even pulling herself up to stand, she’s been made so much progress.

Hannah is absolutely brilliant. She’s so personable and genuinely takes the time to get to know each little one individually. You can tell she loves her job, and her enthusiasm is completely infectious. Every class feels contains mix of sensory fun, songs, signs and independent play. We will continue with some of our favourite tunes at home for years to come! The routines, like tidying up, stopping, and clapping, teach the little ones to listen, follow instructions, and understand transitions.

There’s also Sparky the Puppet, the real star of the show! Maisie’s face lights up every time Sparky makes an appearance, and we can’t blame her. Puppets like Sparky are brilliant for teaching social and communication skills, encouraging eye contact, and helping babies understand facial expressions and turn-taking. Sparky’s little waves and dances are a big hit, and we’ve caught Maisie trying to wave back more than once.

Hannah’s stash of props deserves a special mention too - it’s like Mary Poppins’ bag for babies. There are bubbles that have Maisie absolutely mesmerised, a rainbow parachute for the ultimate game of peekaboo, and balls to chase and grasp (or, in Maisie’s case, attempt to eat). The light-up toys create a bit of sensory magic, and the ribbons, soft toys, masks, gloves, and hats add extra layers of fun and learning. The range of props target different skills - whether it’s fine motor skills from grasping ribbons, cause and effect from shaking maracas, or visual tracking from watching bubbles float by.

Maisie used to just mouth everything in sight, but now she’s confidently shaking maracas with both hands, passing props back and forth between hands, and reaching past her midline easily. The range of activities has worked wonders for her balance, focus, and coordination too.  

The weekly themes kept things fresh and exciting - we walked with dinosaurs and swam under the sea. We’ve watched Maisie giggle at soft toy spiders, bat at shiny fish, and look utterly baffled by traffic cones!

The familiar structure of each class is another big plus. Babies thrive on routine, and the mix of active and quiet moments, combined with those catchy songs, makes it easy for them to settle in and get the most out of each session. Even the end-of-class tidy-up is a hit - Maisie loves watching everyone gather the props, and we appreciate the sneaky lesson in cooperation and following instructions.

All in all, we’re really going to miss our weekly dose of Baby Sparks. If you’re looking for a class that’s as fun as it is developmental, we can’t recommend it enough. Thank you, Hannah, for making our mornings so bright.

Find Hannah on Facebook, Instagram and at www.babysparks.co.uk/derbywest or by emailing derbywest@babysparks.co.uk